The Independent Living Centre is a charity in Semington providing free and impartial advice to people of any age with a disability or long term health condition.
Our service is about showing people what aids and equipment exists, and letting them see and try things out with our Occupational Therapists, finding out what works for them, and often equally importantly what doesn’t work for them. With internet shopping so popular these days, it’s so common for people to order something online thinking it will help them, then it arrives in a box unassembled, they haven’t been able to try it beforehand, no one shows them how to use it, and often it ends up being completely unsuitable. We don’t sell or provide any equipment, so our visitors don’t need to worry about pushy sales tactics. It’s just free advice with a qualified professional in a hands-on environment.
At the centre we have a full range of mobility aids and equipment, including: wheelchairs; scooters; beds; chairs; stairlifts; bathlifts; toilets; walking aids; gardening aids; kitchen aids – things to help with eating, drinking, cooking, food preparation, e.g. opening jars, bottles; hoists; moving/handling equipment; technology such as falls alarms, GPS trackers, smart home items; things to help you get dressed – put your socks on, do your shoe laces up, zips, buttons; things for leisure, e.g. if you have difficulty with your hands, there are things to help you hold your playing cards on games night; and much more.
Everything is completely hands on – the stairlifts go up and down stairs, the bathlifts will go up and down in the bath, if you’re struggling to peel potatoes then bring a potato with you. We even have a test track with multiple terrains which clients can drive mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs on. If this part of the assessment goes well, our Occupational Therapist then takes them out into the village, looking at route planning, e.g. dropped kerbs, and avoiding hazards such as bins on the pavement on bin day.
The best way for us to help is with an appointment at the centre, but our Occupational Therapists can also chat to people over the phone, and send advice by email as well.
An appointment is necessary to make sure our Occupational Therapist is available to give you the time and attention needed, but we can usually see people within two weeks.
See our website at ilc.org.uk
Email us at ILCSemington@gmail.com
Or call us on 01380 871007
