Equipment & Technology

Anything that saves you time or makes caring easier or safer is a good thing. A lot of equipment and technology is funded depending on your circumstances and some relatively inexpensive items can make a big difference.

• Monitors and sensors
  A ‘listening’ monitor can be useful during the day as well as at night. You can use it while you spend time in the garden, hobby room, or anywhere else nearby. That way, you can relax knowing you will be able to hear if the person you support needs you. There are a range of sensors available to help you care at home. Bupa, for example, has a bed occupancy sensor that goes underneath the mattress. It will alert you if the person you support has, say, got up during the night for a bathroom visit and hasn’t returned to bed after the usual length of time.
• Medical alarms
  These one button wonders will alert the alarm call centre or ambulance service if someone becomes unwell, falls, or has another kind of emergency. Alarms are an affordable way to ensure help will be on its way if needed. Funding may be available from Work and Income.
• Click and the shopping’s done
  Shopping can be as much a chore as a pleasure. Online shopping is an efficient way to buy what you need for home delivery. Many companies offer online shopping as well as having ‘bricks and mortar’ stores, so it’s easy to buy from brands you know and trust. Look for online-only specials and offers of free delivery to keep costs down. Home deliveries are especially useful for groceries, pet and garden supplies, and frozen or pre-prepared meals. Think about the things you buy regularly and consider whether ordering them online for home delivery would make life easier. If you like to shop this way, ask friends and family for special occasion gift vouchers from these e-tailers.
• Use a taxi card
  Getting from A to B can be stressful for family and whānau carers and those they support, especially if it requires shifting, lifting, and finding a disability carpark. Ask yourself whether, sometimes at least, it might be prudent to use a friendly, accessible taxi or companion driving service for appointments and outings. Reducing such stresses is a break in itself; the person you support may even qualify for reduced taxi fares with the Total Mobility Scheme.
  Taxi companies like Blue Bubble and Corporate Cabs offer accounts for those who use taxis regularly. You’ll find information on their websites, or you may know of other transport operators in your area that offer accessible vehicles for outings. With a taxi card you can make a single payment monthly, for example, and request drivers and vehicles you prefer by booking ahead.