Mobility equipment assessment prescribed by an OT.

You can buy one privately, but an OT assessment ensures the device is the right type, at the right height, with the right features for your specific gait and home environment. The wrong frame (wrong height, wrong wheel configuration, no brakes on a slope) can actually increase falls risk. For funded clients (HCP, DVA, CHSP), an OT prescription is also required before the funding body will approve the purchase.

Walking frames (standard, wheeled, four-wheeled with brakes and seat), walking sticks and crutches, rollators, manual and powered wheelchairs, shower commodes, shower chairs and stools, transfer boards, bed rails and grab handles, rise-recliner chairs, pressure care mattresses, hoists and transfer belts. Our OTs assess the full picture of what someone needs and prescribe accordingly.

Yes. Equipment purchase or hire is a standard use of HCP funds at all levels (1-4), within the package budget. Your home care provider manages the funding and organises the supplier. Our OT provides the prescription report, which is required by most HCP providers before they'll approve equipment spend. For large or complex equipment (powered wheelchairs, ceiling hoists), HCP Level 3 or 4 is usually needed.

DVA Gold Card holders can access a wide range of mobility aids at no cost, including walking frames, wheelchairs and shower equipment. The process usually starts with a GP or specialist referral, followed by an OT assessment if the item requires prescription. White Card holders may have access to some aids depending on their accepted conditions. We're experienced in DVA pathways and can advise on the process.

Our OT visits your home and watches how you move: walking on different surfaces, getting on and off chairs and the bed, navigating the bathroom, managing the front steps. We assess strength, balance, coordination and endurance in the context of your actual environment. From this, we determine what equipment (if any) is needed, prescribe the right item and specifications, and either provide a report for your funding body or liaise directly with a supplier for fitting.

Yes. For manual wheelchairs, a home assessment is often the best starting point, as we can assess the client's functional mobility, measure doorway widths and determine what features are needed for the home layout. For powered wheelchairs, a more detailed AT assessment may be required, including a trial of the chair. We can carry this out or refer to a specialist AT assessor if the complexity warrants it.

A review is a standard part of the OT equipment service. After delivery, we schedule a follow-up (in person or by phone, depending on complexity) to confirm the equipment is set up correctly and the person is using it safely and comfortably. If adjustments or a different model is needed, we work with the supplier and funding body to arrange it. For funded clients, this review is included in the scope of the OT service.