Easier Living - a guide for older and disabled people living in London (view report contents)
Getting equipped
Social services
They are part of your local council and have many useful services. It’s
worth contacting them to find out what they offer and because they know
what else there is locally. They will give you information about aids
and adaptations and may supply them free or at a low cost. They may arrange
for you to have an assessment - see below.
If it shows you need any aids, social services should see that you get
them. In some areas there’s a small charge. If you can’t afford it, they
should find a way of providing the equipment anyway.
Assessment
This sounds very formal but all it means is that someone - often an occupational
therapist (OT) - will come to chat about what kind of help you need. The
OT will have a look at your home and will work out what might be helpful.
The assessment will cover all the services that social services provide.
This is worth having. Even if you don’t go on to get equipment from the
social services, you will get lots of useful information.
Some areas have a waiting list. Ask how long it is and if there are priorities.
If your case is urgent explain why - you may get seen sooner.
Some OTs work privately. You have to pay but you won’t have to wait long.
Some social services may provide aids or services recommended privately.
Ask the OT what your Borough does. Occupational
Therapists in Private Practice (OTIP) have a list of private OTs and
a telephone enquiry line 0800 389 4873.or see their website www.otip.co.uk
Health authorities
Medical and nursing aids such as wheelchairs, walking frames and commodes can be provided through your health authority. They also provide services to you at home Ask your GP.
Loans of equipment
Local branches of the British Red Cross lend equipment - free but you
may have to pay a deposit. To find the nearest branch:
Tel: 020 7793 3360
Shops and suppliers
Some chemists sell easier living aids and there are specialist shops
in some areas. Ask social services or look under ‘disability equipment’
in the yellow pages.
Keep Able is a large shop which specialises in aids. It has therapists
who will advise you. There are two in or near London:
Mill Hill, NW7
Tel: 020 8201 0810
Fax: 020 8201 0840
Staines, Middlesex
Tel: 01784 440044
Fax: 01784 449900
or see their web-site www.keepable.co.uk
Buying by mail order
Larger mail order companies are listed right. They all have free catalogues. You can shop from your armchair but you can’t see or try the product out first.
- Get independent advice first - try the DLF
- Ask if they’ll make a refund if the product doesn’t suit you
- Check postage charges and delivery times.
You can hire equipment from some manufacturers and suppliers. This is useful if you want to try something out before buying. Some take the hire charge off the price if you go on to buy - check before you start.
Mail order catalogues
Ability, British Red Cross
Tel: 0116 270 1462
Care and Mobility
Tel: 012687 71191
Help the Aged
Tel: 0870 770 0442
www.helptheaged.org.uk
Keep Able
Tel: 08705 202122
www.keepable.co.uk
Nottingham Rehab
Tel: 0845 121 8111
(8:30 am to 5pm weekdays)
www.nrs-uk.co.uk
Partially Sighted Society
Tel: 01302 323132
Promedics
Tel: 01254 619000
RNIB (Royal National Institute of the Blind)
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Helpline 0845 766 9999
Text: 18001 0845 766 9999
Fax: 020 7388 2034
e-mail: helpline@rnib.org.uk
www.rnib.org.uk
RNID (For Deaf and Hard of Hearing People)
19-23 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 020 7296 8000
Textphone: 020 7296 8001
Fax: 020 7296 8199
e-mail: information@rnid.org.uk
www.rnid.org.uk
RNID information lines (Freephone)
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
Smith & Nephew Homecraft
Tel: 01623 757955
VAT
Equipment which has been designed or adapted for people with disabilities is exempt from VAT. Your supplier should give you a form which you sign to say you have a disability.
Seeing and trying
Disabled Living Centres have exhibitions of aids and give independent
expert advice. You need to make an appointment to make sure someone is
on hand to help. London DLCs are at the Disabled Living Foundation in
W9 (0870 603 9177), in Beckenham (020 8663 3345) and, for residents, Hillingdon
(01895 233691).
For other Disabled Living Centres, contact Assist UK:
Assist UK
Redbank House
4 St Chad’s Street
Manchester M8 8QA
Tel: 0870 770 2866
Text 0870 770 5813
Fax: 0870 770 2867
e-mail: general.info@assist-uk.org
www.assist-uk.org
Manufacturers of major items of equipment such as stairlifts or bath lifts
may arrange demonstrations. Telephone numbers from social services, DLCs
(see above) or the DLF.
From time to time there are exhibitions of equipment in London - the DLF
have details.
Buying second hand
There are ads for second hand equipment in Disability Now, the monthly
newspaper for disabled people Tel: 01454 642444 or see their web-site
www.disabilitynow.org.uk
Newsletters produced by disability organisations also have ads - The DLF
has a free list of them.
The Disability
Equipment Register has adverts for second hand equipment for sale.
Disability Equipment Register
4 Chatterton Road
Yate
Bristol
BS37 4BJ
Tel: 01454 318818
www.disabilityequipment.org.uk
Nothing fits the bill?
If you have a problem and no equipment exists to help with it, REMAP’s engineers may be able to make something which helps, free. For branches in and around London
REMAP England, Wales & N.Ireland
D9 Chaucer Business Park
Kemsing
Kent
TN15 6YU
Tel: 0845 130 0456
Fax: 0845 130 0789
www.remap.org.uk
Page updated: February 2008
Table of contents
About
this guide
Getting
around
Around
your home
In the kitchen
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Hobbies
Making
your home safer
Getting
equipped
Adaptations
Help with
money
Helpful
organisations
Local contacts
(London only)
