Out and about
Answering and opening your door.
There are many smart doorbells you can buy that alert you when you have a caller, using a loud door bell or flashing light, or by sending a message to your mobile phone. Some systems have a camera so you can see who is at the door and talk to them.
There are changes you can make to your door to make it easier to open. Changing or moving the door handle or the door lock may help. Or you can fit a door knob turner to help you to turn the door knob. You can also buy automated power assisted systems to open your door, many of which work with a remote control.
Living made easy: Doorbells and door entry systems.
If you need to let people into your home regularly, like a cleaner or home support service, you can fit a key safe outside your home.
A key safe is a strong metal box to store a key to the door of your home. It’s installed on an outside wall usually near the front door, but out of sight of passers-by. Most safes have a set of numbered buttons that can be used to enter a code to open the box. You can share this code with anyone you want to allow into your home, like a carer or shopping service.
There are lots of designs of key safes.
The Police recommend you buy a safe that is Secured by Design.
The keysafe will display this logo.
Ask the service you contact if their keysafe has this logo.
Here’s a list of places you can buy a key safe.
The list also shows if they can fit a key safe.
- H Harrold & Sons is a Sheffield company which can supply and fit a key safe to your home. Call (0114) 2724742 to discuss options and costs or email info@hhslocks.co.uk. You can visit their website at: www.hharrold.co.uk.
- HomeSafe is a local company selling and fitting key safes. Call 07789 755118 or email info@myhomesafe.co.uk.
- Medequip run the Sheffield Equipment Store, and have an online shop called Manage@Home selling key safes and other items. Their website is: www.manageathome.co.uk.
- SheffLock is a local service that can supply and fit a key safe to your home. Call (0114) 442 6200 for the latest prices and choices available. Or visit their website www.shefflock.co.uk.
- Ageco is an online shop owned by Age UK, selling key safes and other items. Their website is: www.ageco.co.uk.
- Sheffield Churches for Community Care (SCCCC) loan out temporary key-safes to people who need them. These help prevent delayed hospital discharge by providing temporary key access for the carer(s) until a more permanently fixed key-safe can be fitted. Call (0114) 250 5293 or visit their website: www.scccc.co.uk.
- Screwfix sell keysafes in their shops and online shop. Visit their website: www.screwfix.com.
Help to get in and out of your home.
You can use a ramp to get in and out of your home. There are ramps you can place when needed, or you can have a permanent ramp installed. Think about other equipment you may need like a grab rail, or equipment others may need to use like family or carers to get past your ramp.
Living made easy: Ramps.
Walking sticks and frames.
You can buy walking sticks, canes and walking frames from many local equipment shops and online suppliers.
Local equipment shops and online equipment websites.
There are many options, sticks of different heights and shapes, some folding sticks and others that also have a seat. If you need more help a frame can give more support instead. These are sometimes called a Zimmer Frame or a Rollator. Some have additional features like wheels or a seat.
Living made easy: Walking sticks and canes. Walking frames. Walking aid accessories.
Wheelchairs.
There are many options of wheelchair available, including manual or powered wheelchairs, and ones that are designed just for sports, lightweight for travel, or to use on rough terrain. There are also options to buy a motorised wheelchair using the Motability Scheme (see below).
You can buy a wheelchair from a local equipment shop or an online supplier.
Local equipment shops. Online equipment websites.
If you want help to arrange or pay for your wheelchair talk to your GP or other health professional like a district nurse, community nurse, physiotherapy service. They can make a referral to the Sheffield Wheelchair and Special Seating Service who can provide a wheelchair budget for the type of wheelchair you need.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals: wheelchair and special seating service.
You can get advice and see many different choices of manual and powered wheelchairs from the Living made easy website.
Living made easy: Manual wheelchairs. Powered wheelchairs.
Mobility scooters and cars.
There are many options of mobility scooters and vehicles to get around, and options to rent or buy. If you want to use a scooter to access your local shop you can rent one for part of a day. The directory has information about where to rent a scooter and other options like using community transport, accessible taxis and using public transport.
The national Motability Scheme can help if you want to hire or buy an electric wheelchair, scooter or car. This scheme allows you to pay for the equipment using your benefits.
A scooter or car can be an expensive item (£500 to £5,000 plus) so it’s best to get good advice.
Which?: Best mobility scooters 2023.
RICA – The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers: Electric cars. Mobility scooters. Powered wheelchairs.
Living made easy: Scooters.
Gardening.
The directory has details of local gardening and landscaping companies that will help to maintain your garden.
Gardening is a great hobby, whether you’re growing plants to enhance your space or growing food to eat. While it’s great for your mental health and a good physical activity it can be difficult without the right tools and equipment.
The design of your garden can help, like wider, level paths, and raised flower beds, can make planting and getting around and tending beds easier.
There are also lots of tools that are designed to make tasks in the garden easier, or make your garden easier to maintain. Long handled trowels and forks, kneelers and stools, and pots and beds on wheels you can move around. Get more advice on the Living made easy website.
Living made easy: Gardening made easy. Garden kneeling stools. Gardening tool sets. Garden furniture (including raised beds).
