Medical equipment

Medical equipment is meant to strengthen a disabled or ill person’s independency. These can be used to support mobility, dressing up, washing up and housework, or to improve safety.

Usually, you consider the need for medical equipment with your doctor. There may be other experts evaluating your need for medical equipment, such as a rehabilitation counselor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. Medical equipment loan services, run by healthcare services, will guide you in questions related to medical equipment and their usage.

Medical equipment that improves safety

There are simple measures to increase safety, which you can acquire yourself. These are, for example, wristbands or necklaces stating that you have epilepsy. Medicine dispensers are available if you have several medications or take medication multiple times a day.

For now, there is not a machine that would recognise different epileptic seizures. None  alarm can guarantee full safety. For example, bed monitors only comprehend movement of seizures with convulsions. If your child makes sounds during their nightly seizures, a baby monitor can be helpful.

A safety phone is a button installed in a wristband or necklace, which when pressed calls to a pre-set number. There are also safety alarms, developed primarily for people with memory disorders, which can be helpful for some. Acquiring a safety wristband might be useful, if a person tends to move around during a seizure with impaired awareness. An alarm, which triggers when you fall on the other hand, recognises the shaking motion from a fall and alerts if the person does not get up. A smart watch that monitors vital functions can be set to alert when it detects abnormalities.

A severely disabled person may get support for equipment from the municipality’s disability services. You may be able to acquire a safety phone if you receive public care services or alternatively, you can buy one yourself.

Solutions to improve safety at home can be found here.