The UK has an ageing population. There are over 10 million disabled adults in the UK and over 15 million people aged 65+. For the first time ever there are more older people than children in the UK and over the next 30 years the older population is estimated to increase by 70%. The ageing population will place even more strain on the social care system. Many older and disabled people would see their quality of life improve greatly through access to specialist equipment. Evidence shows that the right equipment increases independence, reduces the need for personal assistance and can prevent or reduce health problems. Only informed users and carers, however, can make choices and take control over these decisions that affect their lifestyle and care. People, therefore, need access to information, signposting and support on equipment from a source they can trust. The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF), the UK’s leading provider of impartial advice about equipment, will develop a web-based information portal - ‘Living made easy’. This will release for the very first time on to the internet information, taken from DLF’s comprehensive database of products, on thousands of items that has until now only been available to the public through the DLF’s national Helpline. Building on the hugely successful prototypes of ‘Bathing made easy’ (www.bathingmadeeasy.com) and ‘Telecare made easy’ (www.telecaremadeaesy.com), the website will incorporate information and advice on 9,000 products relating to vital aspects of daily living, empowering disabled and older people to take the lead through self-assessment and tailor a personalised care package. Innovative features will include an integrated self-assessment tool, powerful search and comparison features and advice on sources of support such as direct payments and individual budgets. ‘Living made easy’ will benefit anyone who uses equipment or assistive technology to live independently and improve their quality of life. This includes anyone with a temporary or long-term physical impairment, older people, families with a disabled child, carers and healthcare professionals. With ‘Bathing made easy’ already receiving 400,000 visitors a year and rising, the DLF anticipates that within the next few years ‘Living made easy’ will reach millions of people. The total cost of developing and maintaining ‘Living made easy’ over a 3-year period is £220,000. This includes the cost of Occupational Therapy staff to verify and maintain the advice and information, IT and web design and development costs, user testing and support, accessibility and useability accreditation and online marketing. The future sustainability of the website will come from sponsorship through industry, for which we have a proven and successful model for ‘Bathing made easy’. Not only will ‘Living made easy’ transform the lives of millions of people, but the future sustainability of the DLF. (Detailed costings and business plan are available on request)