Learn more about walking aids, wheelchairs and mobility scooters on the NHS website.
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staying independent
Aids, equipment and adaptations
"I need some help with living aids and adaptations for my home."
Living aids and equipment
Living aids are gadgets and specially designed equipment that can help you complete tasks more easily.
Often they are things you can purchase yourself at little cost, but sometimes they are more specialised and need to be acquired from a specialist supplier.
Types of living aids and equipment
There are lots of items you get to make tasks easier, these include:
- Walking aids - like walking sticks, walking frames or folding walkers with wheels
- Kitchen aids - such as non slip jar and bottle openers or plate clip ons to prevent you spilling your dinner
- Dressing aids, like a long handled shoe horn or leg lifter
- Sitting aids - such as devices that will lift you out of your seat or boost the height of your toilet
If you are unsure what you will need, take a look at our creating a safe home section. It includes:
- suggestions on the things you can do to make your house safe
- living aids or equipment to make tasks easier
- minor adaptations you could make, such as an extra grab rail on your stairs to help you move around your home.
We recommend you make a list of things you think may help you.
Deciding what you will need
If you are unsure what you will need, take a look at our creating a safe home section. It includes:
- suggestions on the things you can do to make your house safe
- living aids or equipment to make tasks easier
- minor adaptations you could make, such as an extra grab rail on your stairs to help you move around your home.
We recommend you make a list of things you think may help you.
How to get living aids or equipment
There are a range of options available for you to get living aids or equipment to make it easier for you to carry out your daily living activities.
Your GP or district nurse
Speak to your GP or district nurse if you feel you would benefit from any of the following items:
- mobility aids
- walking frames
- walking sticks
- wheelchairs
- hospital beds
- pressure cushions
- profiling beds.
They may be able to refer you to a local NHS service, such as the NHS wheelchair service, who can provide you with the equipment you need free of charge. They can also make sure it meets your requirements, for example, a walking frame would need to be at the right height for you.
Charities
British Red Cross
If you need a wheelchair for short term use, such as while you are recovering from an operation, you can hire one from British Red Cross. Learn more on the British Red Cross website.
Charity funded mobility equipment
If you need help to pay for the cost of mobility equipment, there are a range of charities who may be able to help you. Find out more about charity funding options on the Better Mobility website.
Mobility specialists
Local mobility specialists often have equipment readily available in their showrooms for you to purchase. Alternatively, they’ll be able to order it direct from the manufacturers for you.
Some equipment may need fitting by a professional, equipment shops may include this within the price.
Alternatively, you could try this online supplier:
Our Lifeline and response service
Lifeline is a personal alarm service operating 24 hours day, 7 days a week and every day of the year.
The standard subscription will provide you with an alarm pendant to wear and a base unit. These devices provide a link between you (while you are in your home) and a Lifeline operator, who is ready to respond to any alarm call you raise and make sure you are taken care of. You can also add our responder service to your subscription and one of our trained responders will attend to you at your home during an emergency.
Lifeline also offers a range of equipment add-ons, such as bed and chair occupancy sensors, flood detectors and property exit monitors - all designed to help you live more independently in your own home.
Our disability resource team
Our disability resource team can provide a range of equipment to support you to remain independent in your own home, including a:
- perching stool
- chair raiser
- raised toilet seat
- toilet frame
- bath board
- bath seat
- powered bath lift
- grab rails
- roma trolley
- talking calendar clock
- listener for the TV
- stair lifts
- ramps.
Equipment costs
All mobile equipment and equipment up to the value of £1,000 is free.
If you require equipment with a value of £1,000 or more, such as a stairlift, you will need to apply for a disabled facilities grant. You can find out more about the disabled facilities grant on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council website.
Please note: there can be a long wait for some items if arranged through us and you may wish to look into the other options given on this page.
How to access this service
To request equipment, please get in touch by either of the following methods and leave your details: