Planning an equipment or home-adaptation assessment

Good equipment should improve safety, comfort, participation or independence without creating unnecessary burden for the person or carers.

Key points to discuss:
- Define the problem and the daily activities the equipment should support.
- Ask for assessment in the real environment—home, school, vehicle or community—when possible.
- Check size, growth allowance, transfers, pressure care, communication access and compatibility with other equipment.
- Trial equipment before purchase where possible and include the person’s preferences.
- Clarify funding, delivery, training, repairs, servicing and what happens if needs change.
- Record review dates; equipment that once fitted well can become unsafe.

Sources:
- ActiveRett: https://rett.thekids.org.au/resources/activerett/
- Consensus care guidelines: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7488790/

Important: This post provides general information, not individual medical advice. Care and treatment must be personalised by qualified healthcare professionals. If you are worried that someone is seriously unwell, use your local urgent or emergency service.