Equipment, assistive technology & home modifications

Assistive Technology (AT) can help with:

• general mobility – e.g. walking, arm movement, getting in and out of bed
• bathing
• dressing
• toileting
• eating
• drinking
• breathing 
• talking
• writing
• using a phone, computer and other forms of communication

There are a range of aids and equipment available to support people in their daily activities such as:

• wheelchairs – electric or manual 
• hoists
• walking sticks and frames
• grab rails and small ramps
• electric beds and armchairs
• pressure care mattresses
• over toilet aids
• bidets
• transfer slings

MND advisors or occupational therapists (OT) from your local MND association can provide information regarding what AT you may need. MND advisors can also assist with referral for an assessment to an OT, physiotherapist or speech pathologist regarding what sort of AT is best for you.

Assistive Technology Australia provides lots of useful information and photos of what aids and and equipment are available.

There are a range of devices to help people to communicate if they lose their ability to speak.

If a person’s hands are too weak to use special keyboards or a mouse, computers, smart phones and tablets can be operated via special switches and scanners. Switches are operated by small movements of muscles that are still functional. Muscles used for switches might include those in the eyebrow or arm or an eye blink or sipping and puffing with the mouth may be an option.

Voice amplification can help those whose voice is weak but not slurred. That is, when speech volume, how loud a person’s voice is, becomes affected and gets softer and more difficult to hear.

Early referral to a speech pathologist is important to provide the opportunity to discuss options for voice banking before you experience any significant changes to your speech. Voice and message banking are areas that are becoming more freely and easily available with advances in technology.

It is also important to talk about communication technology with an appropriate health professional before making a purchase. That way, it is easier to ensure the technology is suitable and will provide the most efficient ongoing support.

Where and how communication technology is accessed does vary from state to state. Talking with your MND advisor is a good place to start for who to contact, useful options and guidance.

The types of communication technology available include:

• Simple, low tech, devices, like writing or alphabet boards, a communication chart or Perspex eye-gaze frame (ETRAN board)
• More hi-tech devices, like hands-free telephone, and or telephone typewriter (TTY), call bell or personal alarms, laser head pointer, eye-tracking devices, voice activated devices and smart phones, tablets and computers with specialist software and apps.

Your MND association can assist you with accessing assistive technology by linking you with allied health professionals for an assessment and providing AT through their loan or rental equipment service. The MND associations provide a range of commonly used equipment and disability aids for people with MND who are registered with them.

How you access the equipment and what the associated costs are will depend on your age and the state or territory you live in. People under the age of 65 eligible for the NDIS can have funding for assistive technology included in their NDIS plan. This funding can be used to rent commonly used assistive technology from their MND association. A person’s NDIS plan may also include funds to purchase individualised or customised assistive technology if needed. For those without an NDIS plan commonly used assistive technology may be accessed from their MND association at low or no cost to people with MND.

Specialised personalised equipment may need to be purchased or hired from other sources.

Health professionals play a vital role in figuring out a person’s equipment needs – and often before a person knows what they may need or want.

Health professionals also make sure the equipment is safe and appropriate for a person’s needs. Talking with a health professional about equipment helps to:

• plan ahead for the right equipment, at the right time
• make sure the home environment is set up well and safely
• that the process for organising and purchasing equipment is efficient

Before decisions are made regarding specific equipment, it is essential that an accurate assessment be carried out by an appropriate allied health professional. A professional referral request will also be required in most cases for NDIS participants and/or to access aids and equipment from the MND association assistive technology service.

The allied health professionals that are commonly involved with assistive technology provision include:

• Occupational therapists. An OT works to maintain mobility, function, safety and independence by providing advice about home modification, explaining different ways of performing tasks, selecting, acquiring and adapting specialised equipment. OTs can also be involved in assessment and set up of communication aids
• Physiotherapists, often referred to as a Physio. A Physio helps you maintain physical activity, comfort and mobility. One instance of this is they can show your family or carer how to safely assist you move from one position to another, for example, moving from a chair to a bed. They can also advise regarding which type of walking aid is safe for you
• Speech Pathologists help in the management of communication and swallowing. Speech Pathologists can also advise about communication aids and devices and also about swallowing techniques, food consistency and utensils.

Home modifications are often required to support someone with MND to stay living at home.

Home modifications may include things like:

• installing ramps and rails
• widening doors
• changing bathrooms so that they are easier to move around in

What is required depends on the individual circumstance. A comprehensive home assessment is usually required for home modifications. An assessment is conducted by an OT and will outline what is needed to so that that a person with MND can be cared for at home as safely, and efficiently, as possible.

How home modifications are funded will depend on your age and the state or territory you live in. People under the age of 65 eligible for the NDIS can have funding for home modifications included in their NDIS plan. For those aged 65 and older eligible for My Aged Care a Home Care Package may include limited funding for home modifications.