Equipment and technology to support independent living
There are many helpful tools and technologies available that can make everyday life easier—whether you are at home or out and about.
These solutions can help you with tasks such as:
- Moving around your home safely
- Getting in and out of the bath or shower
- Staying connected and calling for help when needed
Using the right equipment can help you stay safe, independent, and confident in your daily routine.
If there are any changes in your health you should get medical help. Please visit Get medical help (NHS) website.
Explore your options
There are lots of ways to find out what equipment or technology might be right for you.
We are here to help you discover the best solutions for your needs.
Read on to learn more or book a free appointment at one of our Independent Living Centres.
Somerset Independent Living Centres (SILC)
Are you or someone you care for finding daily tasks a bit more difficult? We are here to help.
Somerset’s Independent Living Centres located in Shepton Mallet, Taunton, and Yeovil offer friendly, expert advice and support to help you live more independently at home.
When you visit, you will receive an Occupational Therapy assessment from our experienced team. We will talk with you about your needs and show you equipment and technology that can make everyday life easier, whether it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or around your home.
We also offer helpful solutions for carers and provide unbiased, practical advice tailored to your situation.
The 1-minute video below gives some examples of what we do at the Somerset Independent Living Centres.
What is Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational Therapy is all about helping you do the things that matter to you, like getting dressed, cooking, moving around your home, going out and about, or enjoying hobbies.
An Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy assistant will listen to you, understand what’s difficult, and work with you to find ways to make life easier. This might include showing you new ways to do things or suggesting helpful equipment or changes at home.
It’s all about helping you stay independent, safe, and confident in your everyday life.
Who can use this service
You can book an assessment if you:
- Are 18 or older
- Have a long-term health condition or disability
- Live in the Somerset Council area
- Can attend an appointment (with or without help)
- Agree to have an assessment
What help can you get
Somerset Independent Living Centres offer a wide range of services, including:
- Expert advice about staying independent at home and what may help with this
- Equipment items like grab rails, walking frames, and bathing aids (some are loaned for free).
- Minor home changes for small adaptations like banister rails or steps.
- Mobility advice for falls prevention and suitable basic walking aids (but not wheelchairs or mobility scooters).
- Technology advice on personal alarms, fall detectors, and smart home tools.
- Housing advice about suitable housing if you need to move.
- Hearing and vision support for specialist equipment and advice (but not hearing and eye tests or hearing aids or glasses).
Who is not suitable for Somerset Independent Living Centres
Somerset Independent Living Centre is not the right service if you:
- Are unwell or recovering from surgery or injury
- Due to have surgery soon (for example hip or knee replacements)
- Are already receiving rehabilitation
You may need to seek support from your GP, a hospital, or buy or borrow equipment while you are recovering (see Buying or Borrowing equipment section below).
- Have complex housing needs (e.g. homeless, being evicted)
- Have rapidly worsening health conditions
- Need specialist seating or manual handling assessments
- Have significant memory or thinking difficulties that make taking part in assessments hard
You may need to have a Social Care Occupational Therapy home assessment in some instances – customer services team will advise when you contact them.
Book an Independent Living Centre appointment
Appointments are free, but must be booked in advance. Please complete the form below and we will phone you back to book your appointment.
You can also phone to book an appointment on 0300 123 2224. Our phone lines are open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired you can contact us using SMS text 07862 122246.
If you work in health or social care and need to book an appointment on behalf of someone, please use the Professional Referral to Adult Social Care Form.
Preparing for your appointment
Once your appointment is booked, we will send you a confirmation with everything you need to know, including directions to the centre and where to park.
If you need help getting to us, we can also provide information about community transport options.
We will send you a Home Measurement Sheet to fill out before you come in. Please let us know if you want a printed copy.
This sheet helps our Occupational Therapy team by giving them the measurements they need to recommend the right equipment for you. Please bring photos and videos if you are able.
Locations
Independent Living Centre Shepton Mallet
Shape Mendip
Cannards Grave Road
Shepton Mallet
BA4 5BT
Independent Living Centre Taunton
Taunton Library hub
Paul Street
Taunton
TA1 3XZ
Independent Living Centre Yeovil
Yeovil Innovation Centre
Barracks Close
Copse Road
Yeovil
BA22 8RN
If you cannot visit a Somerset Independent Living Centre
If you are not able to leave your house, don’t worry – we can come to you but this may take longer.
Sometimes, a member of our Social Care Occupational Therapy team may need to visit you at home. They will talk with you about your needs and suggest helpful equipment or changes to make life easier for you or your carer.
This could include:
- Small changes like stair rails
- Larger items like specialist equipment or ramps
We may be able to provide this equipment free of charge through our Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service.
If you need bigger changes like a stair-lift or a wet-floor shower, we might help you apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. We will talk to you about your finances, as you may need to contribute to the cost of these.
Medequip self help guide - AskSARA
The online Medequip self help guide – AskSARA has impartial advice and information about daily living equipment and living independently. It has been developed by a national charity with 50 years of experience. The advice is for disabled adults and children, older people, their carers and families.
There is a part of the website where you can answer questions about how you do daily tasks. Based on your answers, it will suggest equipment you can buy to help you.
Community alarm services or lifelines
There are other ways you can stay safe and independent at home. Community alarm services, or lifelines, are low-cost pendant alarms for people who need help at home or might be at risk of falling. They have many types of alarms, and our highly trained support team will help you find the right one.
When you press the alarm button, it sends an alert to a call centre that answers right away. They can talk to you even if you are not near the phone, but only when you press the button. You can add more alerts, like fall alarms, smoke alarms, door exit sensors and heat alarms. In some places, there is also a 24-hour lifeline service that can come to your home if you need help.
Carer pagers are also available. They can alert a family member or friend if a sensor goes off. This can be very helpful and reassuring if you have returned home after being in hospital.
The video below shows how Somerset Lifeline works.
Get In Touch with Somerset Lifeline
Assistive Technology or Technology Enabled Care
There are many other products to help people live independently at home. These are called Assistive Technology or Technology Enabled Care.
Technology can remind people and their carers about things to do at home, like taking medicine on time. It can alert a family member or carer if someone gets out of bed at night and needs help. It can also alert a monitoring centre if something happens, so people get the help they need.
To learn how technology can help you at home or when you are out, make an appointment to visit our Independent Living Centres or check out the Hft Virtual Smarthouse website.
SEND information - part of our Local Offer
Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service
The Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service offers a range of equipment to help you live on your own. This includes equipment for your home and for when you are out. Somerset residents can borrow this equipment for as long as they need. The service includes delivery, fitting, servicing, collection and recycling.
You can find more information about wheelchairs on the Somerset Wheelchair Service website.
You usually need to be assessed by a health or social care professional to get equipment or wheelchairs. You can contact us to ask for an assessment. Phone 0300 123 2224 or visit our Care and Support Assessment webpage for more information.
The Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service is provided by Medequip supported by AJM Healthcare, on behalf of Somerset Council and NHS Somerset.
Returning Equipment
If you have been loaned equipment that you no longer need, that you do not need anymore, Medequip can pick it up for free. They will recycle it and help others who need it. To return your equipment, please phone 01823 211699 or email somerset@medequip-uk.com. Or, return to the address below.
Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service
Unit 1 The Monarch Centre, Venture Way
Priorswood Industrial Estate
Taunton
TA2 8DE
Opening Hours: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
For more information, please visit Medequip UK website.
If you want to get equipment but have not been assessed by a professional
- For online advice, visit Medequip Somerset Living Made Easy. This online, self-assessment tool gives you free, impartial advice about all kinds of equipment to make daily life easier.
- For equipment you pay for yourself, visit Manage at Home – Your online Medequip retail store.
- For telecare options you pay for yourself, visit Medequip Connect.
Buying or borrowing equipment
You can buy some helpful equipment from local shops that sell disability equipment. Some local volunteer groups and private providers also sell equipment.
Short-term wheelchair loan
You can borrow a wheelchair for a short-term loan from the British Red Cross. This is ideal if you need a wheelchair temporarily, such as trying it out before buying.
You can find out more by phoning 0300 456 1914 Or visit the British Red Cross website.
Donating equipment to charity
There may be some equipment we no longer use because of changes to how we support people. We donate this equipment to charities that send it to other countries. Any equipment we collect that cannot be reused or recycled is checked by us and then either scrapped, recycled, or disposed of.
