Equipment, assistive technology & home modifications

Engaging with people who know about MND and how it affects independence can make daily life easier. Your local MND Association can help you access the professional support you require. Simply call the MND Info Line on 1800 777 175 to connect with them.

Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech pathologists all help to support people with MND.

They can help you to:

• plan ahead so you can get the right equipment, at the right time

• make sure the home environment is set up to support you

• organise the equipment you need.

Before you can make decisions about specific equipment, an accurate assessment is needed. In most cases an allied health professional (e.g. occupational therapist) will make the request for equipment on your behalf.

Occupational therapist (OT)
Works to keep you mobile, safe and independent. They can give advice about home modifications and tell you about different ways to do tasks. They can also help you choose and adapt specialised equipment. OTs can help assess and set up communication aids.

Physiotherapist (physio)
Helps keep you physically active, comfortable, and mobile. Physios can show family or carers how to safely move you from one position to another, for example, from a chair to a bed. They can also advise about walking aids.

Speech pathologist
Help manage communication and swallowing. Speech pathologists can also advise about communication aids, swallowing techniques, food consistency and utensils.

Equipment needs vary for each person with MND. However most people will need some form of assistive technology (AT). AT can assist with the following:

• mobility – e.g. walking, arm movement, getting in and out of bed
• bathing
• dressing
• toileting
• eating
• drinking
• breathing 
• writing
• communication.

A variety of aids and equipment are available to support people with MND. Depending on your needs, this might include:

• wheelchairs
• lifting equipment such as hoists
• walking sticks and frames
• grab rails and small ramps
• electric beds and armchairs
• pressure care mattresses
• over toilet aids.

Some people living with MND may lose their ability to speak. Others have problems using phones and other devices because of hand and arm weakness. Communication technology includes:

• Simple, low tech, devices like writing or alphabet boards, a communication chart or Perspex eye-gaze frame (ETRAN board)
• More high-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.

Some specific forms of communication technology include:

Switches and scanners: These help to operate smart phones and tablets. Only small movements of muscles are needed to make switches work. For example, muscles in the eyebrow, or an eye blink, or simply sipping and puffing with the mouth.

Voice amplification: This can help people whose voice is weak and more difficult to hear. Voice amplification can help in case where speech is not slurred, i.e. the person is still able to form words.

Voice and message banking: This option is becoming more freely and easily available with advances in technology. To make the most of voice banking, talk to a speech pathologist before you experience any significant changes to your speech.

Talk to your healthcare team about communication technology before you buy anything. That way, you can make sure you choose the right technology that will give you the most efficient ongoing support.

Where and how communication technology is accessed does vary from state to state. Talk with your MND advisor about who to contact, useful options and guidance.

Your MND Association can guide you in the process of accessing AT. They have a range of commonly used equipment and disability aids for people with MND who are registered with them.

How you access specialist equipment and how much it costs depends on which government-funded care packages you are eligible for. The process is also different depending on which state or territory you live in.

Home modifications can help people living with MND to stay living at home.

Home modifications may include things like:

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

A home assessment is usually needed. An OT will assess your home and outline the changes to be made to make sure you can be cared for at home as safely and easily as possible.

Funding for home modifications depends on your age and the state or territory you live in.

People under the age of 65 who are eligible for the NDIS can have funding included in their NDIS plan.

For those aged 65 and older, a My Aged Care Home Care Package may include limited funding for home modifications.