Equipment and Adaptations

What is Equipment and Adaptations?
What types of equipment exist?
How do I get it?
What does it cost?
Help with Home Adaptations
Find out more

What is Equipment and Adaptations?

If you have difficulty with everyday tasks such as moving around your home, getting up and down stairs, or getting in and out of the bath, then you may wish to find out about equipment to assist with mobility or about adaptations to your home.

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What types of equipment exist?

Equipment can be defined as any item or product, whether acquired commercially 'off-the-shelf', modified or customised, that is used to increase the functional capabilities of an individual with disabilities. Equipment can include:

Home nursing equipment such as commodes and pressure-relief mattresses
Equipment for daily living such as shower 'grab' rails; bath/shower seats; bath-lifts; raised toilet seats; teapot tippers and liquid level indicators.
Telecare products such as flood detectors; falls monitors; smoke detectors and movement censors. These are often linked to a call centre and trigger a response when activated.
Ancillary equipment for people with sensory impairment, such as flashing doorbells; low-vision optical aids; text-phones and assistive listening devices.
Wheelchairs
Environmental control equipment
Communication aids to assist people who have difficulty with speech, writing and reading.

You can inspect a range of equipment at a local Disabled Living Centre. Each centre includes a permanent exhibition of products and equipment that provide people with opportunities to see and try them and get information and advice from professional staff about what might suit them best.

How do I get it?

Equipment can be accessed through a variety of sources including your GP, district nurse, health visitor or your local Social Work Department. You can also access equipment directly through retail and pharmacy outlets.

Self-Directed Support payments may be available to those wishing to self-select standard pieces of equipment. You should discuss this option with your local Social Work Department. However, it is important to note that you will have to pay the full cost of the equipment and you will be responsible for the correct installation of fixed equipment and for its correct use. You will also be responsible for the cost of any servicing, maintenance and repair of any equipment purchased using a Direct Payment. You should discuss with your Social Work Department how they factor these costs into any payment you may receive.

The NHS provides certain types of equipment free of charge, such as walking sticks, delta walking frames, wheeled walking frames, commodes, bedrests, cot-sides, anti-pressure sore devices and leg raisers.

Local authorities will have their own charging policy for community care services, including equipment and adaptations. You can ask your local Social Work Department for a copy of this.

Your local Social Work Department can also arrange for an assessment of your needs. This assessment should identify the things you want to achieve (such as managing the stairs) and what services you need to achieve them, including the need for any equipment and/or adaptations. The assessment is based on your own needs and not your carer's abilities, for example, in lifting. For more information, see our page on Assessment of your Care Needs.

The Disabled Living Foundation has developed an online self-assessment tool. Using Ask Sara, you can find help by selecting from

particular topics, such as mobility or memory
areas of the home, such as bathroom or stairs.
the type of daily activities you need assistance with, such as food preparation

The website then asks a series of simple yes/no questions and produces a report with recommended equipment and general specifications for its installation and use.

What does it cost?

Equipment provided by the NHS is free of charge.

Equipment may also be provided free at the discretion of the Local Authority.

The cost of any chargeable services provided by your Local Authority will be set out in their charging policy. You can ask your Social Work Department for a copy of this.

If you are assessed as needing chargeable services, a financial assessment will be carried out by the Social Work Department to decide how much, if anything, you need to pay towards the cost. If you prefer not to have a financial assessment you can refuse, but you will have to pay the full cost of any service arranged for you.

No matter who your provider is, you should be told what their service will include and how much it will cost before the service begins.

Help with Home Adaptations

An adaptation is work to modify a disabling environment in order to restore or enable independence, privacy, confidence and dignity for individuals and their families.

Adaptations can form a range of options available to people experiencing a disabling environment, including:

widening doors for wheelchair access
creating a ramp
replacing your bath with a level-access shower

Major adaptations to your home may require advice from an architect and/or surveyor and permission from other tenants if you share a stair (for example, for an external ramp). The installation of ramps is governed by stair-height regulations.

If you own your home, financial assistance to carry out major adaptations may be available from your local authority in the form of a Private Sector Housing Grant. You may qualify for a grant if, following assessment, it is agreed that you require a major adaptation and the need is a priority, according to the local authority's eligibility criteria.

If you are a local authority tenant and your home no longer meets your needs and, following assessment, it is agreed that a major adaptation is the best way to meet that need, then the local authority will seek to fund the work.

If you rent your home from a Registered Social Landlord (RSL), such as a Housing Association or co-operative, the duty to provide adaptations remains with the local authority. However, most RSLs will apply for a Housing Association Grant (HAG) for 'stage three adaptations'. In cases where funding is not available, RSLs can also use their financial reserves to fund the work.

If you live in private rented accommodation you have the right to adapt your home. You are, however, responsible for arranging and funding the work, with a grant if available. (See also our section on Care and Repair). The landlord cannot refuse permission or impose conditions without good reason.

Landlords and managers of rented premises or premises-to-let are required to make reasonable adjustments to address the barriers which may be experienced by a tenant with a disability. The requirement for these adjustments falls into three categories:

provide auxiliary equipment and service (such as replacing taps and door handles; providing or adapting doorbells or door entry systems)
changing practices, policies and procedures; and
changing a term of letting

If a person with a disability is coming to visit and you don't want to permanently adapt your home, or if there is a delay in doing so, the British Red Cross and other charities can lend or lease equipment on a temporary basis.

The Scottish Government has produced a range of information leaflets detailing the financial help that may be available, and how to access it. There are four individual leaflets, detailing the different funding options for the different property tenures:

Homeowners Guide to Funding a Major Adaptation

Local Authority Guide to Funding a Major Adaptation

Housing Association Guide to Funding a Major Adaptation

Private Tenants Guide to Funding a Major Adaptation