Last Updated: May 27, 2025
In the journey of maintaining independence and quality of life, access to suitable equipment plays a crucial role. Whether it’s support for mobility, daily living tasks, or managing health conditions, having the right tools can significantly enhance wellbeing. In this blog, we explore the options available through Medequip’s Community Equipment Loan Services and self-care alternatives to help people make informed decisions based on their individual needs.
Community Equipment Loan Service
Local councils and the NHS commission Medequip to provide Community Equipment Loan Services across the UK, a vital resource for those requiring assistance to live independently. This service operates on the principle of providing prescribed equipment on loan based on the person’s individual needs following an assessment by a health or social care professional.
You can find out if Medequip provide your local Community Equipment Loan Service here.
What do we do?
After the assessment, Medequip provides the prescribed equipment on loan, covering delivery, installation, servicing/repair, collection and recycling. People have access to necessary equipment for as long as they need it.
How can I access equipment?
Accessing equipment through the Community Equipment Loan Service typically involves a referral from a GP or direct contact with your local Council’s Social Care Team. While this service is free, eligibility criteria apply, and the assessment determines the choice of products.
Watch our video to find out more:
Feedback about the Community Equipment Loan Service
Self-care options
In contrast to the prescribed equipment provided by the Community Equipment Loan Service, self-care allows you to select and purchase equipment according to your personal preferences and needs.
What is self-care?
Self-care empowers you to maintain independence by choosing to purchase equipment privately, ranging from mobility aids to daily living essentials like food preparation and bathing aids.
How can I get advice and find equipment to help me?
For guidance, you can utilise online resources such as the self-assessment tool provided by Medequip. This tool offers impartial advice on a wide range of equipment, helping you make an informed decision.
Manage At Home – Your Online Medequip Retail Store
For those seeking a convenient and reliable platform to purchase equipment, Manage At Home offers an extensive range of mobility and daily living aids. As Medequip’s online retail store, Manage At Home is committed to supporting independence by providing quality products.
Why choose Manage At Home?
With a wide range of products, free delivery on orders over £50 and VAT relief available on eligible products, Manage At Home ensures choice and affordability.
But that’s not all. Manage At Home also wants to make your online shopping experience as smooth and accessible as possible. That’s why we have introduced the Accessibility Menu, a feature that allows you to adjust our website’s appearance and functionality according to your preferences and needs.
You can access the Accessibility Menu by clicking on the icon at the top left corner of the website. From there, you can choose from various options, such as:
- Increasing or decreasing the text size
- Stopping animations
- Converting to accessible fonts
- Highlighting links
- Using a larger cursor
- Switching to dark mode
If you are accessing equipment through the Community Equipment Loan Service, self-funded solutions, or a mixture of them both, the main goal for us remains the same – keeping people independent. By understanding the available options and accessing self-care routes like Manage At Home, you can make informed choices that best suit your unique circumstances. For further assistance or information, please visit www.manageathome.co.uk.
