Equipment, Aids and Adaptations

Community Occupational Therapy

What is Community Occupational Therapy?

Our Occupational Therapy Service works with people of all ages who have been assessed as being eligible for Care & Support.

The Occupational Therapy Service aims to enable, support and promote independence within the home so that you can continue doing your everyday activities such as washing and dressing. We can support you to do this through the provision of aids, equipment and where necessary advice on adapting your home.

If you are eligible for support, a member of the team will meet with you to discuss what is important to you and what outcomes you want to achieve. The member of the team will then discuss what you are able to do for yourself, and find out about the things that will prevent you from meeting your personal outcomes, independence and wellbeing.

The support we can provide includes equipment or adapting your home in ways that will enable you to remain in your own home. If this is not possible, we will advise you about the choices you have when considering a move to more suitable accommodation.

Provision of Equipment

There is a variety of equipment that can help you to be more independent. This can range from pieces of equipment that you can purchase yourself from local retailers, such as long arm back washers, to specialist hoists that will help you to move from one area of your home to another.

It is not always clear which piece of equipment would best suit your needs. If you require advice about the types of equipment available and what would be most appropriate for you, then you can contact Adult Duty on 01685 725000 who will provide you with advice or refer you to the Occupational Therapy Service for assessment.

Once the assessment has been completed, if you are eligible for support then the appropriate equipment will be ordered on your behalf and delivered to your own home. Alternatively, you can choose to use a Direct Payment.

Number 24: Demonstration & Assessment Unit at Keir Hardie Health Park

There may be times when you would like to try out equipment before you buy it or have it installed in your home. To enable you to try out equipment you can arrange to visit the Demonstration and Assessment facility at Keir Hardie Health Park, Merthyr Tydfil.

This will ensure that the equipment is of benefit and meets your needs. For further information please contact the Adult Duty Officer.

Assistive Technology & Telecare

Telecare

A range of discrete Telecare sensors offer a way of managing the risks to your health and home environment 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, enabling you to live independently for as long as possible. In its simplest form, Telecare is connected to a monitoring centre through which you can raise an alarm. More advanced systems use sensors, where a range of potential risks can be monitored. These may include falls, as well as environmental changes in the home such as floods, fire and gas leaks. When a sensor is activated it sends an alert signal to a central unit from your home, which then automatically calls a 24-hour monitoring centre, where trained operators can take appropriate action - whether it is contacting a local key holder, family member doctor or the emergency services.

Telecare can also provide assistance to people who have a physical or learning disability, frailty, prone to falls, dementia, people who suffer from epilepsy and the chronically sick - young and old.

It can also assist victims of crime in a way that makes them feel safe and secure in their homes, either to prevent crime by having a bogus caller device fitted, or if they have already fallen victim, then this technology will give them peace of mind in the fact that they can have the help they require in seconds.
Telecare is a 24/7 service which is linked to a lifeline system.

Telecare is installed via BT landline, so the property has to have the Landline in place.

If you would like to see how these work, they are available at the Demonstration and Assessment unit called ‘Number 24’ at Keir Hardie Health Park. At Number 24, there are a number of demonstration rooms including a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room; all of which are fully equipped with Telecare and other daily living aids. Examples of these include medication dispensers, floods, falls, epilepsy sensors, bath lifts and stair lifts. The unit also has a range of security devices on display to suit a variety of needs e.g. grab rails, stair rails, key safes, door viewers etc. Security is now essential for everyone and the devices on show will help to make you feel safe and secure in your home.

Lifeline

Anyone who may need to summon help quickly or, seek advice and reassurance at any time of day or night from anywhere within the home or garden can apply for Lifeline.  You can be a tenant, owner/occupier, living with family, elderly, disabled or vulnerable.

In the event of an emergency, just one press of the alarm button will connect you to the Control Room where the Operator is able to identify who is calling and from where. 

Anyone can apply for a Lifeline Unit, it is not just for the elderly.  You can be a tenant, an owner/occupier or living with family, Lifeline is available to anyone who may need to summon help urgently who lives in the Merthyr Tydfil CBC.

Sensory Equipment

There is a variety of sensory equipment available and as technology improves the range of equipment extends. For people with a sensory impairment these can include microwaves with Braille dials and adapted telephones for those with a hearing impairment. There is a specialist Sensory Service (Link to sensory service) where specialist Social Workers can provide advice and rehabilitation programmes.

The Demonstration and Assessment unit called ‘Number 24’ at Keir Hardie Health Park. Number 24 has a range of sensory equipment where you can view and try out what is available to assist you in your everyday life.

You are welcome to visit the assessment unit and test out the equipment on show before it may be installed in your own home. Advice and information will be given throughout the visit and if an assessment is required, an appointment can be made by contacting the Adult Duty Officer.

Please contact the duty Officer to arrange a visit so they can ensure someone will be available to show you around.

Home Adaptations

In order for you to remain independent at home, you may need adaptations such as hand rails on the stairs or by the door; or major changes to your home such as changing the bathroom to a wet room.

You can arrange for smaller adaptations through Care and Repair; however, if you need larger adaptations to your home you will need to be assessed by a Community Occupational Therapist in the first instance who may recommend that you apply for a Disabled Facility Grant.