Equipment Provision by Local Authority Occupational Therapy Teams Using the Fair Access to Care Services Eligibility Framework: A Vignette and Interview Study (Research) (Report‪)‬

Introduction The provision of adaptive equipment to older people living at home maintains and improves independence and reduces health and social care costs (Logan et al 1997, Mann et al 1999). Physical disability is the best predictor of adaptive equipment use (Tomita et al 2004). Despite legislation that attributes the statutory responsibility for such services to local authorities (National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990), the Audit Commission (2000) has found that provision is inadequate and geographically variable. Questionnaire and interview studies have shown that provision is influenced adversely by inconsistencies in referral mechanisms, eligibility criteria and funding (Cowan and Turner-Smith 1999, Carpenter et al 2002).