- The main physical injuries  I had from my war service
was the hearing loss, the sunburn,
I was involved in a vehicle  accident injuring both shoulders
my arms and slings for about six weeks
and I still have those pains from 1966.
I reached the point of possibly about 10 years  or so ago
that I just couldn't carry on normally I had to have appliances
to help my mobility
- RAP is the Rehabilitation Appliances Program
which provides equipment and  mobility aids and daily living aids
- Ray's quality of life was very difficult  for him for me for our whole family
-There's many categories under the RAP program
and within that is many  different types of equipment
whether that be beds,  recliner chairs, mobility aids like walkers
or it could be anything to do with toileting and bathing equipment
that can assist veterans in the home.
- The need for mobility equipment especially  is not something to be ashamed of,
It is there to help and make life easier and
assist with your daily challenges around the home.
- We can also provide the tools for them  to be outdoors we can provide scooters
- The mobility scooter is very very handy.
I'm independent, I can go shopping with my wife
I can go visiting the neighbours
do whatever I feel like now with the scooter.
- Ray now has a walker which helps
he has a wheelchair when he really gets bad
- If you have any pain or any  complaints from your service,
don't be too proud, I've come across blokes
that are too proud they didn't want to
make nuisance of themselves by applying
but you've served your country,
you've suffered during your service,
you should get help from DVA
don't be too proud to ask for help go and get it.
- He has a Tunstall buzzer that he uses which is great for Ray,
but wonderful for me because if he has a fall
I know that someone's going  to be there looking after him.
- It's as simple as pressing that button
and that trigger's the device which then
calls into our 24/7 monitoring centre
- And they either get the ambulance or
ring up my son's tell them that I've  had an accident, it's very handy
- To provide the service we do have  a big range of people working 24/7
even people in that worse circumstances where they  
can't talk to us we can still get them  help
and literally save their life.
- DVA has been absolutely wonderful to help us manage,
to live a good life to be able to do things which,
we couldn't do before
- That's the most important thing  about the technology
it helps people
stay at home and that's what we're about
is trying to support people living  in the way that they want to live
- All the appliances have improved my
standard of living 100%
if I never had these  appliances I'd be stuck at home
sitting there just twiddling me thumbs.
I can socialise, which is very important
and I feel a bit younger, yes.
I have my moments.