If you have a long-term or permanent difficulty with mobility, getting a wheelchair or scooter, or other mobility equipment, may help you to live more independently. A huge variety of household equipment can help someone who is ill, disabled or frail, including: Find out more about getting the right care equipment. You may be able to get help to repair, improve, maintain or adapt your home from a local home improvement agency. These agencies are government-funded and not-for-profit, and they provide advice for free. However, they usually charge a fee if you go ahead with any work they recommend. You can find your nearest home improvement agency on the Foundations website. If you're disabled, you can find out whether you can apply for equipment for your home on GOV.UK. If you need a wheelchair, the main decisions you’ll have to make about your chair are: There are pros and cons for each type of chair, so the choice depends on your needs. There are a large variety of wheelchairs and scooters available, so expert independent advice is essential.
Some of the things to consider when choosing the right equipment are: The design of the chair affects how it can be used. You should also bear in mind that standard wheelchairs can't be modified. "Active-user" wheelchairs are usually more expensive, but they have the advantage of being adjustable and adaptable. If you need a wheelchair that’s pushed by someone else, it's still important to consider how easy it will be for them to use it. For example, can they lift it and put it in the boot of the car? Before deciding on a specific style of wheelchair, it's a good idea to try it out around the house or on the local roads. NHS wheelchair services offer assessments to determine what type of wheelchair or mobility equipment you may be entitled to on the NHS. In most cases, you'll be referred to the service by a hospital, doctor, consultant or occupational therapists. See the directory of wheelchair services for a full list of services. In general, wheelchair services are available to people of all ages who have a long-term need for mobility help.
However, the specific criteria for whether you're eligible are decided locally and will vary depending on where you live. Before you can be offered a wheelchair, you'll have to undergo an assessment. This will determine if you're eligible and, if so, what type of mobility equipment is most appropriate. The assessment is normally carried out at NHS wheelchair services centres or clinics. The people who assess you will all be health professionals, such as GPs, occupational therapists, or physiotherapists, and should include a "rehabilitation engineer" (someone who specialises in wheelchairs and seating). There is no one-size-fits-all policy, which means you will be assessed according to your individual needs. The assessment should take into account your physical and social needs, as well as the environment in which you live and work. Many wheelchair services have a waiting list for assessment appointments, so you may have to wait several weeks after being referred to have an assessment.
Take a friend, carer or your own therapist with you when you have your assessment. They can help you make the right choice. Also bear in mind that if the service comes to visit you at home or work, you won't be able to see and try the full range of chairs available. Chairs can be adapted if necessary to meet your specific needs. This is particularly important for children, as their equipment must adjust to their growth and changing needs. If you feel that your wheelchair doesn't fit your current needs any more, contact your wheelchair service and they will reassess you. Some NHS wheelchair services offer a voucher scheme so that you can have more choice of wheelchair. You receive a voucher to the value of the chair you would have been offered after your assessment (which is determined locally in each individual case). You can then put the voucher towards the cost of a chair that you buy privately or in partnership with the NHS. If the maintenance of the wheelchair remains the responsibility of the NHS, you will have to return the chair when you no longer need it.
However, you can opt for private maintenance, which will allow you to keep the chair permanently. Not all NHS wheelchair services offer the voucher scheme. Services decide locally whether to have a scheme and how that scheme is applied. You cannot exchange the voucher for cash. The voucher is non-taxable so it does not affect any disability benefits you receive. The Motability scheme may be of use if you want to hire or buy a powered wheelchair. It is available to people who receive the high rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement. These benefits can be used to pay for the hire or hire purchase of a wheelchair or scooter. You can rent or buy equipment from some commercial companies, but it's important to take independent advice to ensure you make the best choice. The consumer website Which? Elderly Care has lots of advice on choosing and buying mobility products, as does Living Made Easy. Better Mobility has a list of charities that can help to fund mobility equipment for children and adults on its website.
Do some research before you choose a wheelchair or scooter. Ensure the chair suits your individual needs, can be maintained, and is a reasonable price. The following 10-point checklist may help: Some towns or shopping centres have a Shopmobility scheme, where you can borrow a wheelchair or scooter to go shopping. Local authorities provide wheelchairs as part of their duty to help disabled children access education. Contact your local authority for more information. Children's wheelchair needs are different from those of adults. They need smaller chairs that can be adapted as they grow. If your child has been assessed as needing a wheelchair, you may want to contact a charity such as Whizz Kidz or Go Kids Go!. These provide wheelchair skills training for disabled young people. As well as providing children with wheelchairs, local authorities are responsible for carrying out home adaptations if you need them to use a wheelchair at home. Your local authority is also responsible for issuing static seating (which might include chairs that offer more stability and support) and night time posture support (which might include special mattresses or bed accessories) if required.
Contact your local authority for more information about what's available for you. The Access to Work scheme can help you if your health or disability affects the way you do your job. It gives you and your employer advice about and support with extra costs that may arise because of your needs. Find out more about the Access to Work scheme. If you need a wheelchair for a short period, such as after an accident or when you've been discharged from hospital, you may be able to apply for a short-term loan wheelchair with your local wheelchair service. For more detailed information, contact your local wheelchair service. The wheelchair service will not provide a wheelchair if it is only required for day trips or outings. The Disabled Living Foundation's AskSara online tool can give you information and advice on mobility equipment, including stair rails and activity monitoring systems as well as wheelchair and scooter accessories. You can get information on mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs as well as information on accessible transport from Rica, an independent consumer research charity for older and disabled people.