The service aims to help you adapt or improve your home maintain your independence at home.

Adapting your own home

You can speak to an occupational therapist who will provide you with expert advice to help you make a decision about the changes you need to make in your home to further enable your independence.

They may suggest adaptations such as:

• portable access ramps
• grab rails around the home
• reducing the height of steps

You may also consider undertaking more major adaptations to meet your longer term needs that will involve building works to change the layout of your property. This might include:

• widening doorways so you can use a wheelchair
• permanent ramping
• replacing bath or shower unit with a walk in level access shower
• adding a downstairs toilet, bathroom or bedroom so you don't have to use the stairs
• installing low level kitchen units.

An occupational therapist will provide you with advice and information as to what adaptations are best suited to your individual needs. To make these changes you’ll also need advice from a qualified builder.

Minor adaptations

Our external providers Medequip (https://www.medequip-uk.com/) will fit small minor adaptations, such as stair and grab rails, to improve your safety if recommended by an occupational therapist.

Arrangements will be made for these to be installed.

Major adaptations via a Disabled Facility Grant (DFG)

Recommendations for improving access to your home and facilities may also be made. Examples of major works include, widening doorways, installing ramps (for a permanent wheelchair-user) and stair-lifts.

The responsibility and process for providing any adaptations will depend on who owns your property. It will be funded either by the landlord if you live in a council or housing association property, or through a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) if you’re an owner occupier or private tenant.

We use appropriate contractors to do major pieces of work if adaptation such as wheelchair access, or a walk in shower is required, as recommended by an occupational therapist.

Adaptations are not provided to people living in a residential or nursing home.