- trolleys for carrying things between rooms
- kettle ‘tippers’ to help you pour the kettle safely
- specially adapted beds and chairs
- mobile or ceiling-mounted hoists
- raised toilet seats and commodes
- shower stools and bath seats
- grab rails
- wall to floor rails
- alterations to taps
- alterations to steps
- talking clocks
Managing at home
- Home
- Managing at home
Daily Living Aids
Assistive Technology (AT) is any product or service designed to support people’s independence.
Do you have difficulty carrying out day-to-day activities? Do you sometimes feel unsafe in your own home or do you care for someone who does? Equipment is available which can help you live more independently and confidently at home and in your community.
Whatever you're having difficulty with, chances are there is a piece of equipment that can help. There are many types of equipment designed to help with different day-to-day activities.
The Leeds Community Equipment Service provides a wide range of nursing and daily living equipment to people at home. The equipment is provided for free on loan.
The service delivers and installs equipment in homes at the request of a range of workers who assess people's needs, such as occupational therapists, community nurses, physiotherapists and others.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are struggling to do all the things you want or need to do in your daily life, you can browse the categories on this site to find do the things you want or need to do in your daily life to find out some suggestions about things that might help. It may be equipment, adaptations or other sources of practical help.
Our Equipment House has advice on techniques and equipment that may assist you.
Living Made Easy has impartial advice about products relating to nursing and daily living.
Some equipment can be provided on loan for free by the Leeds Community Equipment Service, much of which is detailed on this site in the relevant categories.
The first step to access this equipment is to contact Leeds City Council’s Customer Services contact centre on 0113 222 4401 to arrange an assessment. You can also arrange an assessment through your GP.
The assessment is to determine your needs and ensure any equipment is suitable and safe. This will be done by a professional such as an occupational therapist, district nurse, physiotherapist or other, and they will then arrange any equipment loan for you.
The Leeds Community Equipment Service aims to provide the right equipment to enable people to live independent and inclusive lives. They are an integrated service delivering different types of equipment for health and local authority customers of all ages in Leeds.
There are different levels of equipment;
- Level 1: Inexpensive items such as commodes and bath seats which are usually in stock.
- Level 2: More expensive items such as shower chairs, profiling beds and pressure relieving mattresses.
- More specialist, and in some cases bespoke, equipment can be provided by Leeds Equipment Services, however this requires a more detailed assessment by a professional.
A professional such as an occupational therapist, district nurse, physiotherapist or other, will carry out an assessment to determine needs and ensure any equipment is suitable and safe. They will then arrange the loan of any equipment identified.
To arrange an assessment contact Leeds City Council’s Customer Services contact centre on 0113 222 4401
- The first step is to contact Leeds City Council’s Customer Services contact centre on 0113 222 4401 to arrange an assessment. You can also arrange an assessment through your GP.
- An assessment will take place by a health or social care professional which will look at your needs. The assessment will also look at whether your home has space for the equipment.
- From this, a piece of equipment may be recommended and requested.
- Leeds Community Equipment Service receives the request and processes it.
- If the request is for a piece of Level 1 equipment, the Leeds Community Equipment Service team will order it.
- If the request is for Level 2 or more specialist equipment, Leeds Community Equipment Service will check the right information has been provided and the item will be delivered as soon as it is available. This might be from stock or through a new purchase.
- Leeds Community Equipment Service will then deliver your piece of equipment at a date and time that you and your assessor are available if necessary. You will be provided with written guidance that will explain the safe use of the equipment, cleaning and details of general maintenance and details around servicing.
Many items of equipment can be purchased directly from a supplier. You can browse suppliers, organisations, services, and events and activities to help you to live independently on this Leeds Directory site.
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) website has a list of useful factsheets with advice about selecting a range of daily living equipment.
Review a list of DLF Factsheets
You can also get independent information and advice from the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre and Mobility Service website or call them on 0113 305 8989.
If your equipment was provided by Leeds Community Equipment service you can contact them to arrange for collection or repair of equipment.
Each piece of equipment from Leeds Community Equipment Service also has a yellow label with contact details for them if it needs to be collected or repaired.
Please be sure to follow the instructions that came with your equipment. Only use the equipment in the way that was explained to you by your assessor (this may be a nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or other health or social care professionals). This equipment should only be used by the person it was provided for.
Some equipment will be labelled “Please do not use this equipment until your therapist or nurse has shown you how to use it”. Please contact your assessor before using any equipment with this label.
You may have manufacturer’s instructions if so, please follow these. Otherwise you can keep your equipment clean by using hot soapy water, ensuring it is dry before use.
If you are unsure, please contact your assessor / provider or Leeds Community Equipment Service.
Please be sure to check the equipment regularly. If you spot any physical problems with the equipment please contact Leeds Community Equipment Service for repairs on LCESAdultEquipment@leeds.gov.uk or phone 0113 378 3282.
If you have any problems using the equipment – if it does not do what you expected it to or is not suitable, please contact your assessor.
Some equipment requires a six monthly or annual service. Leeds Community Equipment Service will contact you to arrange this. It is your responsibility to make sure the equipment is available for us to check. Equipment provided directly to you has been issued on loan and remains the property of the Leeds Community Equipment Service.
You are responsible for taking care of your equipment during the loan period. Leeds Community Equipment Service retains the right to inspect or recall the equipment during the period of the loan.
It is not advisable to pass unwanted daily living aids on to friends and family as it has not been assessed for them and it may not be suitable for their needs.
It is important that people are assessed for mobility aids such as bath boards, walkers and rollators to ensure that they are ale to use them safely. When not used safely daily living aids may contribute to accidents and falls and lead to unnecessary hospital admissions.
If you think that someone may benefit from a particular piece of equipment you should encourage them to seek assessment either through William Merritt Centre or Leeds Community Equipment Service.
If you have been issued daily living aids by Leeds Community Equipment Service you can return unwanted items to them directly. Contact the telephone number on the yellow sticker on your equipment to find out how to return the item or to arrange a collection.
If you purchased the daily living aid yourself you are responsible for its disposal. You can take items to any of the city waste sites, arrange a bulky collection through the council or contact a council approved private waste carrier so they can dispose of in on your behalf.
