Adaptations To Your Home

At Teachers’ Housing Association, your safety and well-being at home are our top priorities. As we age or experience changes in health, certain adjustments can make daily living more comfortable and secure. We’re here to support you in making your home as accessible and safe as possible.

What Are Home Aids and Adaptations?

Home aids and adaptations are modifications designed to help you move around your home more easily and carry out everyday tasks independently. These can range from simple installations like grab rails to more significant changes such as stair lifts or accessible showers.

Home Aids

An aid is usually a physical piece of equipment that can be provided to adapt your home to help you in your day-to-day activities.

This can include items such as:
• Hospital beds
• Toilet frames
• Shower chairs
• Bathing equipment

These can be easily accessed through your local authority or GP/healthcare support team.  You may also be able to make a referral to the local social care team, often through your GP or directly so you can get support in applying for equipment.  

Minor adaptations are small changes that can make a big difference in your daily life and generally something that costs £1,000 or less to install or complete. Common examples include:

• Grab rails near baths, showers, or toilets
• Handrails along stairs and steps
• Lever taps for easier use
• Improved lighting for better visibility

These are just the most common examples, there might be other things that an occupational therapist recommends that we can help you with too.

An occupational therapist can identify the best place for these minor adaptations to be installed so they are the most suitable for you. These adaptations are typically straightforward to install and can significantly enhance your safety and independence.

Major Adaptations

For more substantial needs, major adaptations might be necessary. These could involve:

• Stair lifts to assist with navigating between floors
• Level-access showers for easier and safer bathing
• Hoists to help with movement in and out of bed
• Wheelchair-accessible spaces within your home
• Complex ramping for improved access

Major adaptations often require structural changes to your home. Before proceeding, we’ll conduct necessary assessments, including an asbestos survey if one isn’t already on file for your property.

We encourage tenants to access aids and adaptations using the existing funding and application routes provided by their Local Authority such as Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) or loaning equipment from Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES).

Teachers Housing Association can also help you with the technical side of the process, such as agreeing plans, specifications and getting permissions. We’ll also support your local council to complete the work as quickly as possible once the grant is approved.