Telecare, Gadgets and Other Equipments
Telecare
Telecare is a term that describes equipment and services that support the safety and independence of the person you care for in their home. Telecare services range from a basic community alarm service using a pendant alarm that is able to respond to an emergency, to an integrated system that includes detectors or monitors (i.e to detect motion, falls, fire and gas) that trigger a warning to a response centre.
Carers Bucks works with Buckinghamshire Council to raise awareness of the benefit of telecare to support carers in their caring role. We have a Telecare Adviser who visits our support groups to talk about and demonstrate telecare equipment. This can be followed up by an individual consultation and, if appropriate, a referral to Buckinghamshire Council for an assessment for telecare equipment.
Contact us for more information on our Telecare Service or visit Technology to help me live independently – Buckinghamshire Council.
Other equipment
Different types of equipment can help you to care for the person you’re looking after, as well as help them to live independently.
- Stairlift Reviews – Information about stairlifts. Also, take a look at their top 100 blogs from disabled people and carers relating to disability and getting older.
- Equipment to help me stay independent at home – Buckinghamshire Council – Equipment to increase wellbeing and enable independence in the home environment
How you can find out about different equipment and who can help?
Occupational Therapy
A Social Worker or Occupational Therapist can make decisions about the equipment that would be most helpful for the person you’re looking after. Decisions about the kind of equipment you may need will often be the result of an assessment of your care and support needs.
An Occupational Therapy assessment of care and support needs can offer:
- Advice on managing the difficulties caused by physical disability
- Equipment to help with daily living and personal care e.g. a raised toilet seat
- Minor home adaptations e.g. grab rails and stair rails
- Recommendations to District Councils or housing providers for major structural alterations to kitchens and bathrooms, stair lifts and ramps.
For further information or to request an occupational therapy assessment, visit Community Occupational Therapy Service for Adults – Buckinghamshire Council, or you can call 01296 387 024 or email: OTTriage@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can contact us and we can help make the referral for an Occupational Therapy assessment on your behalf.
Other organisations that can also offer help with equipment
- Walking sticks or walking frames – from the physiotherapy service via your GP
- Wheelchair service
- Safe+Well – Helping you choose daily living aids
- Small equipment to help with everyday tasks e.g. dressing, food preparation or eating difficulties – local retailers who will advise on suitable equipment to assist
- Beds, cot sides, specialist mattresses and continence pads – can be accessed from the District Nurse via your GP
- Remap – makes custom equipment to help disabled people live more independent lives
Equipment loans
- Red Cross – loan out equipment such as wheelchairs
- ShopMobility – a scheme where people can hire equipment such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters when visiting towns or shopping centres – Aylesbury, Buckingham and High Wycombe
Sources of advice
- Living Made Easy – a national charity that provides free impartial advice and information on solutions, gadgets, adaptations and aids to make life easier.
Useful links
Are you caring for someone?
Do you look after someone who cannot manage without you because they are ill, frail or have a disability?
If so, you are a carer and Carers Bucks can help you.
