Assistive technology

Assistive technology is any device, system or equipment designed to assist you with everyday activities. They are intended to support you to stay safe and independent in your own home for as long as possible.

Who can benefit?

Assistive technologies can be useful for many people, including people with:

• a learning disability
• dementia or poor memory
• difficulty walking
• difficulty using their hands
• blindness or visual impairment
• deafness or hearing impairment

Examples of assistive technology

There are many different types of devices out there. These include equipment to help you with:

• moving around
• sitting comfortably
• completing household tasks
• using a computer
• monitoring your health
• alerting your carers when you need help

Where to start

You can see a list of companies on Haricare that sell telecare products, such as personal alarms.

Purchasing assistive technology

Assistive technology can be purchased from a range of suppliers, some offering a broad range of products and others specialising in products to meet specific needs.

For information on products and suppliers, visit the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC) website.

We recommend that you view any equipment before purchasing to make sure it meets your requirements.

Services provided by the council

Our Connected Care service supports a range of customers by providing technology within the home (often called Telecare). This can detect falls, improve the security of your home, or raise an alarm to our 24-hour 365-day service.

The service is chargeable, and you will need to have an assessment first.