Adaptations

‘Adaptation’ refers to changes to a property to help someone remain in their home, live more independently, stay safe or ensure their needs can be met.

This can include:

Facilitating access to the home and garden
Making the premises safer for use
Access to a bedroom and living room
Access to a toilet, bath/shower and wash basin
Building an extension, for example a downstairs bedroom
Facilitating the preparation and cooking of food
Heating improvements
Control of power, light and heat
Caring for others

Take the AdaptMyHome self assessment

The AdaptMyHome self assessment allows you to check how well your home supports your needs, and whether you could benefit from some adaptations to help you stay safe and independent. You will be asked some quick questions about how you are managing at home.

At the end, your home will be given a score to show how suitable it is for you and suggest ways you could make it better. You can also check if you are eligible to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from your local council to help towards the work.

Visit adaptmyhome.org.uk to take the assessment and find out if your home could be adapted to help you stay safe.

Lincolnshire Community Equipment Service (LCES)

The Lincolnshire Community Equipment Service (LCES) can provide equipment for you to use in your own home, to help you remain as independent as possible.

Equipment can be provided for people of all ages including children with disabilities.

The equipment that LCES provide can be simple equipment such as walking frames and crutches to aid mobility. LCES can also provide more complex equipment such as beds, mobile hoists, and pressure care equipment.

To speak with someone about your equipment needs call the Lincolnshire County Council Customer Service Centre on 01522 782155.

You may be required to pay for equipment from LCES; this will depend on your individual needs and situation. More information is available on the Lincolnshire County Council Adult Care webpages regarding Adult Care assessment and eligibility.

Buying equipment yourself

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria or if you simply wish to buy equipment without having an assessment, you can do this directly yourself. Equipment is also available in various shops (including mobility stores and some pharmacies).

Equipment and adaptations

There is also support available to help you choose the right equipment or adaptation to suit your needs.

Check out the Connect to Support Equipment and adaptations pages for more information about the services and supports that can assist people with their mobility at home.

Access

Check out the Good Home Lincs pages on Access for more information about staying mobile around the home.

You could get a grant from your council if you are disabled and need to make changes to your home. For example if you:

are physically disabled
have a learning disability
have age-related needs
are autistic
have a cognitive impairment, like dementia
have a progressive condition, like motor neurone disease
have a terminal illness
have a mental health condition

You might need to:

widen doors and install ramps or grab rails
improve access to rooms and facilities, for example with a stairlift, or level access shower
improve access to your garden
build an extension, for example a downstairs bedroom
provide a heating system suitable for your needs
adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

Check out the Good Home Lincs Grants pages for more information about Disabled Facilities Grants and how to contact your local council.

Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance

Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance (DHFA) may be given to help people live safely and independently in their homes where their needs cannot be met through a mandatory grant.

Councils are under no obligation to award Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance, however, subject to the availability of funding, Local Housing Authorities may award assistance on a case-by-case basis.

Assistance may include:

helping an applicant to move to a suitable home (relocation)
topping up mandatory
helping reduce delayed transfers of care (DTOC), e.g. priority works needed to facilitate hospital discharge
helping people stay safe, warm and well
provide aids and adaptations for people with specific conditions e.g. dementia, learning disabilities, neurodiversity and sensory impairments
assisting with an applicant's contribution to a mandatory grant

Applications for assistance can be made by both owner-occupiers and tenants.

Depending on financial circumstances, applicants may need to make a contribution towards the cost of the required works. This includes applications relating to disabled facilities for children.

Check out the Good Home Lincs Grants pages for more information about Discretionary Housing Financial Assistance and how to contact your local council.

National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) provides information for Landlords about improving the accessibility of the Private Rented Sector to ensure the sector can meet the current and future demand for adapted properties.

The NRLA has produced guidance for landlords to support landlords in better managing tenant requests for home adaptations.

Download a copy of the NRLA Adaptations: Good Practice Guidance and find out more about adaptations in the Private Rented Sector on the NRLA website.

If you live in a house that is difficult to adapt, has a lot of levels or stairs, or is getting too big to maintain, it might be time to start thinking about moving home.

Moving home is a big decision with many considerations, especially if you are considering moving because you are finding your current home difficult to manage, but there is help and support available to help you make the right decision for you.

Planning ahead and knowing what options might be right for you in the future is always better than needing to make decisions under pressure.

Check out the Good Home Lincs pages on Moving Home for more information about what to consider when thinking about moving home.

Check out the Good Home Lincs pages on Paying for works for more information about funding works.

Check out the Good Home Lincs pages on Trusted Tradespeople for more information about finding tradespeople to carry out work.

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