Equipment and Adaptations
Equipment and adaptations play a vital role in improving the quality of people's lives. They can help people to live more independently in their own homes and can reduce the need for home care services.
The provision of equipment and adaptations, as opposed to more costly interventions such as home care or residential care, can also produce significant savings for health and social care partnerships. Follow the link to find out more...
Guidance on the provision of Equipment and Adaptations was issued by the Scottish Government on 1 December 2009. Further details can be found on the New Guidance page.
What are equipment and adaptations?
Equipment and adaptations is a collective term for a broad range of products and changes to the fabric of a building that enable people of all ages to carry out ordinary activities of daily life that have been affected by impairement, ill health, traumatic injury, or the effects of ageing. It includes assistive technology, but not anything that is invasive to the body.
Who may need them?
Any individual of any age, with any illness or disability may benefit from some type of equipment, or adaptation, within their community settings to improve their quality of life. This could be provided on a short or long term basis depending on the persons assessed needs. For example a piece of equipment may only be needed over a short period of time to enable assessment or rehabilitation, or may be required over many years.
It should also be recognised that there will be a small number of users with different types of equipment needs, for example those with sensory impairment.