If you are registered with a disability, you should get help to supply you with the home equipment you need. However, if you are not registered, and even if you are, there are additional items you can buy to make your life easier.

There are many types of walking aids available for those with mobility problems, from sticks, canes, crutches and frames to wheelchairs – self-propelled and electric.

There is a range of bathing aids to help you in the bathroom – bath steps and seats, shower stools, grab rails and more. For the toilet, there are seat raisers, toilet rails, tissue aids, and commodes.

Grab rails are a useful addition in many areas of the house – to help offer stability wherever there are steps, or a long rail along a landing or corridor can offer security. If stability is a problem, a stair gate can give additional security at night.

The bedroom is a place where some help is often needed, and there are lots of different products out there. Many different types of support pillows, rails to both stop you from falling out of bed and to help you up out of bed, overbed tables and trays, and mattress tilters.

If you have problems with your hands, there are many small aids that can help around the home, especially in the kitchen, including tap and knob turners, jar and can openers, kettle tippers, carry-trays, and a range of cutlery, dishes and cups. Outside the kitchen there are lots of other aids – plug-handles, aids to help with zips, buttons, socks, tights and shoes.

If there is any specific information you can not find on our site, please use our Ask the Experts facility or e-mail us.