1. Mobility as Therapy

For people rebuilding their lives after illness, injury, or age-related decline, independence is often framed around clinical care: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and assistive equipment. 

Yet one critical factor is frequently overlooked: how someone actually gets to those services, and beyond them, back into everyday life. Accessible transport is not just a logistical detail; it is a powerful enabler of recovery, confidence, and long-term independence.

We have a thoughtful article from ORA (Open Road Access) arguing that accessible transport should be treated as a core component of rehabilitation, not an afterthought .

You can read it here

2. Webinar: age-related decline

What is age-related decline? Is it even a thing? Closomat's latest monthly webinar is inviting occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to challenge assumptions and deepen their understanding of ageing.

Taking place on Thursday 23rd April, the session will specifically explore how perceptions of ageing influence assessment, recommendations and outcomes across health and social care.

Find out more and how to sign up for free, here

3. Benefit and allowance rates

April is the month when it's all change on benefits and allowances. 

Most increases to benefits have been calculated according to the rate of inflation in September 2025, which was 3.8%. State pensions are increasing by 4.8%, because of the triple lock, which ensures pensions increase by whichever is higher - inflation, average earnings or 2.5%. Pay packets have gone up a bit faster than inflation, so pensioners also benefit that little bit more.

Universal Credit gets a significant boost, by 6.2%, with the two child limit also removed, though other changes will be less welcome, as explained in item 5 below.

We've got details of new benefit rates here

4. Lunch and Learn!

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in moving and handling, hygiene room design and accessible environment solutions, Multicare Medical has launched a new series of free nationwide Lunch & Learn sessions for professionals involved in the design, specification and delivery of accessible and specialist care environments.

The CPD-style sessions have been developed to support professionals involved in the design, specification and delivery of these spaces, including OTs, case managers, architects, contractors, local authority teams and SEND decision-makers.

Find out more here

5. Define "severe and lifelong"?

Significant changes to Universal Credit come into effect this week. The one that is likely to have the most impact on people living with disabilities and long-term conditions is eligibility for the health element (previously known as LCWRA - Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity).

There are two obvious issues:
• new claimants who are eligible will receive only half as much as existing claimants - and the sum will be frozen, so its value will gradually decrease.
• eligibility will be more tightly drawn, with strict definitions for severe and lifelong conditions that informed observers fear will exclude many people with serious long-term conditions from needed support.

We have more details here

6. Anne's Law - Scotland

A new law designed to protect the rights of care home residents to stay connected with loved ones has come into force in Scotland, following lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Known as Anne’s Law, the legislation places a legal duty on care homes to support visiting and ensure that residents are not unnecessarily isolated from family and friends.

During the pandemic, many residents were deprived of contact with their nearest and dearest, often with a detrimental effect on their health.

Keep reading here