For many disabled people having the right equipment can be
crucial to independent living. It can also make all the difference
to those who care for disabled people.
Equipment which can make it easier to manage at home is usually
provided following an assessment by an Occupational Therapist, or
another suitably trained member of social care staff.
There is a variety of equipment available which may help you,
e.g. bed raisers to make it easier to get in and out of your bed,
toilet raisers to help you get on and off the toilet, or hoists to
move you from your bed to your chair.
When we are working out what you need, we will try the easiest
solutions first before trying the more complicated ones! We
will take various things into account, such as your abilities and
disabilities, specific physical problems you may have, the needs of
your family and/or carer(s) and the suitability of your
home.
We can give you information on what equipment can be provided
on loan by Suffolk County Council. The equipment is issued on
loan from Suffolk Social Care Services. You may wish to buy
something yourself and we can give you information if
this is what you want to do.
There are some items of equipment we do not
provide:
|
Items we are unable to
provide |
Where you may be able to obtain this
equipment |
|
equipment for short term disability e.g. following
hospital treatment (joint replacement or fracture) |
You maybe eligible for assistance from the hospital
where you had your treatment |
|
equipment for other short term needs e.g. short
term illness, visitors, holiday needs |
Equipment for short term loan may be available from
Red Cross locally |
| walking equipment, manual or special
wheelchairs |
Contact your GP for an
assessment |
| medical equipment e.g. continence
products, skin pressure care |
Contact your GP for an
assessment |
| manual handling equipment for care
agencies, residential homes |
Please contact
your local Disability Resource Centre/ Independent Living Centre
for further information and advice on all this equipment:
Wren Centre (PDF - 370Kb)
Waveney
Centre for Independent Living (PDF - 420Kb)
The Papworth Trust (web
site) |
| outdoor electric wheelchairs or
buggies |
| items of furniture e.g. high seated
chairs, bed tables |
| items which are of use to both
disabled and able-bodied people e.g. electric can opener, cutlery,
long-handled shoe |