Asda will stock urine bottles, raised lavatory seats, and walking sticks from Saturday, in what it says is an attempt to "break the taboos" surrounding their sale.
Older people and those with long-term disabilities or short-term injuries will be able to use the items, which also include bath shelves and jar twisters.
Asda is breaking into the multi-million pound industry at a time when the Government is trying to encourage commercial retailers to sell products traditionally supplied by the NHS and Social Services.
Mobilease, a new brand developed by businessman Dermot McLaughlin, is making the products sold by Asda.
McLaughlin, 40, who has had a long career in the mobility and living aids industry, said: "The mobility and living aids industry has been stuck in the dark ages for decades. The very products that are created to make life easier for people have been cursed by a strange irony – they are unnecessarily difficult to access.
"It has been my ambition for years to take these products mainstream. They provide a great benefit to a vast number or people.
"The most important thing is that having Mobilease available in Asda will gradually change people's perception of disability and eradicate the unnecessary stigma that has surrounded mobility products.
Pamela Martin, Senior buyer for ASDA, said: "Mobilease products are incredibly important for a large number of our customers and we're delighted to be the exclusive retailer."
Asda will start by stocking 15 products in 75 stores and if the launch is successful, it plans to roll out the products across all its 350 stores.
Independent Minds, 14th April 2009
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