The speaker discusses how various pieces of equipment have played an essential role in helping them manage daily life and maintain independence, especially in the context of ongoing health challenges. They express deep appreciation for the equipment they currently use, noting they wouldn’t be able to manage without it. Despite initial hesitations about discussing the topic, the conversation reveals the vital role such equipment plays in their quality of life.
Among the equipment mentioned are a Zimmer frame, an attachment to assist with getting in and out of the bath, step stools, perch stools, and various handrails installed at the front and back doors and on the stairs. These tools collectively support mobility and ensure safety around the house. The speaker notes that while some of this equipment has been in their possession for three or four years, not all of it has been in continuous use. The equipment was gradually introduced in response to evolving health needs, including pain and surgeries, particularly related to their feet and legs.
The primary benefit of the equipment, according to the speaker, is the increased ability to move around the house confidently and safely. This mobility boosts their sense of independence and self-assurance, which significantly impacts their daily life. Being able to walk about freely allows the speaker to feel more like their “normal self,” something they deeply value. While they’re grateful for the help these aids provide, there's also a clear desire to regain full independence and reduce reliance on such tools.
Looking forward, the speaker hopes to eventually no longer need the equipment, placing their confidence in physiotherapy as a key to regaining greater mobility. However, access to physiotherapy has been a challenge. They've experienced long wait times, and appointments have been delayed, leading to disappointment and frustration. The speaker shared an example of an upcoming physiotherapy appointment that was postponed, which was disheartening since it represents a step toward increased independence. They highlight the emotional toll of waiting—feeling stuck, especially at the age of 85, where time feels even more precious.
In discussing how the equipment was provided, the speaker recalls a positive experience with professionals who visited their home, assessed their needs, and recommended appropriate aids. They describe the process as smooth and the staff as friendly and helpful. Some equipment was provided even before the COVID-19 pandemic, while more recent additions have been slower to arrive due to longer wait times and delays in assessments post-pandemic. Despite these delays, the speaker maintains a patient attitude, though it's evident that the waiting process has a significant emotional and practical impact on their life.
Overall, the equipment has greatly enhanced the speaker’s ability to live safely and independently in their own home. While grateful for this support, their ultimate hope is to improve their physical condition enough through physiotherapy to reduce reliance on it. Their story highlights both the benefits and challenges of using assistive equipment and the broader importance of timely access to rehabilitative services.
Transcript
Thinking about what we spoke about before, could you tell me a little bit about how equipment helps you to live your life well? So like, what kind of equipment you use and what it enables you to do? I have to put a list of equipment now what I've got, yeah, or whatever you want to talk about. What do, what did we chat about before we, I think we started recording now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm very happy with all the equipment I've got
Um, they helped me a lot. I couldn't manage without them at the moment, and I've got no complaints. So what, what equipment do you use? What kind of stuff do you use? I've got a simmer frame
Um Um, And up and down. Attachment in the bath, uh. steps step
What they call step stools, you know, the, the perch stools, perch stools, yeah, I've got handles at the back door and handles at the front door and one going up the stairs, which are a great help. And how, how long have you had them for? Could you, could you put a time on it? Do you know? Quite a few years, um, I would say. It might be 3 or 4 years, but I've not used them all that time
This is, this is another. I know, I know the uh complaint really with me with my pain in my leg. So when you've had other Health things happen to you, that's when you've, that's when it's led to more equipment being introduced, right? And and what difference has it made to your life, having, having those different bits of equipment available to you? It's, it's helped me a lot, but I'm hoping that in time I won't need this equipment that I'm fully better
Mhm. So you said you've said it's helped you a lot, what specifically has it helped you with? It's helped me getting about getting about the house and getting upstairs and um just generally make me confident that I can walk about. And and why is that important? Like what, what does, what impact does that have on your life, feeling like you're able to get about and you're more confident in in moving around, what different does that have on your life every day? Um, It, it, I'd I'd rather, I'd rather be out and be my normal self this than this
Uh, than using all this equipment, but at the time, I'm very appreciative of it. And you said like, ideally in the future, you're hoping to not have to rely on it as much. What What will help you get to that point, do you think? Um, Physiotherapy, mhm
And have you, have you had any problems accessing physic physiotherapy? Accessing what does, what do you need like getting, getting the physiotherapy that you need to get yourself more independent. Um, I've waited quite a long time for the uh physiotherapist to come, but, um. I've just got to be patient and wait my turn
And is there any, so spoke about the different types of equipment you use and it making you like more independent and able to get around, but fingers crossed, you're hoping to not have to rely on it as much in the future. Is there any challenges that have come up in you using your equipment or how it's been provided for you? Or could you, could you talk a little bit more about the process of how you actually got provided with the equipment in the first place? I had a lot of pain. I, uh, in the past I've had a lot of pain and different operations on my feet, um, and all this equipment has helped
Get me back on my feet again. And do you, I think we spoke a little bit before about someone coming round to the house and like talking to you about what they could offer you and how it could help you. What was that process like? Just someone to come and interview me
Yeah, just it, when, when you said someone came round and was like recommending the different kinds of equipment that they could give you, what was, what was it like to go through that, to experience that? They were, everybody that's been, um, it was Fine, every everybody was nice and help they helped me and suggested what I needed and they were all very helpful. And was it? What was, how long of a process was it, like in terms, in time, in terms of how long it took from them recommending you use. For example, like the rails that they fitted on the front door and the back door, and on the stairs, how quickly was that able to be provided to you once someone had said like this could potentially help you? Um A lot of this quite a lot of this equipment that I've got and the handrails, etc
were provided before the COVID, uh, COVID pandemic, um. This, these Uh, this equipment I'm using now is a more recent, uh, trouble with my legs and my feet, so the Zimmer frame is that what's more recent? Yeah, um, and things are taking. Quite a lot longer for interviews and um I'm generally on waiting lists waiting now
And what's what's that like in in terms of having to wait around to get. Access to things that you need, like what, what impact has that had on your life, having to wait for, wait longer for the, for the equipment. It's it you have patience, uh, just, you've got to have patience, just to keep waiting, um, and I was having some physiotherapy
Uh, next week on the 12th and they phoned me today and said, Uh, it'll be more to the end of the month. Is that all right? And I was quite disappointed with that. Yeah
And it, what repercussions does that have on you, aside from it being disappointed, the fact that they. This physio is ideally gonna mean that you can move around more and like have more independence, like what, how does that impact your life knowing that you're gonna have to wait for it, and it's gonna be a bit longer till you get to that point. It's just frustrating and uh being 85, um I'm getting nowhere fast
My life's just come to a standstill..