Home equipment finder

Abilia

Digital assistive technology that gives structure and independence in every day life. Offers reminders and checklists as well as video calls, remote monitoring and a secure web portal.

Accessible clothing

Adaptive clothing for assisted dressing and for anyone who struggles with self-dressing.

Acoustic trigger doorbells

Various options are available including doorbells with flashing symbol, adjustable loud sounds or bright strobe lights.

Adjustable beds

If its getting harder to get out of bed, then these may help. They can help with the physical strain of manually pulling yourself up using your back or abdominal muscles.

Aira Explorer

Visual interpreting app that describes, reads, explains and helps navigate in real time for the blind and low vision community. In Surrey its free to use at bus stations in Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking.

Audible blood pressure monitors

These can read out the blood pressure reading.

Audio books, eBooks, emagazines, enewspapers and ecomics

Listen to audio books, or read ebooks, emagazines, enewspapers, and ecomics on most devices and smartphones. See also talking newspapers.

Bath lifts and boards

Bath lifts can help people get in and out of the bath and can be helpful for those with balance and mobility issues, whilst bath boards can be used for people who are able to sit over the bath. See also shower seats and boards.

Bath steps

Reduce the height needed to lift someone's legs when getting into and out of the bath.

Bathroom aids

These can help with personal hygiene.

Be my eyes

Connects blind and low-vision users who want sighted help with volunteers and businesses anywhere in the world, through live video and artificial intelligence.

Bed rails and bed guards

These are designed to make it harder for people to fall out of bed.

Bed sensors and alarms

Bed Sensors and alarms are devices placed on or under a bed that detect when someone gets out of bed or moves in a certain way. They trigger an alert to notify carers or staff, helping to reduce the risk of falls and improve safety. Some alarms sound a voice alert to encourage people to return to bed. Local district and borough councils are able to provide these sensors and alarms. See also floor sensor mats and chair sensors.

Big button telephones

These can make dialing numbers easier.

Blood pressure monitors

These allow you to keep track of your blood pressure readings in your own home.

Body wipes

Body wipes are designed to replace a shower or bath when access to water is limited. Usually with chlorhexidine, they kill odour-causing bacteria and sweat.

Bogus Caller Alarm

Can be used if a stranger requests or tries to force entry. In Surrey your local district or borough council offer bogus caller alarms. See also Telecare and lifeline alarms.

Bottle and jar openers

These make opening lids on bottles and jars much easier.

Brain in Hand

Offers simple digital tools with ongoing support for managing feelings of being overwhelmed and anxiety. Gives easy to use tools and support from your phone 24/7.

Button hooks and zip pulls

These can make the difficult task of buttoning or zipping up clothes easier.

Can openers

These can help make opening lids easier.

Car transfer handles

Can help people who struggle to get in and out of cars.

Carbon monoxide alarms and sensors

These detect dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide within your home. Also available are alarms with loud alarms and flashing red lights. Some can be monitored through your smartphone or device. See also smoke alarms, and alarms, sensors and detectors.

Carer alert system

An internal alarm device to alert carers or family members within the property. The device can link with other kinds of devices and sensors.

Chair and furniture raisers

These can help have furniture at an accessible height.

Chair sensors

These can sound an alarm or beep to encourage someone to return to their chair. These are also known as community alarms, telecare and Careline. In Surrey your local borough or district council offers a range of personal alarms, sensors and motion sensors. See also carer alert systems and bed sensors.

Combs and brushes

Long handled combs and brushes are designed to provide maximum reach with minimum effort.

Commodes

Can help if someone struggles accessing a normal toilet.

Cooker guard

A cooker guard is a safety device designed to help prevent kitchen fires and accidents.

Cooling towels

Use as a quick way to cool down. Can re-use. Use for wrapping around your neck, as a scarf or a sweatband.

Daisy players

Specifically designed to make listening to DAISY books or music CDs as easy as possible for blind or partially sighted people.

Dementia clocks

A simple, easy to read clock that clearly shows the day, date and time of the day. Usually designed with large letters and no distractions. Can have alarms and reminders with pictures, sounds and/or video. See also memory prompt calendar and diaries.

Document scanning app

Apps that scan documents, labels or signs and convert the scanned images into text and read them out.

Door and window alarms

These trigger an alarm if the door (or window) is opened at an unusual time. See also smart doorbells and video doorbells.

Dressing sticks

These are ideal for people whose reach, dexterity or ability to bend is limited.

Easy grip mugs

These reduce any spill risk and can help the user gain independence.

Easy reachers

These can help with reaching to pick up objects off the floor without bending down.

Easy to use tablets

These can offer specially designed features.

EasyReaders

Provides iOS and Android reading apps for people with dyslexia, low vision or who have a visual impairment.

Emergency response app

Emergency response app. Has intuitive interface and is customisable.

Enuresis alert alarms and sensors

These alarms provide an early alert for individuals prone to incontinence.

Envision AI

Allows you to use your camera to scan any piece of text, your surroundings, objects people or products and will read everything out to you.

Epilepsy bed sensors

Sensors can monitor movement and raise an alert when they detect repetitive motion that is common with Tonic Clonic seizures. You put these sensors between the bed base and the mattress. You can adjust and delay them to stop false alarm calls. In Surrey some district or borough councils offer epilepsy bed monitors. Your GP or epilepsy nurse may also be able to help. See also bed sensors and alarms.

Fall alarms and detectors

Are useful in places where falls can happen such as bathrooms, bedroom and on the stairs. In Surrey your local district and borough council offer fall alarms and Careline buttons and boxes. These are also known as Call buttons, Careline buttons. See also personal alarms and waterproof call buttons.

Fans and air conditioners

Can help cool down the temperature in different rooms.

Flood alarms and detectors

Anti-flooding devices can keep the home safe by releasing water from baths and sinks when they become too full. Flooding alarms can detect when the water reaches a certain level and sound an alarm, usually by placing over the side of the bath or sink. In Surrey your local borough or district council offers flood detectors.

Floor sensor mats

Can send an alert when someone steps or sits on the mat unexpectedly. See also bed sensors and alarms.

Food chopper

Useful for smaller food items, that can be hard to hold whilst chopping.

Food preparation

These apps can help you prepare and cook food.

Footrest

Designed to provide comfortable leg support and promote better posture when seated.

Gardening aids

These can make working in and enjoying your garden easier.

Gas detectors

Will give audible and/or visible alarms when levels of gas in a room start to increase. See also heat and smoke detectors.

Glucose monitoring kits

Provide readings of your blood sugar levels. Some also give an audible output of the reading.

Google Live Transcribe

Offers free, real time, speech-to-text transcriptions which could help people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Grab rails

Can be used near a toilet, bath or shower to help with balance and support. Folding and suction versions also available. Grab rails can also be used outside or elsewhere around the home.

Half steps

Can help when a doorstep is too high by lowering the distance.

Handrails

Provide support and safe access on stairs, helping individuals move around their home more independently.

Health and activity trackers

Track your activity levels as well as monitoring heart rate, sleep quality and stress levels. See also smart watches and location and activity trackers. Health and activity trackers can be borrowed from any of the libraries in Surrey.

Hear Me Now

Capture what matters to you in a single user friendly place. Add text, photos, video, audio, and links to information, into named boxes you create.

Hearing aid compatible mobile phones

These reduce the interference with hearing aids, which can cause buzzing or noises.

Heat detectors

These are triggered by rises is ambient heat, rather than smoke and can detect fires rather than smoke. They can also be useful in detecting when it is too cold. See also smoke alarms and alarms, sensors and detectors and gas detectors.

Hoists

Help make movement to and from beds, seats, baths and wheelchairs easier.

Home lifts

Can help you move between upstairs and downstairs and make it easier for people to move around their home more independently.

Hot plate holders

Can help when handling hot plates making them safer and more stable.

iDentifi

An iPhone app which enables the user to click on a photo and recognises objects, colours, brands, facial handwriting and text. It works in 27 languages.

Indoor walking trolleys

Can help provide extra support when moving around. You can carry meals, hot drinks and other items between rooms safely. See also wheelchairs, walking sticks and walking frames.

Instant hot water/boiling water tap

These can remove the need for people to lift and pour heavy, or unsteady kettles. See also one cup hot water dispensers.

Jointly

Makes communication between people who share care easier. Offers group messaging, medication lists, calendar options and more.

Just Roaming

Allows adults with learning disabilities and autism to live independently within supported living homes. Uses sensors installed in a property to send live alerts to a mobile phone app. .

Kettle tippers

Can help people raise their kettle without spilling.

Key safes

These are strong metal boxes in which the key to your door can be securely stored. Your keys can be accessed by a combination code which will only be known to you and anyone you give the code to.

Kitchen scales

Talking kitchen scales can announce weight and volumes, and some also have tactile buttons.

Kitchen workstation

These are food preparation boards with additional aids to help the user with day to day kitchen tasks.

Knives and forks

Can make cutting and holding food easier, especially for people who have limited strength or dexterity.

Knob turners

Can make gripping and turning little knobs easier.

Large print keyboards for visually impaired

These can help make using a keyboard and typing easier.

Lazarillo Accessible GPS app

Accessible GPS for individuals who are blind or have low vision. It allows you to explore the world around you and create routes with audio guidance.

Leg lifter

Can help with lifting someone's leg up when getting into bed or dressing.

LetMeTalk

Free augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app that provides everyone with a voice, including those who can't speak. The app allows people to line up images in a meaningful way to be read as a sentence.

Lifting aids

Help make movement to and from beds, seats, baths and wheelchairs easier.

Liquid level indicators

Cup or liquid level indicators can be put on the side of cups for example and then use audio or vibrations to say when the liquid is near the top of the cup.

Location and tracker tags and stickers

Apple AirTags and Tiles are small trackers designed to help find lost items like keys, wallets, or other items using smartphone apps.

Locking Cooker Valves

These can be fitted for free to your exiting gas cooker pipework. When the valve is locked, the gas supply to the cooker is stopped.

Magnifier apps

Turn your device's display into a magnifier.

Makaton apps

Makaton (a simple type of sign language) apps are learning apps using pictograms and signs representing words and sentences.

Max TV glasses

These are hands free magnifying glasses designed to make distant objects especially television screens appear larger and easier to see.

Measuring jugs

Large print or talking measuring jugs make accurate measuring easy.

Memory prompt calendar and diaries

Help with daily planning, which can reduce confusion and anxiety as they provide clear, visual reminders of today and what to expect. Can also set alarms and reminders. See also dementia clocks.

Mobility scooters

Can give independence by allowing people to travel to places like shops and parks.

Molehill Mountain

An app to help autistic people understand and self-manage anxiety.

Movement and motion sensors

Surrey County Council's Connected Care enables people to live independently at home by using proactive and preventative technology to monitor daily life. Small discreet sensors track motion, light and temperature, alongside appliance usage through smart plugs on devices like microwaves and fridges. The sensors, placed throughout the home, focus on maintaining independence without using cameras or audio. They gather data on movement, light changes, temperature, and appliance activity to offer valuable insights into daily routines and for any changes in routine.

One cup hot water dispensers/kettles

These rapidly boil enough water just for only one cup. See also instant hot water boiling tap.

Outdoor walking rollators

Usually offer a perch to rest, as well as storage space for shopping. See also Indoor walking trolleys, and wheelchairs, walking sticks and walking frames.

Pan stirrers

These can be placed in a pan with any simmering or low heat liquid and be set to stir. Some have a timer for how long they will stir for.

Perching stools and chairs

These can help support you whilst preparing meals or washing in a bathroom. See also indoor walking trolleys.

Personal alarms (including telecare)

Can help when moving around your home or when out and about. They can be linked to monitors within the house, or to monitoring stations or to mobile apps. If they are linked to a monitoring centre then a call operator will respond and usually call a relative or family friend or an emergency service. Monitoring centres operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Some personal alarms can be worn as watches and used when out and about, as well as offering panic and help options whilst out. They can also be called telecare, careline and community alarms. In Surrey your local district and borough council offers a range of alarms and sensors. See also fall alarms and detectors and waterproof fall buttons.

Pill and medication dispensers including automatic

Pill and medication dispensers remind people when to take their medication. Some have a visual or sound alarms. In Surrey your local district or borough council offers a wide range of personal alarms and sensors. See also pill and medication dispenser apps.

Pill or medication dispenser apps

Apps can be used for setting messages or reminders and alerts to users on their smartphones or devices to take their medication. See also pill and medication dispensers.

Pill poppers and cutters

An easy way to remove pills and tablets from blister packs. Useful for people with limited dexterity.

Pillow lifters and rests

This can help to raise and lower a pillow or the upper part of a bed at the touch of a button.

Potato masher

Can make mashing potatoes easier, especially for people who have limited strength or dexterity.

Protective outerwear

Protective outerwear for wheelchair users.

Raised toilet seats

These can make it easier for people to sit and get up from a toilet.

Ramps

For wheelchair and mobility scooter users. These make accessing buildings easier and safer.

Remote control plugs and sockets

These are controlled by a remote control and do not need a smartphone or device to control them. See also smart plugs.

Riser recliner chairs

If getting in and out of a regular armchair or sofa has become more of a struggle, then a riser recliner may help.

Robot mops

These can be programmed with different cleaning cycles via a smartphone or device.

Robot pet therapy

Pet therapy can help people cope with health problems and provide emotional support and companionship.

Robot vacuum cleaners

These can be programmed with different cleaning cycles.

Robot window cleaners

These automatically wash, scrub, and dry vertical or horizontal glass surfaces, such as windows, shower screens, and mirrors. Useful for disabled people or people anxious about heights.

Scissors

Easy to use and handle scissors, especially for people who have limited strength or dexterity.

Screen magnifiers

These enlarge on-screen text and images up to 64 times the original size. Some also offer features like changing the cursor and screen colours.

Security motion sensors

These can help track movement in different rooms, as well as sending alerts when there are intruders.

Seeing AI

A free app that narrates the world around you. Can help with daily talks from reading, to describing photos, to identifying products and more. For the blind and low vision community. Available for Apple and Android.

Sensor night lights

Ideal for when someone gets up at night. When the sensor senses movement the light will come on.

Sensory alarm clocks

Can help people with a visual or hearing impairment and will use light, vibration, or scent to wake you up.

Shoe horns

Can help to guide a person's foot into their shoe.

Shower seats, stools and boards

These allow people to sit whilst having a shower and make it easier to get into and out of the shower as well as feeling safer in the shower. See also bath lifts and boards.

Sight for Surrey

Has a resource centre of equipment and smart tech that can assist people with a sight or hearing impairment. Please book in advance.

Simple and large button TV remote controls

Provides only a few large buttons and options for easy to use channel changing.

Simple USB players and music players

Simple personal audio players are accessible and easy to use.

Skills for independent living

Can help develop skills for independent living.

Smart and talking fridges and freezers

Allow you to connect and monitor your fridge freezer using your smartphone or device, as well as controlling the internal temperatures in case the door isn't closed properly.

Smart and talking washing machines

Can remember someone's laundry habits and suggest favourite cycles, as well as being able to let someone schedule washes from anywhere via a smartphone or device.

Smart blinds

Open and close blinds with your smartphone or device.

Smart canes

These are enhanced mobility aids designed to support individuals with visual impairments, balance challenges or mobility limitations.

Smart curtain tracks

These allow you to open and close your curtains remotely via your smartphone or device.

Smart dishwashers

These allow you to operate, control and monitor using your smartphone or device.

Smart entry devices

Smart door locks don't need a key to open them and can be controlled through your smartphone or device. See also video doorbells, smart security alarms and systems, smart security cameras and smart doorbells.

Smart glasses

Use voice commands to capture memories, make calls, send messages, or listen to music. Can be used to help describe surrounding, identify objects, reading out text and translating menus for example.

Smart heaters

Can be switched on and off and temperature controlled using a smartphone.

Smart heating controls

Allows you to control your heating and temperatures through your smartphone or device.

Smart home hubs

These respond to voice commands to help you control electric devices in your home � for example "turn off the lights", remind you of appointments or when to take medication, or call people from your mobile. They can be helpful for people with mobility issues, low vision or dementia.

Smart kettles

Allows you to time when your kettle turns on, as well controlling the temperature so you know how hot the water will be. Can be controlled by your smartphone or device, and some by voice control.

Smart light switches

Control your lights via a smartphone or device.

Smart ovens

Allows you to switch your oven on and off using a smartphone or device.

Smart plugs

These can control devices like lamps, and other devices. Also have the ability to set schedules and monitor remotely. See also remote control plugs.

Smart security alarms and systems

Allows you to monitor the outside of your house and secure the house from your phone, tablet or device. Some can be voice controlled. See also smart door bells, video doorbells, smart entry devices, and smart security cameras.

Smart security cameras

Allows you to monitor the inside and, or outside of your home day and night from your smartphone or device. See also smart security alarms and systems, smart door locks and smart doorbells.

Smart showers

These can be operated remotely or with voice controls. Some are compatible with Alexa or Google Home.

Smart smoke alarm and detectors

Can give early warnings including where the danger is, and allows you to check the status on your smartphone or device or calls a call centre. See also Alarm, sensors and detectors.

Smart toilets

These help minimise the spread of germs. Some have built in bidets, sensors, automatic flushing and/or cleaning.

Smart toothbrushes

Can check whether someone has brushed their teeth or how well they have brushed their teeth by connecting to an app on a tablet or smartphone.

Smart TVs

Can be controlled through home hubs, devices and smartphones.

Smart watches

These are wearable, touchscreen devices worn on the wrist that act as an extension of your smartphone. They connect to your phone to display notifications, take calls, and run apps. The watches can feature sensors to track health metrics (heart rate, sleep, stress) and fitness activities (steps). See also health and activity trackers and location and activity trackers.

Smart window openers

Allow peoples to open and close windows remotely or automatically on a programmed schedule.

Smoke alarms and detectors

When these sense smoke they sound a loud alarm. See also Alarms, sensors and detectors.

Sock aids

Can help pull on and up socks.

Speech recognition software

These take spoken words and transcribe them into text.

Stairlifts

Can help you move upstairs and downstairs even if your stairs are curved, helping you move around your home more independently.

Strobe, vibrating and talking smoke alarms

Flashing or strobe smoke alarms can be useful for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment. See also carbon monoxide alarms and alarms, sensors and detectors.

Sunflower seatbelt covers

These can indicate to traffic officers, emergency services and road users that the person in the seat has a non visible disability.

Swivel seats

Can make it easier for people to get out of their car.

Synapptic software for visually impaired

These make it easier for blind or visually impaired people to use android tablets and phones, with easy to follow menus, large high contrast text and voice control.

Talking induction hobs

These offer talking functions and tactile buttons.

Talking microwave ovens

These can help by speaking the different functions and settings.

Talking newspapers

These are free or subscription newspapers for people with a visual impairment. See also audio books, e-books, e-newspapers and e-comics.

Talking photo albums

These allow people to hear pre-recorded audio messages from family or friends alongside a collection of personal photographs.

Talking telephones

Offer talking keys and voice assist for dialing numbers.

Talking watches

Large display watches or talking watches are useful for people with visual impairments and can be set up with alarms and visual announcements.

Tap sensors

A tap sensor for water activation is a touch free electronic device that automatically turns water on when it detects a users hands near the tap.

Tap turners

These are assistive devices designed to make it easier for people with limited hand strength and grip to turn taps on and off.

Telephones with photos

Offer one-touch numbers with pictures on the base to aid memory.

Telephones with visual indicators

Have backlights to illuminate the buttons, making them easier to read to reduce the risk of incorrect dialling.

TextHear

Offers real-time speech to text for both Apple and Android phones.

Toilet frames and rails

Fit around the toilet to provide added support when standing and sitting.

Tracking and locator watches

GPS tracking and locator watches can be used to indicate locations of people via smartphones, devices or by going online. See also smart watches and health and activity trackers.

Transcribe app

Designed to help Deaf and the hard of hearing community make calls by providing a transcribe facility. Also able to communicate via a keyboard with text to voice if speech is also a problem

Travel apps

Easy to use apps to help with travelling. The Aira app is free to use at bus stations in Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking.

trueCall

Blocks unwelcome landline calls, and asks unrecognised callers to identify themselves before it puts them through, whilst letting friends and family straight through.

Vegetable peeler

Can make peeling vegetables and fruit easier, especially for people who have limited strength or dexterity.

Vibrating pad doorbells

The strobe indicator can give visual indication, ideal for a person who has a hearing impairment or loud environments and the vibrating pad is ideal for use at night.

Vibrating pillow alarm

These can go under a pillow and create a buzz or vibrate which someone can feel rather than hear.

Vibrating watches

These can be useful for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment as they can be set to vibrate.

Video calling

These allow you to chat online, as well as sharing screens.

Video doorbells

These allow you to hear, see and speak to your visitors via a smart device. Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards offer to loan door cameras for free to vulnerable people. See also smart entry devices, acoustic trigger doorbells and vibrating pad doorbells.

Virtual reality headsets

These can provide immersive, accessible experiences that support wellbeing and social connections. Can be used to overcome barriers like physical limitations or anxiety, allowing individuals to virtually experience activities such as nature walks, mindfulness exercises, group activities.

Voice assistants

Voice assistants respond to voice commands to help you control electric devices in your home � for example 'turn off the lights', remind you of appointments or when to take medication, and call people from your mobile. They can be helpful for people with mobility issues, low vision or dementia.

Walking frames

These can help people get around safely and more confidently. See also wheelchairs, walking sticks and walking frames, indoor walking trolleys, walking sticks, and walking rollators.

Walking sticks

These can help people get around safely and more confidently. See also wheelchairs, walking sticks and walking frames, indoor walking trolleys and walking rollators.

Waterproof call buttons

These are useful in places where falls can happen such as bathrooms, and options include waterproof call buttons. See also fall alarms and detectors.

Wheelchairs, walking sticks and walking frames

These can help you get around and feel more confident and prevent falls.

Wheelmap

Mark and find wheelchair accessible places-worldwide.

Window openers

A manual window opener is a device used to open and close windows by hand, without the use of electricity or automated systems.