Equipment can be purchased, rented or may be provided free through statutory services like your local authority.
One main route to support is contacting the council’s adult social care team to request a free care needs assessment. This is an assessment of a person’s ‘eligible needs’ and can help because it provides a report of what the needs are and how these could be met (a care plan) and the cost of meeting the needs (a personal budget amount), which can be a good basis for arranging care and support. Adaptations costing £1,000 or less must be provided free of charge by the local authority if they are as agreed as meeting eligible needs. The local authority may also be able to contribute towards larger adaptations (‘Disabled Facilities Grant’) or a care package, depending on the outcome of a separate financial assessment. There may be a wait for the assessment so make it clear if help is required more urgently. There is further information in the Age UK info guide Adapting your home (IG17)
If you have an informal carer, like a partner, they can ask for their own Carer's Assessment to get help.
Some items of equipment, such as commodes or walking aids can also be requested free on loan from your GP or district nurse.
For private purchase of disability related aids and equipment, rather than through local authority provision, The Independent Living Centre (ILC) at Semington (https://ilc.org.uk/ Tel: 01380 871007) provide free independent and impartial advice on equipment and are also the local retail base for Medequip retail (https://www.medequip-uk.com/about/retail tel: 01249 815052) which are one provider of equipment. Other providers are available such as those listed in the Disabled Living Foundation resources: https://livingmadeeasy.org.uk/ 0300 999 0004 and local mobility aids shops
If you are on a low income and require essential equipment that statutory funding will not cover, then we could check if there is any grant funding available for your circumstances. Typically this is in the region of up to £400. We can also complete a free benefits check to ensure you are maximising your income.
Also, there is extra money from the government (which is not means-tested), called Attendance Allowance (IG49), that can help pay for this type of support and other things to help people to stay independent at home. We can help people to apply for this.
Resources:
Personal Alarms/Lifeline providers - Age UK Wiltshire info sheet
Stairlift providers (hire or purchase) - Age UK Wiltshire info sheet
When you no longer need equipment you might like it to go to someone else in need or just want it out of the way. Whilst Age UK Wiltshire can’t take equipment ourselves we have several suggestions:
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Independent Living Centre - Semington Tel: 01380 871007 - collate and distribute a 2nd hand equipment list where you can freely advertise disability items locally
Local charity shops may take simple equipment but it is best to ring and check. Age UK charity shops are managed by Age UK national; you can find your nearest one here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/charity-shops/
Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council have a paid-for bulky item collection service for larger items.
You could list the item on a free-to-list website such as Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace - it may be just what another local person is looking for!
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If the item was provided through the NHS, social services or another support agency then they may take them back.
If the item was purchased privately the supplier may have their own refurbishment or recycling scheme.
For stairlifts, some local stairlift companies remove and refurbish these - see our ‘Stairlift providers (hire or purchase)’ list above
Red Cross Mobility Aids for Hire- Offer equipment for hire and sometimes able to take 2nd hand equipment to re-use.
Disability Equipment Sent Overseas (DESO) - collect crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs to be sent overseas
If you're paying someone to remove items or rubbish ensure they have a waste carrier license.
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One main route to arranging support is contacting the council’s adult social care team to request a free care needs assessment. This is an assessment of a person’s ‘eligible needs’ and can help because it provides a report of what the needs are and how these could be met (a care plan) and the cost of meeting the needs (a personal budget amount), which can be a good basis for arranging care and support such as equipment or a care package. Adaptations costing £1,000 or less must be provided free of charge by the local authority if they are as agreed as meeting eligible needs. The local authority may be able to contribute towards a care package or larger adaptations, depending on the outcome of a separate financial assessment. There may be a wait for the assessment so make it clear if help is required more urgently. You can read more about these in Age UK’s info guide Getting help at home (IG23).
If you have an informal carer, like a partner, they can ask for their own Carer's Assessment to get help.
Also, there is extra money from the government (which is not means-tested), called Attendance Allowance (IG49), that can help pay for this type of support and other things to help people to stay independent at home. We can help people to apply for this.
Some people are eligible for some local authority funding towards care costs. A person’s financial contribution towards their care costs is calculated from their individual finances using rules outlined in the Care Act 2014 and most people need to pay something towards their care. If you have more than £23,250 in capital you may need to pay all your care costs as a ‘self funder’. In certain circumstances care costs may be met through NHS Continuing Health Care Funding (NHS CHC) which is not means-tested.
There is more information about paying for a care package at home in Age UK factsheet Paying for care at home (FS46)
There is more information about paying for residential care homes in Age UK factsheet Finding, choosing and funding a care home (FS29)
For self-funders, the Money Helper Service has a page on self-funding your long term care with other options to consider. It is important to be aware of deprivation of assets rules in case you need local authority funding in the future.
We understand that arranging and funding care support whether at home or residential care can be complex and we can give further advice on specific enquiries.
Resources:
One main option, if a caring role is having an impact on a person’s wellbeing and/or affecting their physical or mental health then they can request a free carer’s assessment from the local authority adult social care team. This is specifically for informal carers and can lead to help with the caring role, respite care, aids/equipment and support to complete a carer’s emergency card. The local authority may help fund some of this.
Additionally, you can contact your Local Authority’s adult social care team to request a free care needs assessment for the person you care for which could result in equipment and care to help them at home. There is more information about these in Age UK’s info guide Advice for carers (IG13).
To request a free care needs or carers assessment contact:
There is a local scheme Carer’s Together Wiltshire tel: 01380 710300 or email enquiries@carerstogetherwiltshire.org.uk and in Swindon there is Swindon Carer’s Centre that offer support for informal carers who complete carer's assessments on behalf of the local authority.
Respite care could also be organised privately through a care agency, day centre or residential home – we can provide lists of these please ask. Occasionally there may also be charity grants available and a good resource for grants search is www.turn2us.org.uk.
If you provide informal care for someone else regularly then you may be eligible for extra financial help as a carer, such as Carer's Allowance, Carer's Premium or a Carer's Council Tax Discount. Usually the person you care for must first be receiving a qualifying disability benefit, such as Attendance Allowance. There is more information in Age UK's info guide Carer's Allowance (IG52).
We can complete a free benefits check to ensure a person is claiming everything available to them. Particularly, the cared-for person could be entitled to a non-means-tested disability benefit or the carer may be entitled to extra money for being a carer. This could be extra money to help pay for respite care and other support. Important: If someone is paid Carer's Allowance this can negatively impact the cared-for person’s benefits; we advise that the cared-for person has a benefits check first so they can consider all options.
Carer's Allowance is worked out differently for people over State Pension age. If you receive a State Pension you cannot normally be paid Carer's Allowance itself because of overlapping benefit rules, but you can still have the carer premium if you meet the other criteria. If you already receive a means-tested benefit then a carer premium can increase your entitlement. If you don’t get a means-tested benefit then premiums can mean you become entitled for the first time (as it increases the income thresholds for being eligible).
We understand that arranging and funding care support for a loved one can be complex and we can give further advice on specific enquiries if needed.
No-one likes the idea of going into hospital but the majority of us will need to do this at some point in our lives, particularly as we get older. Age UK’s guide Your hospital stay (IG07) is here to help put you at ease during what can be an unsettling time.
You shouldn’t be sent home from hospital until staff have assessed your immediate needs, any agreed support services are ready to start, and any necessary adaptations or equipment are in place. A family member, friend, carer or your care home should also be told when you’ll be discharged. Some people are eligible for a short term NHS funded package of care, such as reablement care. Support of this type can last for up to 6 weeks and is provided for free. Towards the end of the agreed period, staff reassess your needs to see if you need long-term support.
In Wiltshire there is a free Home from Hospital service provided by Age UK Bath & North East Somerset (BANES). This short-term support helps practically and emotionally to build your confidence and connect you to groups and services. Tel 01225 466135
In Swindon there is the Safely Home Service provided through Swindon Adult Social care which offers short-term practical and emotional support to help build confidence and connect people to groups and services. It is aimed at those who do not have the support of family or friends during the first few days/weeks. This service is only available to those who are referred by Swindon Council Adult Social Care or the Great Western Hospital Trust
The Caring Steps Together programme has been developed to help health and care professionals provide hospital patients, as well as their families and carers, with extra support before and during their onward care journey
If you feel you need some more support at home because of a long-term health condition or disability, then they could be eligible for other help. There is a benefit called 'Attendance Allowance' to help with the extra costs of having a long-term health condition or disability and people may be entitled to a free care needs assessment from the local authority adult social care team for extra support. You can read more about these in Age UK’s info guide Getting help at home (IG23).
To request a free care needs assessment contact:
Maintaining good health is important to everyone as it can help you to remain independent and active. Age UK’s info guide Healthy living (IG24) has information on age-related health conditions, dealing with health services and tips on staying fit and healthy.
In the first instance it’s a good idea to discuss your concerns with your GP. You can also explore the other FAQs and our dedicated Organising Care and Support page - there may be other support available such as adult social care assessment, support for carers and disability benefits.
The following guides may be of interest to boost your physical and mental health:
Age UK info guide Getting help at home (IG23)
Age UK info guide Staying steady (IG14)
If you have concerns about your memory, Age UK info guides Living with dementia (IG48) and At home with dementia (IG55) can help and reassure you how to manage this condition. Wiltshire’s Dementia Road Map from Alzheimer's Support Wiltshire has lots of information on local support.
Also, there is extra money from the government (which is not means-tested), called Attendance Allowance (IG49), that can help pay for this type of support and other things to help people to stay independent at home. We can help people to apply for this. If someone receives a disability benefit and has a cognitive impairment they may qualify for a non-means-tested Council Tax Discount for 'severe mental impairment' from the local authority. Depending on how many people live in the household this can reduce the Council Tax bill, and if the person lives alone they can get 100% discount.
Maintaining good health is important to everyone as it can help you to remain independent and active. Age UK’s info guide Healthy living (IG24) has information on age-related health conditions, dealing with health services and tips on staying fit and healthy.
In the first instance it’s a good idea to discuss your concerns with your GP. You can also explore the other FAQs here - there may be other support available such as adult social care assessment, support for carers and disability benefits.
The following guides may be of interest to boost your physical and mental health:
Age UK info guide Getting help at home (IG23)
Age UK info guide Staying steady (IG14)
If you have concerns about your overall mental health or wellbeing we have a list of mental health support numbers
