If you’re living with a terminal illness or disability, you may find it becomes harder to move around your home. Everyday tasks, like having a shower or making a drink, may become more difficult.
You may be able to get home adaptations that can help.
What home adaptations can I get?
These are examples of adaptations that can help with daily life.
Access to your home
- Handrails at the front or back door.
- Outdoor ramp or step rails.
- An intercom system for answering the door.
- Steps made wider or shallower.
Getting around your home
- Widening doorframes or installing new doors.
- Banisters on both sides of the stairs.
- A stairlift or through-floor lift.
Bathroom
- Raised toilet seat.
- Hands-free toilet with automatic washing and drying functions for while you are seated.
- Level access shower.
- Wet room (a waterproof room with an even surface).
Kitchen
- Lowered kitchen worktops.
Whole home
- Fall and movement detectors.
- A heating system suited to your needs.
- Adapted heating or lighting controls.
In some cases, you may need an extension to your home.
How do I get home adaptations for disability or terminal illness?
Contact your local council and ask for an assessment
Contact the adult social services department of your local council and ask for a home assessment. It is called a community care assessment in Scotland. If you live in Northern Ireland, contact your local health and social services trust and ask for an assessment of need.
Contact your landlord first if you live in a council house or housing association property in Wales.
Ask for a referral from a health and social care professional
Health and social care professionals can refer you for an assessment. Ask your GP, district nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist for a referral.
If you’re leaving hospital and worried about how you will manage at home, speak to a health or social care professional at the hospital.
How long does it take to get home adaptations?
How long it can take to get an assessment and then adaptations can vary. There may be a longer wait for larger adaptations.
If you need something urgently, explain this to the council or the occupational therapist. If you need equipment or adaptations before you can go home, speak to healthcare professionals at the hospital.
Adaptations if you do not own your home
If you rent your home, you will need to get your landlord’s consent to make adaptations. The Equality Act 2010 says your landlord should make reasonable adjustments to meet your needs. There may be exceptions if you rent privately.
What happens during a home assessment?
An occupational therapist will visit you at your home. They will ask how you’re managing everyday tasks.
Tell them about anything you’re finding more difficult. This includes things like washing, dressing and cooking.
It can also include things that are important to you for cultural, religious or emotional reasons.
For example:
- being able to still attend a place of worship, like a church or mosque
- being able to go into the garden or an outside space.
Try to have someone with you for the assessment, like a friend or relative. They can make sure you do not miss anything. They can also take notes. If no one can be there with you, you can ask the council for an advocate.
Afterwards, the occupational therapist will write a report with recommendations for home adaptations and equipment. Once you have the report, you can discuss the next steps with your council or your landlord. You may then need to apply for funding.
The occupational therapist may also refer you for a care needs assessment if they think you might need other types of support. For example, support from a carer or attending a day centre.
Do I have to pay for adaptations to my home?
It will depend on where you live and what you need. You may get some or all the adaptations and equipment recommended in the report, for free.
Small adaptations are often free. A small adaptation includes things like a ramp to your front door.
You may need to pay for larger adaptations.
See how the system works for where you live in the UK:
England
In England, the council will normally install and pay for smaller (also called minor) adaptations.
You can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant to pay for larger adaptations. The maximum grant is £30,000. How much you get is based on your income and savings.
Some (but not all) councils have schemes that can decide to pay a grant for more than £30,000.
To apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, contact your local council.
Scotland
In Scotland, small adaptations are usually free.
If you need major adaptations, how they are funded and arranged depends on whether:
- you own your home or rent privately
- you rent from a council or housing association.
Wales
In Wales, smaller adaptations are usually free.
How bigger adaptations are arranged and paid for depends on whether:
- you own your home or rent privately
- you rent from your local council or a housing association.
Northern Ireland
How adaptations are arranged and paid for in Northern Ireland depends on whether:
- you own your home or rent privately
- you rent from the Housing Executive or a housing association.
How is a Disabled Facilities Grant paid?
When your grant is approved, the council should explain how it will be paid.
They may:
- pay the contractor directly or
- give you the money to pass on to the contractor.
The money can be paid in instalments, or when the work is finished.
You must wait until the council has approved the work first. If you start work before it’s approved, you may not get the grant.
Organising and paying for adaptations yourself
If you need adaptations quickly, or want to arrange them yourself, you do not have to go through the local council or trust. But if you rent your property, you will need to get your landlord’s permission.
If you choose to arrange the work privately, you will need to pay for this. You cannot apply for a grant from the council after you have paid for the work privately.
You may not have to pay VAT on adaptations to your home if you have a terminal illness.
If you’d like advice, you could speak to a Home Improvement Agency. They can give you advice on your home and may be able to help you to get funding.