Disabled People - Home Adaptations and Aids
What is an Adaptation?
An adaptation is an alteration or addition to your home that will allow you or a carer greater safety or independence to access your home and its facilities.
A referred adaptation could simply be a grab rail to aid your stability or a full ground floor conversion to give bedroom, bathroom and level access for a wheelchair user.
To determine what you need is the first stage and we can only adapt your home after your "needs" have been assessed.
Any adaptation proposed must be considered necessary and appropriate, it must also be provided in a reasonable and practical way.
Who can apply to be assessed?
Anyone living in Trafford who has a permanent or substantial disability, or anyone who cares for a person with a permanent or substantial disability.
Who assesses your needs?
An Occupational Therapist or Disabled Living Advisor (DLA) who is based at the One Stop Resource Centre in Sale will carry out this assessment of need.
The assessment will be undertaken in line with the Criteria Manual. This document is used to give guidelines for adaptation provision following assessment. The Manual has been agreed between Social Services & Housing Strategy and the Trafford NHS Trust.
How do I ask for an assessment?
Your first step is to contact the Equipment and Adaptations Advice Line (EAAL) which is part of the One Stop Resource Centre, Dane Road, Sale.
Email: osrc.assessmentteam@trafford.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0845 299 0798
Opening hours: 9am - 12noon and 1pm - 4pm
The telephone is staffed by a member of the Occupational Therapists Assessment Team. They will take your details and advise you of possible options. They will then add your request to the register of outstanding enquiries for an appointment to receive a home visit and assessment of your needs.
There is a priority system and it may be some time before an Occupational Therapist or DLA can visit you.
What will it cost?
Minor Adaptations
If your assessment of need results in the provision of Community Equipment and /or Minor Adaptations then there is no cost to the disabled person. Minor Adaptations can include:
- Timber ramps
- Hand rails
- Grab rails
- Stair rails
Major Adaptations
All Major Adaptations are subject to a Means Test Assessment.
Adaptations costing over £1000 are processed as a Major Adaptation. Major Adaptations may include:
- Shower installations
- Alteration work to provide access into and around your home.
- Stairlifts, through floor lifts, steplifts, hoists etc.
- Provision of ground floor toilets and special toilets.
- Bedroom and bathroom alterations
If your assessment of need recommends a Major Adaptation then you will be able to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant
You will be required to complete a means test. This is a national requirement and is compulsory for all Disability Facilities Grants awarded.
When we receive the Occupational Therapist or Disabled Living Advisor's recommendations we will write to you enclosing a Disabled Facilities Grant application form and will request a convenient date and time for an Adaptation Officer to visit you. At this visit the appointed officer will check that the proposed adaptation:
- Can be achieved in an appropriate way to adequately meet your needs
- Is reasonable and practical, given the age, layout and condition of the property
- Complies with the legislation for Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants
Contact Details
Adaptation Team
Strategic Housing Services
Trafford Town Hall
Talbot Road
Stretford
Manchester
M32 0YT
Email: adaptations@trafford.gov.uk
Telephone: 0161 912 4567
Fax: 0161 912 1310
This page was last updated on 11 April 2008
