Ins and outs of bathing (view report contents)
Help, information and advice
Social services
If you are having difficulty with day-to-day tasks at home such as bathing, you may be eligible for a free assessment. If this shows you need them, the social services will see that any minor adaptations to your home are made, and will make sure that you get any aids you need. The assessment is free, but you may have to pay towards the cost of any equipment or installation work - policies vary from authority to authority. How much you will be asked to pay depends on what the authority works out you can afford - you need to provide details.
The assessment is usually carried out by an occupational therapist (OT). He or she will visit you at home to find out what you may need, and will advise you on what is available. This advice is worth having even if you can afford to buy equipment privately. You may have to wait a long time for an assessment. Your social services department (social work department in Scotland; health and social services board in Northern Ireland) will tell you how long their waiting list is.
You can also get free advice from an OT at a Disabled Living Centre or from a home improvement agency. If you are able to pay, an OT who works privately can carry out an assessment for you (note that if you want help from the social services they will probably need to carry out a separate assessment). The College of Occupational Therapists will send you a list of local OTs. Some OTs are based in hospitals - check with your GP.
Local authority grants for alterations
Below we describe the main types of grant for England and Wales. You
will be told about them by social services if they assess you. Or contact
the renovation grants or environmental health departments of your local
housing authority. For information about similar schemes in Scotland or
Northern Ireland go to the local council (Scotland) or the local housing
executive grants office (NI).
Note that grants will not be given for work begun before a grant has been
approved and that they are mostly for alterations rather than equipment.
Disabled facilities grant
This is for major work which helps a disabled person live more independently at home. Essential work to provide access will qualify; otherwise the local authority decides whether the work qualifies or not. Grants are given to home owners and tenants. It is means-tested - what you get will depend on the householders’ income and savings. There is a maximum limit to payment of £20,000, or £24,000 in Wales for disabled facilities grants.
House renovation grant
This is a discretionary grant for the improvement, repair or conversion of a house. You do not have to be elderly or disabled to qualify, and grants are available to people who own their own homes as well as to those who rent from private landlords or housing associations. They are not for council tenants. It is means-tested.
Home repair assistance
This is a discretionary grant for smaller improvements and repairs. It has a maximum payment of £2,000 per application (or £4,000 over a three year period). It’s for people who own their own homes or who rent from private landlords or housing associations. You qualify if you are elderly (aged 60 or over), infirm or disabled, or if you are adapting your home so that an elderly person can live with you, or if you or your partner are receiving an income-related benefit.
Interest-free loans
If you own your home and need to borrow money for structural changes, talk to your bank or building society. Some give interest-only loans to older people, against the value of the property. You pay interest but the amount borrowed does not have to be repaid until the house is sold. Age Concern has a factsheet on schemes for raising capital on owned homes.
Charitable grants
Libraries have directories of fund-giving organisations. The Disabled
Living Foundation (DLF) has a free factsheet on sources of finance
for disabled people; RADAR have
a list of sources for disability equipment. Charity Search puts elderly
people in financial need in touch with charities.
Note that you may need an assessment to support any application for money.
Exhibitions and advice
Disabled Living Centres
If you can, visit a DLC. There are about 40 DLCs up and down the country. They have exhibitions of aids which you can see and try out. They vary in size and in opening hours. It's best to make an appointment so that you can be sure that there will be a therapist or specialist on hand to advise you. Most DLCs don't sell equipment but will be able to tell you what to look for, where to get it and will give you any other information you need. Their advice is always independent and unbiased. To find your nearest contact the Disabled Living Centres Council at the address below.
Assist UK
Redbank House
4 St Chad’s Street
Manchester M8 8QA
Tel: 0870 770 2866
Text 0870 770 5813
Fax: 0870 770 2867
e-mail: general.info@assist-uk.org
www.assist-uk.org
Exhibitions
There are exhibitions where you can see easier living equipment. The main one is Naidex.
The next Naidex is at the NEC in Birmingham April 29th - 1st May 2008
For more details visit www.naidex.co.uk
Report contents
Introduction
How to use this guide
Holding on
Helpful Aids
Getting in and out of the bath
Baths and showers
Loos and basins
Hoists and lifts
Guide to portable bath lifts
Checklist of things to look for
Help, information and advice
Useful publications
Manufacturers
