What is meant by ‘Aids & Adaptations?’
How can Unity help?
Aids and adaptations are modifications which are made to your property to help you remain living there, should you or someone in your household begin to suffer from a disability.
We have a budget of £10,000 for funding minor adaptations costing less than £1,000. In addition, we have good relationships with the local authority and staff are able to signpost tenants to apply direct for Disabled Facilities Grants.
The grant work is carried out by the local authority’s dedicated teams of contractors and this helps to reduce the waiting time and reduces the number of agencies involved in the work.
Minor aids and adaptations
We can arrange minor adaptations quite quickly. If you’re a social tenant, you can request the changes yourself or be referred by a family member, a care and support worker or your GP. Minor adaptations include things such as:
- Grab rails
- Stair bannisters rails
- Lever taps
- Lever knobs on Gas fires
- Power sockets
- Threshold ramps
- Intercom or door entry system
Major aids and adaptations
You must make any requests for major adaptations to your local council’s Social Services Occupational Therapy Team. The alterations can’t be structural, such as through-floor lifts or extensions, but usually include things such as:
- Wet rooms
- Ramped access
- Stairlifts
- Hoists
- Wheelchair-adapted kitchens
If you want to do something that is not on the list, please get in touch with us and ask permission before you begin any works on your home. To get permission, please write to us, giving as much information as possible about what you want to do. If you’re not confident at writing, speak to our staff, who will write down a statement for you. We will let you know within 10 working days.
Disabled Facilities Grant for major adaptations
You can apply to your local council for a means-tested grant (Disabled Facilities Grant) to help with the cost of adapting your home. If you’re successful, the adaptations will be made in line with the recommendations from the occupational therapist.
