Each person with a disability is different. Each will have different needs in levels of care and equipment.

"Care" comes in various forms: personal, domestic, household, respite, nursing, community access.

• Personal care: showering, toileting, transferring, feeding.
• Domestic services: meal preparation, shopping, cleaning, ironing.
• Household support: gardening, home cleaning, home maintenance.
• Community access: transport, companion.
• Nursing: medication.
• Respite: for time spent away from home.
• Other: childcare and workplace or education support.

People with paraplegia will need little or no personal care, but will need assistance with domestic duties.

People with high cervical injury can require 24 hour care.

Equipment needs include manual or power wheelchair with battery charger, portable ramps, hoist, pressure relief cushion, shower chair, catheter, adjustable bed, air conditioning, ventilator, physiotherapy, home automation (possible voice controlled), computer, modified vehicle.

The NSW Motor Accidents Authority has published its assessment of the future care and equipment needs of people with SCI—Guidelines for levels of attendant care for people with spinal cord injury.

Also see our pages on Aids, Equipment, Wheelchairs. and Assistive Technology.