There are a number of adaptations that can be made to the person you care for’s home to assist them to be as independent as possible whilst still saying safe. Some of these are temporary, and others can be permanent. These adaptations can sometimes make a crucial difference to allowing your friend or relative to stay in their own home for longer. And they can also take some of the burden away from you as their carer, by allowing them to do more for themselves.
There a wide range of different adaptations available, ranging from small and easy to big and complicated. Some of the most common adaptations include:
- Widening doors and installing ramps to make their home wheelchair-friendly.
- Installing a bathroom or bedroom downstairs if they struggle to get upstairs.
- Lowering kitchen worktops and tables so that they can be used whilst sitting down, for instance in a wheelchair.
- Adapting their bathroom to include a walk-in bath, bath lift or easy access shower.
- Installing a new wet room.
- Fitting a banister on the stairs or a stairlift to make it easier to get up and down.
- Installing smart heating and lighting controls to make them easier for the person you care for to control independently.
- Increasing security for example by fitting an intercom or lights that come on when someone is at their front door.
- Installing grabrails to help avoid falls.
To find out what would be best for the person you care for, it is a good idea to get a free home assessment by an occupational therapist through the local council. You can find out more about this in our guide 'Occupational therapist assessments'. It is also worth checking whether your adaptations require planning permission or approval by building control before you go ahead.
As you can imagine, many of these adaptations are an expensive investment. Some of them can be funded by grants, and others may be provided for free by the local council depending on your friend or relative’s circumstances. For more information, take a look at our guide 'Financial support for home adaptations'.
Even if they are not able to be funded externally, making adaptations can still be a worthwhile investment for your friend or relative. It will make their life a lot easier (and yours too!) and do wonders for their self-esteem if they can get around their own home more independently. And it can sometimes even make financial sense too if the alternative is that they would need to move to a care home.
Home adaptations are complimented by the assistance that additional equipment and aids can provide. Take a look at our guide 'Equipment and assistive aids to help the person you care for' for further information.
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