Online assessment service launched by the DLF and Carers UK to mark Carers Week

The DLF is marking Carers Week 2020 with the introduction of a new Carers UK version of its AskSARA online self-assessment service (opens new window). The free-to-use guided advice tool produces impartial advice written by OTs about suitable aids and adaptations for over ninety topics of daily living. Users choose a topic, answer some questions and view a report of advice tailored to their loved one’s needs. Surveys of users of AskSARA carried out earlier in 2020 show that 64% of usage is by people looking on behalf of others, the most common relationships are for parents, a spouse or for a child. When asked 60% of respondents were planning to purchase a product and 71% of them expect to fund it themselves.

The new tool is viewable on all types of devices, including mobiles and tablets and can be screen-prompted. The Carers UK AskSARA can also be used as the basis for a ‘good conversation’ with a loved one about equipment that might help. This new version of AskSARA is one of the first to use DLF’s new database and API architecture which enabled the web designers to ‘pull’ the information and advice directly from the live DLF database.

Users of AskSARA can link to over 10,000 products for daily living listed in the Living Made Easy marketplace many of which can be immediately purchased from online retailers and delivered to their door. Almost a thousand retailers are shown with new products and suppliers being added every day, it is the largest database of its type in Europe.

To find out more about the AskSARA programme, email marketing@dlf.org.uk or call 0207 289 6111

The DLF is a 50-year old national charity part of The Shaw Trust that specialises in impartial information, advice and training about equipment for independent living. Free services for the public include Living Made Easy https://www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk (opens new window) their impartial online marketplace visited by 1.1 million people in 2019, AskSARA an online guided advice tool https://asksara.livingmadeeasy.org.uk (opens new window) and Youreable the thriving forum https://www.youreable.com (opens new window) visited by 900,000 people in 2019. Services for professionals include their DLF Training courses and DLF-Data the prescribing tool for professionals which is free to use during the pandemic (contact them for a login).