Gardening aids make outdoor tasks more accessible for individuals with mobility challenges or reduced strength. Specially designed tools and ergonomic supports help make gardening easier and more enjoyable.
Gardening is a rewarding and therapeutic activity, but it can be difficult for those with reduced mobility or grip strength. Gardening tools and aids, such as lightweight tools and ergonomic seating supports, allow individuals to continue enjoying their outdoor space with greater ease. This guide explores different types of gardening aids and their benefits.
Types of Gardening Aids
Gardening Tools
Gardening tools are specially designed to reduce strain on the hands and joints. Long-handled tools, lightweight trowels, and easy-grip pruners make planting, weeding, and trimming more accessible.
Gardening Aids
Gardening aids such as padded kneelers help reduce bending and discomfort while working outdoors. These aids provide extra support to make gardening more comfortable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the best gardening tools for limited hand strength?
Gardening tools with ergonomic handles, lightweight materials, and extended reach help reduce strain and make tasks easier to manage.
How do gardening aids help with accessibility?
Gardening aids such as kneelers and long handled gardening tools minimise bending and improve comfort, allowing individuals to garden with less strain.
Can long-handled gardening tools help with back pain?
Yes, gardening tools with extended handles reduce the need for bending and stretching, making gardening more comfortable for those with back or joint pain.
Some of the products which can be purchased from the Manage At Home website are available for an eligible person to purchase without paying VAT on them. HM Revenue and Customs sets out the conditions when equipment for disabled people might be free of VAT and how to claim exemption from paying VAT on these products.
Products a can only be exempt from VAT when all the following conditions are met:
The customer is eligible to purchase supplies at the zero rate
The goods are for the personal or domestic use of the customer
The goods and services are eligible to be supplied at the zero rate
A more detailed explanation of each of these conditions is given below, but you should visit the HM Revenue and Customs Website to fully understand the conditions which are set out in VAT notice 701/7 (August 2002) - VAT reliefs for disabled people. You can also call the HMRC helpline 0845 302 0203 and select Option 3. (8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday). Other options for contacting HMRC can be accessed here
The product must be being purchased for someone who is chronically ill or disabled.
A person is ‘chronically sick or disabled’ if he/she is a person:
with a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect upon his/her ability to carry out everyday activities;
with a condition which the medical profession treats as a chronic sickness, such as diabetes; or
who is terminally ill.
It does not include a frail elderly person who is otherwise able-bodied or any person who is only temporarily disabled or incapacitated, such as with a broken limb.‘personal or domestic’ use means that the supply must be made available specifically for the use of an eligible individual.
You don't have to physically buy the goods in person. If your parent, guardian or wife or husband buys the goods and services for you, then you won't be charged VAT.
What counts as personal or domestic use?
Personal or domestic use means that the goods or services are supplied for your own private use, rather than for business purposes. Also, the goods or services must be just for your own use - not for use by anyone else, or chronically sick or disabled people in general. However, if you and your partner are both chronically sick or disabled and you buy goods or services for both of you to use, then you won't have to pay VAT.
Products which are offered for sale on this website which qualify for VAT relief to be claimed for an eligible person.
The products which can be bought without paying VAT are:
adjustable beds, chair lifts, hoists and sanitary devices
low vision aids
equipment and appliances designed solely for use by chronically sick or disabled people.
Only the products on our site carrying the VAT exemption price (the smaller price marked exVAT) are eligible to be purchased this way and you must tick the box on the basket page indicating that you wish to claim VAT exemption on the items in your basket that are eligible for VAT relief.
How to claim
On the my basket page of this website a link to the online declaration form is provided if the basket contains a product that qualifies for VAT relief. You must tick the box to state you wish to claim VAT relief on the eligible product and complete in full the reason by which you are 'chronically sick or disabled' and name and address of the claimant. If possible the person making the claim should complete this form, but a family member, carer or medical professional may complete the form on the claimants behalf. To submit the claim and receive the VAT relief, click the 'Submit VAT Relief Claim' button before proceeding to the checkout.
Please note that all orders submitted with a VAT relief claim form completed are checked before the order is processed.
It is necessary to complete a separate claim form each time a qualifying product is purchased from Manage At Home.
Please click on the questions below to find out more information to help answer your query. For further details you may call our Customer Services Department on 0800 910 1864.
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There are numerous ways in which you can contact Manage At Home, for the fastest repsonse, please contact us via our Live Chat feature or call us free on 0800 910 1864. For additional methods to contact us please visit our Contact Us page.
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