Introduction
There is a wide range of equipment and technology you can use at home or when you are out. Using equipment and technology can make life easier and help you stay safe and independent. It can help you move around your home, get in and out of the bath, or contact someone for help and support.
There are a number of ways you can find out about equipment that could help you, find out more below.
Medequip self help guide - AskSARA
The online Medequip self help guide – AskSARA has impartial advice and information about daily living equipment and living independently. It has been developed by a national charity with 50 years of experience. The advice is for disabled adults and children, older people, their carers and families.
There is a part of the website where you can answer questions about how you do daily tasks. Based on your answers, it will suggest equipment you can buy to help you.
Somerset Independent Living Centres
Somerset Adult Social Care has places called Independent Living Centres. These centres help people in Somerset who need advice and support to live independently.
Our centres are in Shepton Mallet, Wellington, and Yeovil. You need to book an appointment to visit. You can talk to our Social Care, Occupational Therapy-led team and try equipment and technology that can make daily life easier. We offer free, unbiased information and advice.
We can help with things like equipment for the bathroom, kitchen and moving around your home. We also have special technology to help people who care for others. Contact us to book your free appointment using the button below.
You can also phone to book an appointment on 0300 123 2224. Ask for ‘Independent Living Centre‘ when prompted. Our phone lines are open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired you can contact us using SMS text 07862 122246.
If you work in health or social care and need to book an appointment on behalf of someone, please use the Professional Referral to Adult Social Care Form.
This 1-minute video gives an example of what we do at the Somerset Independent Living Centres.
You will receive confirmation of your appointment which will include directions and details of parking. We can also give you information about community transport if needed.
Before you attend your appointment, please print and complete a copy of our home measurement sheet. Remember to bring it with you. The sheet gives our Occupational Therapists the measurements they will need before providing you with any equipment to help you.
Independent Living Centre Shepton Mallet
Shape Mendip
Stockhill Building
Cannards Grave Road
Shepton Mallet
BA4 5BT
Independent Living Centre Wellington
17 Knights Road
Chelston Business Park
Wellington
TA21 9JH
Independent Living Centre Yeovil
Yeovil Innovation Centre
Barracks Close
Copse Road
Yeovil
BA22 8RN
Sometimes, someone from social care might need to visit you at home to give you the best advice. They can suggest equipment and changes to your home to help you or your carer. For example, they might recommend a hoist and sling or small changes like stair rails. We might be able to provide them free of charge through our Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service.
You might need major alterations to your home, like adding a stair-lift or a wet-floor shower. If this happens, we might talk to your housing provider or ask for you to be considered for a Disabled Facilities Grant. We will ask about your finances and you might have to help pay for the work.
Community alarm services or lifelines
There are other ways you can stay safe and independent at home. Community alarm services, or lifelines, are low-cost pendant alarms for people who need help at home or might be at risk of falling. They have many types of alarms, and our highly trained support team will help you find the right one.
When you press the alarm button, it sends an alert to a call centre that answers right away. They can talk to you even if you are not near the phone, but only when you press the button. You can add more alerts, like fall alarms, smoke alarms, door exit sensors and heat alarms. In some places, there is also a 24-hour lifeline service that can come to your home if you need help.
Carer pagers are also available. They can alert a family member or friend if a sensor goes off. This can be very helpful and reassuring if you have returned home after being in hospital.
The video below shows how Somerset Lifeline works.
Get In Touch with Somerset Lifeline
Assistive Technology or Technology Enabled Care
There are many other products to help people live independently at home. These are called Assistive Technology or Technology Enabled Care.
Technology can remind people and their carers about things to do at home, like taking medicine on time. It can alert a family member or carer if someone gets out of bed at night and needs help. It can also alert a monitoring centre if something happens, so people get the help they need.
To learn how technology can help you at home or when you are out, make an appointment to visit our Independent Living Centres or check out the Hft Virtual Smarthouse website.
Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service
The Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service offers a range of equipment to help you live on your own. This includes equipment for your home and for when you are out. Somerset residents can borrow this equipment for as long as they need. The service includes delivery, fitting, servicing, collection and recycling.
You can find more information about wheelchairs on the Somerset Wheelchair Service website.
You usually need to be assessed by a health or social care professional to get equipment or wheelchairs. You can contact us to ask for an assessment. Phone 0300 123 2224 or visit our Care and Support Assessment webpage for more information.
The Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service is provided by Medequip supported by AJM Healthcare, on behalf of Somerset Council and NHS Somerset.
Returning Equipment
If you have been loaned equipment that you no longer need, that you do not need anymore, Medequip can pick it up for free. They will recycle it and help others who need it. To return your equipment, please phone 01823 211699 or email somerset@medequip-uk.com. Or, return to the address below.
Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service
Unit 1 The Monarch Centre, Venture Way
Priorswood Industrial Estate
Taunton
TA2 8DE
Opening Hours: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
For more information, please visit Medequip UK website.
If you want to get equipment but have not been assessed by a professional
- For online advice, visit Medequip Somerset Living Made Easy. This online, self-assessment tool gives you free, impartial advice about all kinds of equipment to make daily life easier.
- For equipment you pay for yourself, visit Manage at Home – Your online Medequip retail store.
- For telecare options you pay for yourself, visit Medequip Connect.
Buying or borrowing equipment
You can buy some helpful equipment from local shops that sell disability equipment. Some local volunteer groups and private providers also sell equipment.
Short-term loan
You can borrow equipment for a short-term loan from the British Red Cross. This is ideal if you need some equipment temporarily, such as trying it out before buying. You can find out more by phoning 01823 273746. Or visit the British Red Cross website.
Donating equipment to charity
There may be some equipment we no longer use because of changes to how we support people. We donate this equipment to charities that send it to other countries. Any equipment we collect that cannot be reused or recycled is checked by us and then either scrapped, recycled, or disposed of.
