Yes, you can use the Living Well Falkirk online tool. You can also use it on behalf of someone you live with or help care for.

Some of the areas that Living Well Falkirk offers is:

• advice and exercises to help you stay as fit and able as possible, and to help you keep your independence
• suggestions on areas such as staying safe at home, preventing falls, help with bathing, eating etc
• options to purchase, or request the loan of, equipment matched to your needs

You can complete a self assessment at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. It is a simple but thorough assessment and can take a bit of time. You can save it at any stage and return to it when it suits you.

Yes, after an assessment, your Community Care worker or Social Care Officer can give you practical help and information to help you manage every day activities

You can also get an assessment, your Community Care worker or Social Care Officer can give you practical help and information to help you manage every day activities.

Who can refer me to for an assessment for equipment or adaptations?

You may want to use the Living Well Falkirk online tool. You can also use it on behalf of someone you live with or help care for.

Some of the areas that Living Well Falkirk offers is:

• suggestions on areas such as staying safe at home, preventing falls, help with bathing, eating etc
• options to purchase, or request the loan of, equipment matched to your needs

You can complete a self assessment at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. It is a simple but thorough assessment and can take a bit of time. You can save it at any stage and return to it when it suits you.

You can also refer yourself, or someone can do this for you, to your local social work office.

How long does it take to respond to a referral for assessment for equipment and/or adaptations?

Your referral will be prioritised based on the information provided at the time. We will respond to those in the greatest need first and you may need to wait for an assessment visit.

However, should your circumstances change you should let us know as this may affect your priority for a visit.

We suggest that you may want to use the Living Well Falkirk online tool. You can also use it on behalf of someone you live with or help care for. This is quick and easy and you can do this at a time that suits you.

Some of the areas that Living Well Falkirk offers is:

• suggestions on areas such as staying safe at home, preventing falls, help with bathing, eating etc
• options to purchase, or request the loan of, equipment matched to your needs

You can complete a self assessment at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. It is a simple but thorough assessment and can take a bit of time. You can save it at any stage and return to it when it suits you.

If you need more detailed help you can ask for an assessment through your local social work office.

How long does it take to deliver equipment?

Delivery times for equipment will vary depending on priority.  We will talk to you at the time of the referral and assessment to make sure your needs are met.

I need a walking aid, who do I contact?

You should discuss this with your GP, community nurse, or physiotherapist who will arrange for an assessment of your needs to be completed. If a walking aid is required, this will be provided free of charge by the NHS.

It depends on the length of time you need the wheelchair for.

Long-term/permanent wheelchair need

If you need a wheelchair for long-term/permanent use, you should discuss this with your GP, District Nurse or any Allied Health Professional who will arrange for an assessment of your needs to be completed.

If a wheelchair is needed, you will be referred to the Regional Wheelchair Service. For most Falkirk residents, this will be WestMARC (West of Scotland Mobility and Rehabilitation Centre) in Glasgow.

WestMARC run wheelchair clinics at Stirling Health & Care Village for people in Forth Valley who have been referred to their service. Manual and powered wheelchair clinics take place twice a month.

If you have a wheelchair provided by WestMARC that needs a repair, or is no longer meeting your needs, contact WestMARC.

If you need a wheelchair for a short-term loan, to meet an urgent need you should discuss this with your District Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Physiotherapist.

You will be eligible to borrow a wheelchair if one of the following applies:

• You are unable to stand and/or walk while recovering from surgery, injury, or illness.
• You are receiving end-of-life care, and a wheelchair would improve your quality of life.
• You have been referred to the regional wheelchair service (WestMARC) to receive a permanent wheelchair and a short-term loan of a standard manual wheelchair will allow you to be discharged from hospital.

Wheelchairs for short-term loan in Forth Valley are supplied by the Joint Loan Equipment Service (JLES), following a request by a Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Physiotherapist. Loans are normally for up to 12 weeks but can be extended in exceptional circumstances up to 6 months. At the end of the loan period, wheelchairs must be returned to JLES for re-use.

If none of the above circumstances apply (for example if you need a wheelchair for social reasons or for going on holiday), you can hire a wheelchair, or buy one privately. Shopmobility in Falkirk and Stirling offer a hire service for a small charge.

Contact Shopmobility for more details.

You should speak to your community nurse about the provision of a commode.

You can also ask your GP surgery to refer you for a physiotherapist assessment.

If you don't need the equipment you can contact the Joint Loan Equipment Service (JLES) who will arrange for it to be collected.

You should speak to your community care worker or community nurse about your requirements. You may need to be re-assessed and other equipment issued. Depending upon what the equipment is, you should return it so someone else can use it.

If your equipment is broken you should stop using it immediately and contact your local Social Work office or the Joint Loan Equipment Service who will arrange for it to be repaired or replaced.

You can use the Living Well Falkirk online tool. You can also use it on behalf of someone you live with or help care for. You can complete a self assessment at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. It is a simple but thorough assessment and can take a bit of time.

You can save it at any stage and return to it when it suits you.

If you have bought the scooter, you will need to provide storage for it.