Contact your local authority social services department if you want help finding and paying for disability equipment and adaptations. Most older people are eligible for an assessment of their needs. If you have a carer, they are entitled to be included in the assessment, and they are also entitled to an assessment in their own right.
You will be assessed either by a care manager or an occupational therapist (OT), depending on the level of your needs. The local authority will have eligibility criteria that identify the help they will provide for particular needs. This may include equipment, adaptations and practical support with domestic tasks and personal care, all intended to help you carry on living independently in your home for as long as possible.
Some equipment and smaller adaptations are provided free of charge. For larger adaptations, the local authority may assist you in applying for a grant from the housing department.
If you do not qualify for assistance from the local authority, or prefer not to use them, similar services may be available through private agencies or local voluntary organisations.
Social services’ telephone number should be in your local phone book. Contact the main local authority switchboard or your local Age Concern if you have difficulty finding it.