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Simple solutions may make a huge improvement to your quality of life.
You may benefit from a range of gadgets and equipment to make everyday tasks easier or safer. These include:
Bathroom Aids
- Grab rails and bath seats
- Shower seats
- Raised toilet seats
- Long-handled sponges/hairbrushes
Kitchen Aids
- Spike boards (to hold vegetables when chopping)
- Non-slip mats
- Kettle and teapot tippers
- Saucepan basket
- Sliding shelves
- Jar openers
- Electric tin openers
- Plastic tap turners
Bedroom Aids
- Bed raisers (for bed feet)
- Pull aids (to help sit up)
- Button fasteners
- Zip pullers
- Dressing sticks (e.g. for socks, shirts etc.)
Living Room Aids
- Reclining chairs (physical/manual)
- Chair raisers
- Long handled window openers
- Large print books
- Audio books, newspapers etc.
General House Aids
- Handles fitted to electric plugs
- Long handles grabbers
- Large button telephones
- Telephones that flash/light up when ringing
Health Needs Equipment
- Hearing Aids
- Magnifiers
- Walking stick
- Walking frame
- Wheelchair
- Mobility scooters
- Continence pads
- Commode
- Plastic sheets
- Wigs and fabric supports
- Community alarms
A number of other aids are available. For further information, visit:
In some cases this equipment can be provided free of charge by Social Care Trusts, while others can buy equipment privately, buy second hand equipment or receive financial help to help purchase equipment. It is also possible to loan equipment on a temporary basis.
Buying New Equipment
It is possible to purchase equipment through catalogues, on-line shops, or local stores and show rooms. High street chemists often stock disability equipment. A person should look on-line or in their local yellow pages to find stores in their area.
Buying Second Hand
Second hand equipment can be advertised in various places including local newspapers, local second-hand sales papers (such as Ads for Free) or internet sales sites (e-bay). The Disability Living Foundation produce a fact-sheet listing places which advertise second hand equipment [click here]. However, some of the sources mentioned in this booklet may not be relevant to Northern Ireland.
Equipment Hire or Loan
Organisations such as the Red Cross may loan equipments such as wheelchairs. Schemes such as Shopmobility may lend or hire scooters to help you get around certain town centres.
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