Equipment and Adaptations
If you’re struggling to live independently at home, we can help make day-to-day life easier by looking at equipment and adaptations to support you.
This could include small changes such as installing grab rails, improving the lighting of a space, or providing a toilet frame. We can also assist with bigger adaptations in your home, which can include adapting the way you access your home, bathroom or kitchen.
Assessing for care and support
Finding out what you need is the first step, and we can only provide equipment or adapt your home after carrying out an assessment for care and support. If your assessment determines you are eligible, an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapy Assistant will visit you at home to provide advice and consider how we might support you.During the assessment we will ask how your disability or condition impacts you. We may also ask your Carer or other medical or health professionals for information too. We will look at how you climb the stairs, get on and off your bed or chair, manage in the bathroom and how you get in and out of where you live.
We will also consider how you can use any equipment to help you, always looking at providing equipment and minor adaptations before considering bigger adaptations.
Being assessed for adaptations does not mean that you have applied or have been approved for a grant or that you will meet the criteria for a grant.
Day-to-day Equipment
Day-to-day equipment to keep you independent can include toilet frames, stair rails, grab rails, bath boards or bed levers. If your assessment shows this equipment will make your day-to-day life easier, this will be provided at no cost to you.Most of the equipment provided is loaned to you, your Occupational Therapist will explain this when providing you with the equipment you need.
We will talk about when it is expected to be delivered during your assessment. Some people may require specialist or bespoke equipment and if your assessment shows this, timescales for delivery of this equipment can be longer. If this is the case, you will be told during your assessment.
Minor Home Adaptations
Minor adaptions may include installing outdoor handrails and step alterations, improved lighting. If your assessment shows that you may benefit from minor adaptations to keep you independent, these will be provided at no cost to you up to a value of £1500.If you rent your property from a private or social landlord, we will need their consent before any adaptations can be carried out. If they do not agree to this work being completed, we will not be able to carry out the adaption.
Major Home Adaptations
Major adaptations are structural alterations costing more than £1500 which could help you to stay safe and independent. This may include level access showers and alterations to provide access into and around your home. Major adaptations can also include stair lifts, vertical lifts, ramps, ceiling track hoists, kitchens and specialist toilets.Major adaptations will only be considered when the difficulties you experience cannot be helped by equipment and/or minor adaptations.
If a major adaptation to your home is recommended and you and your landlord agree to these changes, the Occupational Therapist will refer you to Housing Adaptations Service and you will be advised whether these adaptations are likely to trigger a financial assessment.
An Occupational Therapist may need to request advice from a Technical Officer to decide if we are able to carry out the work in your home and to give an idea of cost.
Paying for Major Home Adaptations
Tameside Council currently offers a discretionary grant up to £7000. If the work costs more than this, you may be eligible to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) of up to £30,000 depending on the level of work required. Access to DFG is based on the recommendation of your Occupational Therapist. You may be financially assessed to determine whether you will be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of the works.For further information please visit www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants
To qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant a financial assessment is required. You will need to provide a detailed breakdown of your (and where applicable, your partner’s) income and any savings that you have - this includes proof of all savings, pensions, allowances and benefits, wages and other income, including bank statements for all bank or building society accounts you hold.
If your property is owned by a Housing Association, your landlord will be required to give permission for the work to take place. In most cases, the Housing Association will work with us to arrange for the adaptations to be installed and may involve an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant as described above.
If you feel that you may not be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant for financial reasons or are not willing to disclose your financial information, you can purchase items such as stair lifts and showers privately.
Self-Assessment
Adapt my Home can give you an assessment score showing how suitable your home is for your needs. You can also see if you might be eligible for support through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).This survey gives recommendations for information purposes only, it doesn’t not mean you have been approved for a grant or minor adaptation. If you feel like you may benefit from an assessment, please get in contact with our Community Gateway team.