Equipment

A piece of equipment or technology has the potential to make daily living tasks easier. We hold a large stock of commonly issued items, so if you’re assessed as needing something we can get it to you quickly.

If you're assessed as needing a large, specialist item of equipment this may take a little time to arrive as we may need to order it directly from a company.

You may wish to buy your own items: Find out more about assistive technology and the products available at
https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Health-Social-Care/Adults/Your-independence/Assistive-technology.aspx

Adaptations

We carry out adaptations to your home so that you can continue to live as independently and as safely as possible. We want to help you look after your wellbeing and experience the best quality of life.

Following a social care assessment, if you need adaptations to your home, a trained assessor from either our early intervention team or the NHS will come to see you. Sometimes just simple adaptations are required, other times more major changes are needed.

Minor adaptations

Minor adaptations include grab rails, garden and path rails, half steps and stair rails. Small minor adaptations are completed within 7 days following receipt of an order and more bespoke minor adaptations within 28 days.

We aim to prioritise requests that indicate a more urgent need, and therefore provision is often much quicker than this.

There is no charge for adaptations under £1,000.

Major adaptations

Major adaptations include ramps, showers (wet rooms), stairlifts, ceiling track hoists, through-floor lifts, internal alterations and extensions. A major adaptation is classed as anything costing over £1000.

If you're assessed as needing a major adaptation the process is different depending on who owns your house.

• If your house is council owned and the adaptations cost more than £10,000 we will discuss what options are open to you. We'll consider if adapting your home is the best solution or if it's better to support you to seek a more suitable home environment. As a council tenant there is no charge for recommended adaptations in your home
• If your house is rented from a private landlord or if you own your own home, adaptations are funded by the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and the maximum grant is currently £30,000 for the recommended adaptations. The grant is means tested so you may have to pay something towards the cost. Your adaptation will be organised for you, though you have the option to organise it yourself in some circumstances. Major adaptations in Housing Association properties are joint funded with the DFG.