Adapting our flat to become accessible

sprkmac

My husband had recently become disabled with having a leg amputated and i would like to know what i have to do to find accessible housing as our flat is not adapted in any way and he cannot access the bathroom or even leave the flat

steve51

Hi @sprkmac

Welcome it’s great to meet you this evening.

We have got some info on here & I will post the link below for you.

https://search.scope.org.uk/s/redirect?collection=scope-meta&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scope.org.uk%2Fsupport%2Fdisabled-people%2Findependent-living%2Fhousing&index_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scope.org.uk%2Fsupport%2Fdisabled-people%2Findependent-living%2Fhousing&auth=YuJ7rMj6l4dog%2BmmVGEZ2Q&profile=_default&rank=1&query=Housing

Please please let me know if there’s any problems????

Ami2301

Hi @sprkmac welcome to the community! 

Have you checked out the information in our 'Adapting your home' and 'Getting out and about' section?

Let us know if you need any further help

sprkmac

Hi cannot adapt flat as its private and this is so recent 3 months ago. Hes due home from hospital in next week or so as been in since October. Had to find a new flat as old was was unsuitable as the OT,s said so he has never lived here..... will have to see how it goes over the next few months. 

Ami2301

Have the OT'S recommended any adaptive aids?

sprkmac

He will come home with a Power chair, got bed, commode and bed table already delivered awaiting ramp for patio door

Ami2301

That's good, that will help massively

sprkmac

Thanks nice to speak to someone who can advise, feel like I'm going backwards some days. But hopefully it will improve as time goes on 

Ami2301

I received the same as your husband when I was discharged. It does take a while to get used to but I assure you once you get into a routine, it will all be OK

steve51

Hi @sprkmac

Good Morning ? ? ? 

How are things today????

Have you got everything in hand ?️ ?️ ?️ 

Please please let me know if you are still having problems???

@steve51

sprkmac

Just waiting now for discharge date, you all have been so helpful.

Jean_OT

Hi @sprkmac

Thanks for posting on the "Ask an OT" page, sorry there has been a delay in me getting back to you, I'm only able to log on here every few days.

Now that your husband has become disabled you may be eligible to join the waiting list for council or social housing. If you were already on the waiting list your priority for being housed will probably have increased as a result of your new circumstances. So if you haven't already done so, do make an urgent appointment with a Housing Advisor from your Local Authority. 

I would expect the Local Authority Housing Advisor to be able to talk to you about Council owned properties and also signpost to any appropriate Housing Associations in your area.

If you have the means to privately rent or buy an accessible property you could take advice from a specialist company such as: http://www.branchproperties.co.uk

Local estate agents and letting agents might potentially have some accessible properties on their books but unfortunately fully wheelchair accessible properties can be difficult to find in the private rental sector.

If you are able to find a property via the Local Authority, housing association or private market that would better meet your husbands needs with the addition of adaptations or equipment, the Community OT may be able to assist. Hopefully when your husband's discharge from hospital is being planned there will be a transfor of his case from the Hospital OT to the Community OT. However, this doesn't always happen in a smooth or timely fashion and so do contact the Community OT direct if necessary. You can normally get their details from your Local Authority website or switchboard.

Do bear in mind that the Community OT is limited in the types of equipment and adaptations they can provide. Depending on your financial circumstances adaptations might be funded via a Disabled Facilities Grant: https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/disabled-facilities-grant Also the permission of a property owner is required before any structural adaptations can be carried out.

There is a charity which focuses on supporting and advising people who have had an amputation: http://www.limbless-association.org/

Best Wishes

Jean

sprkmac

Thank you for the info been very helpful
Rita