Adaptations to homes are carried out to enable people who have disabilities, or who are infirm, to remain and live comfortably in their own home. Typical adaptations could be the fitting of extra handrails on stairs, constructing a specific ramp to facilitate a level entrance to your home, or remodelling the bathroom to improve accessibility. Adaptations can also be carried out to meet the specific needs of children with disabilities, which are often more complex.
The help available to you depends upon:
If you or your specialist think that your home needs an adaptation, you should first of all get in touch with your local Social Services and ask for a Needs Assessment.
How do I go about getting my home adapted?
Once you have contacted Social Services for an arrangement
will be made for a Social Services worker to discuss your situation
with you. An analysis to determine the level of help required,
together with an indication of possible adaptations would be
undertaken to ascertain, if any, would be suitable.
Prior to any major work being formally authorised, an occupational
therapist employed by Social Services will carry out a full
needs assessment to adequately determine your individual needs.
An occupational therapist is a specialist who assesses for
housing adaptations and daily living equipment.
Larger Adaptations
Other more costly adaptations must be funded by other the individual and once a needs assessment has been carried out and it has been agreed that adaptations are required, there are a number of means tested grants available to help with the cost of the adaptations.
Fees for professional services, including architects, structural engineers, planning officers and so on, are normally covered within the grant. If however charges are incurred and the grant is not subsequently approved, the individual will be responsible for these fees.