Don’t Be Taken For A Ride When Buying Equipment to Maintain Your Independence

Advice from Exeter’s Independent Living Centre

We’ve all been tempted by the adverts in the papers, or by leaflets pushed through our letter boxes, trying to sell us a fantastic gadget that is going to change our lives, make us slimmer or keep our home cleaner. Sometimes they work, but when it is an expensive piece of equipment designed to enhance your mobility or independence, you really need to get a second opinion before any decisions are made, and more importantly before any money changes hands or contracts are signed.

Help is at hand at the Independent Living Centre in Exeter (I.L.C.), where the Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor and Administrator offer a free and impartial service. The staff can find the right equipment for you, establish if you can get the equipment through Health or Social Services, and when necessary let you know of reputable retailers who can sell you the equipment that you need. The staff can also look into alternative sources of funding for purchasing equipment.

The Centre is based in Exeter and has equipment on display to help you maintain your independence when getting in and out of bed, getting dressed, using the bathroom and doing household tasks. The Occupational Therapists can look at ways of maximising your mobility with the range of walking sticks, walking frames, wheelchairs and powered scooters.  Armchairs come in all shapes and sizes and when your chair is too high, too low or too deep it not only makes it uncomfortable but getting in and out is much more difficult. The I.L.C. can help you find the right chair and give you guidance about where to buy it and how much you should pay. The Centre is part of a national organization of assessment and information services (ASSIST U.K.) and keeps up to date information on equipment innovations and suppliers from all over the country as well as services offered by local retailers.

Find out more about our service on our website www.devon.gov.uk/ilc

You can phone, write or send an email; for information, to book an appointment to visit the centre to try out the equipment we have on display and to discuss your needs with the staff at the Centre.

Philippa Greenslade, Lucy Clark and Melanie Cowlan

Occupational Therapists

The Independent Living Centre

ilc-exeter@devon.gov.uk

Tel 01392 687276

Advice Sheets produced by the Independent Living Centre:

• Overview of Bathing Equipment
• Bed Equipment (87KB - pdf help)

Some useful recently published articles helping you to make informed choices. Articles can be found in past issues of specialist publications:

• Devon Link (Devon County Council's quarterly magazine for disabled people and carers in Devon)