Home adaptations can make your elderly relative’s home in Surrey safer and more comfortable to live in, allowing them to remain independent for a longer period of time.
Adaptations can range from small additions to the home, for example a hand rail, to much bigger installations, such as a stair lift or bath hoist. To identify the need for home adaptations, you will first need to receive home assessment. This will often be suggested during the process of receiving a care needs assessment from Surrey County Council.
Surrey County Council will usually install and fund minor adaptations worth up to ยฃ1,000, but for major adaptations, funding is means-tested and provided through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). Access to this grant is arranged via the Housing Team at your local council. This page will outline the process to accessing the grant.
Aside from home adaptation grants, there are other ways to help your elderly relative continue to live independently. You may also be interested in:
Getting a Home Assessment in Surrey
Home assessments are carried out by occupational therapists; healthcare professionals who identify solutions that can help people with disability to live comfortably. They will come and survey your relative’s home, looking for where specialised equipment could make life easier.
Visits from occupational therapists are organised by local councils. Please find appropriate contact details below for the one local to you:
Elmbridge Borough Council
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
- Telephone: 01372 732000
- Visit Website
Guildford Borough Council
- Telephone: 01483 505050
- Contact Form
- Visit Website
Mole Valley District Council
Home assessments are provided in partnership with Millbrook Healthcare. They are a not-for-profit home improvement agency and registered as a community interest company.
- Telephone: 01306 885001
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Home assessments are also provided in partnership with Millbrook Healthcare.
- Telephone: 01737 276417
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Runnymede Borough Council
- Telephone: 0300 200 1005
- Visit Website
Spelthorne Borough Council
- Telephone: 01784 446380
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Surrey Heath Borough Council
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Tandridge District Council
- Telephone: 01883 722000
- Contact Form
- Visit Website
Waverley Borough Council
- Telephone: 01483 523372
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Woking Borough Council
- Telephone: 01483 743 668
- Email:ย [email protected]
- Visit Website
Grants Available in Surrey for Larger Home Alterations
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)
Adaptations which could be carried out within the home include:
- An electric stair-lift or through-floor lift to enable access to all floors.
- A level-access shower to help get in and out of the bath or shower to wash.
- Specialist equipment to help prevent trips and falls, e.g. adapting doorways and entrances.
If an occupational therapist recommends that major adaptations are needed, there is a financial assessment to work out how much of the grant can be received. The maximum funding available for works under a DFG is ยฃ30,000.
If your elderly relative does not financially qualify for a grant, the council can still arrange work for adaptions with a private charge.