Disabled Facilities Grants & other help to get home adaptations and equipment
You may be entitled to a Disabled Facilities Grant to help with the cost of larger adaptations.
Whether you need to adapt your home now or you're just thinking about the future, it’s good to know about the kinds of aids and adaptations that can help you live more safely and comfortably at home.
The first step to getting lots of the adaptations and equipment spoken about on this page is to contact your local council to arrange a care needs assessment.
The assessment looks at the care services that would help meet your needs, including home adaptations or equipment that may help you in your day-to-day life.
There are lots of changes you can make to help you with getting into and out of your home.
Find out the many ways you can adapt your home for easier living.
If it’s difficult for you to get to the front door, think about installing a system that lets you speak to visitors and manage who you let in remotely. For example, you could get:
Many DIY shops and high-street retailers stock wireless doorbells and key safes. You could ask a family member, handyperson or Home Improvement Agency to fit them for you.
Find a Home Improvement Agency near you using their directory
There are lots of changes you can make to your home to make it easier and safer for you to move around, including:
It's important to remember that if you rent your home or share access with other people, you may need permission from your landlord or your neighbours to make changes.
An extra banister rail or a stairlift can make getting up and down the stairs easier. It may be possible to install a through-floor wheelchair lift, depending on the size and layout of your home.
Bathrooms are spaces that are used a lot, so it's important that they're safe and easy to use. You may find one or all of the following helpful:
Like the bathroom, the kitchen is an important space that's used a lot, so it's vital that it's right for you.
You might find the following pieces of equipment helpful:
You might find the following pieces of equipment helpful:
If you have problems with your vision, wires, loose carpets, broken handrails or general clutter can be a hazard. If you need help with repairs or removing risks in your home, you may want to get in touch with a tradesperson service.
When looking for a tradesperson, it's important that you find someone you can trust – it will save you time, money and frustration later down the line.
Read more about how to find a tradesperson you can trust
You could also try putting coloured tape on the edges of stairs and other borders to make your home easier to navigate.
You can keep in touch with people with a voice-based or text-based phone. You can also get a sounder beacon installed which flashes and makes loud signals when a phone (or any sensor) is activated.
If you have hearing problems, it's important to make sure you’re safe in case of an emergency. Wireless smoke alarms are connected by radio signals so that if one goes off then they all do, or you can get alarms that use vibrating pads to get your attention.
There are lots of small changes you can make to help you more easily move around your home if you have problems with your memory, for example:
The first step to find out if you're eligible for financial help with home adaptations or equipment is to get a care needs assessment. Your local council will send a social care professional to come to see you to find out how you're managing everyday tasks and assess your needs. They'll then advise on what support you need, including equipment and home adaptations that would make things easier for you. If you're considered 'eligible', the council has a duty to help you.
Following your care needs assessment, if the council recommends minor adaptations to your home or specialist disability equipment, these will be provided and fitted free of charge.
Find out more about getting help with the costs of home adaptations
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
You may be entitled to a Disabled Facilities Grant to help with the cost of larger adaptations.
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