Lifehouse, the most comprehensive facility for independent living in the North West, is continuing its trailblazing with Liverpool Disabled Living Centre’s most active programme of events since moving to new facilities.
Lifehouse is a partnership between Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Community Health, and the centre offers a range of services for the elderly and disabled, under one roof and in a fully accessible building on Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool. Within Lifehouse, the Disabled Living Centre team offers free, independent information, assessment and advice on equipment that can improve the independence and safety of older and disabled people in their everyday lives. The Centre also features permanent displays of over 2000 independent living aids, and working equipment such as a Closomat Palma Vita ‘wash and dry’ toilet, riser/ recliner chairs and height adjustable bath lifts, so people can see and physically try apparatus out, with the guidance of highly specialist Occupational Therapists, and make the right choice to optimize their independence and safety.
To enhance accessibility to the service, Liverpool Disabled Living Centre at Lifehouse is running a busy schedule of activity, including Open Days throughout the year, plus equipment awareness sessions focusing on specific areas ranging from toileting to telecare. The Open Days will feature specialist advice on walking aids, chairs and beds, telephone equipment, benefits, continence and consumer issues, supported by a variety of voluntary organizations and other agencies working within the City. There will also be a number of themed events organized throughout the year including a Children’s Equipment & Information Day.
Judith Cookson, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist at Lifehouse, elaborated, “The Disabled Living Centre staff aims to provide free and impartial advice to service users on the range of products and services available to meet their needs. As far as possible, people can be provided, there and then, with the smaller items of equipment that will make a difference to their ability to live independently and safely. For equipment such as the Closomat toilet, we can at least start the process at our events towards arranging an individual assessment to deliver that enhanced independence.”
Full details of Lifehouse’s programme of open days and staff awareness training is available from the centre in Summers Road, Liverpool L3 4BL, telephoning the DLC on 0151 296 7742 (minicom 0151 296 7748)
Emailing disabled.living.centre@liverpool.gov.uk or visiting www.liverpoollifehouse.org.uk
