Mobility Aids and Equipment: What to Arrange Before Care Begins

When someone needs more support at home, the right equipment can make an enormous difference, to their safety, their comfort, their independence, and to how easily their carer can help them. Getting some of it in place before care begins helps everything start smoothly.

It can feel like a daunting area, with unfamiliar names and a lot of options. The reassuring news is that you do not have to work it all out alone, and much of it may be arranged, and even funded, for you. Here is a practical guide to mobility aids and equipment, and how to go about it.

Start with a professional assessment

Before buying anything, the single most useful step is to arrange an assessment by an occupational therapist, or OT.

An OT is a professional who assesses how someone manages at home and recommends exactly the right equipment and adaptations for their specific needs. This matters, because the right aid depends entirely on the individual, and the wrong equipment, or equipment used incorrectly, can do more harm than good. An OT takes the guesswork out of it.

You can request an OT assessment through your local council's adult social care team, or ask your GP or hospital team for a referral. It is well worth doing this early, as it shapes everything else, and it is usually free.

Equipment that is often helpful

Every person's needs are different, but here are the kinds of aids and equipment that commonly help, so you know the sort of thing an assessment might recommend.

Small aids for getting around

• Walking aids, such as a stick, a walking frame, or a wheeled frame (a rollator)
• Grab rails, by the front and back doors, on the stairs, and in the bathroom, to provide something steady to hold
• A second stair rail, so there is support on both sides
• Raised toilet seats and toilet frames, to make using the bathroom easier and safer
• Bathing aids, such as a shower seat, a bath board, or non-slip mats

These smaller items often make the biggest difference to day-to-day confidence and safety, and many are inexpensive.

Beds and bedroom equipment

• An adjustable profiling bed, sometimes called a hospital bed, which can raise and lower and change position, making it easier and safer to help someone in and out of bed and to keep them comfortable
• A pressure-relieving mattress, which helps prevent pressure sores for anyone spending a lot of time in bed
• Bed rails or a bed lever, to help with turning, sitting up, or getting in and out safely

Equipment for moving and transfers

• A hoist, for safely lifting and moving someone with limited mobility, whether a mobile hoist or a stand aid
• A slide sheet or transfer board, to help move someone comfortably and safely
• A transfer turntable, to help someone pivot safely, for example from bed to a chair

Equipment like this is particularly important where someone cannot bear their own weight, both for their safety and for the carer's.

Wheelchairs and getting out

• A wheelchair, whether for occasional outings or everyday use, which can often be provided through the NHS wheelchair service following an assessment
• A ramp, where there are steps to navigate
• Riser recliner chairs, which gently help someone to stand

Who pays for it

This is often families' biggest question, and the answer is more encouraging than many expect.

• Smaller equipment and minor adaptations, such as grab rails, raised toilet seats and basic aids, are frequently provided free of charge by the local council following an OT assessment.
• Wheelchairs can often be provided through the NHS wheelchair service.
• Larger adaptations, such as a stairlift, a level-access shower or significant home changes, may be funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant, a means-tested grant from your local council. Your OT or council can advise on eligibility.
• Buying privately is always an option too, and for smaller items many families simply purchase them, as they are widely available and often inexpensive.
• Charities sometimes help with equipment costs, and organisations like the Red Cross can even loan certain items short-term, which is useful during a recovery period.

It is well worth exploring the funded routes before buying, as you may be entitled to more help than you realise. Our guide to local authority funding explains how council support works.

Using equipment safely

A word on safety, because it matters. Equipment such as hoists, slide sheets and profiling beds must be used correctly to be safe, both for your loved one and for whoever is helping them. This is not something to improvise.

Our carers are trained in safe moving and handling and in the use of this kind of equipment, and they follow the specific guidance set out for each individual, usually by an OT or physiotherapist. Where specialist equipment is involved, the right training and instructions are always put in place before it is used. You can read more in our guide to moving and handling in live-in care.

How your carer works with equipment

Once the right equipment is in place, your loved one's carer uses it as part of their daily care, safely and confidently, to help them move, stay comfortable, and remain as independent as possible. A carer can also flag when something is not working well, or when a change in your loved one's needs means different equipment might help, so it can be reviewed. It is all part of keeping care safe and responsive as things change.

Getting ready

You do not need to have everything perfectly in place before care begins, and you certainly do not need to become an expert. The key steps are simple: arrange an OT assessment, put the most important aids in place early, especially anything needed for safe moving and daily living, and explore what help is available with the cost.

And we are here to help you think it through. We will always talk through what is needed as part of setting up care, so nothing important is missed.

If you would like guidance on preparing your home and arranging the right equipment, we would be glad to help.

Book a free care advice call, or give us a ring on 020 3970 9900.

This guide offers general information and is not a substitute for a professional assessment. The right equipment for your loved one should be determined by an occupational therapist or other qualified professional, who can ensure it is suitable and safe for their specific needs.