Toilet and Shower Assistance

RegWorts

Does anyone know if it is possible to get any financial assistance (from any of the Government agencies ) for creating a downstairs toilet and shower for a disabled person?

I`m asking on behalf of a single lady with failing mobility problems as she gets older ( and is on a disability allowance ) who owns her own house (with a mortgage) but really needs a downstairs toilet and a walk-in shower .

The only toilet is upstairs and she can no longer climb into the bath safely.

She has no savings or surplus money to take out a bank loan to pay for these modifications.

Thanks

Reg

Torry_Quine

The Occupational Therapists are the people to help here. They will assess all her needs not just those mentioned and if eligible will arrange for the work to be done. She should speak to her GP about a referral.

anth1406

my nan and grandad own there own property and had a downstairs loo and shower put in via the council and had to contribute towards the cost,but they did have some savings and it was in scotland may be different in other parts of the country,it still worked out considerably cheaper than if they had funded it all x

Rodders53

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants may help?

RegWorts

Rodders53 wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants may help?

Thanks for all of the replies.

The link to the government website looks as though this will provide the relevant answers

I`ll print it off and pass the details on.

Thanks again

Reg

cabbage

Alternatively, she could be assessed by social services via a community care assessment. They will pay for works up to a set amount (think it might be £1000).

As with the DFG she should not get the work done then claim as it can't be claimed retrospectively.

If she was in the forces or a dependent of someone who was she might get help via The Royal British Legion.

kingfisherblue

C_Mababejive wrote: »

My old auntie had mobility issues and couldnt bathe. The local authority let her rot despite my many interactions with them. They just arranged for some crummy carers agency to pop round once a day. In general this was usually a young girl on minimum wage who was overworked and didnt really do anything of use save for to check that she hadnt died in her sleep. This women had worked hard all her life and paid taxes.

I am sorry that your aunt had such a negative experience of home carers, but please be assured that they are not all like that. My daughter started with a care agency after leaving school. She decided that it wouldn't just be a stop gap, but a career. Three years later, she is a trained carer Ian retirement village. She loves her job, cares for her clients, and hopes to continue in her chosen career for many years. Although she would like to work towards promotion, she is clear that she doesn't want to go too high up the ladder, as this would take her away from the people she helps, and would mean that she would be sitting at a desk all day instead.

She worked Christmas Day last year and this year, and if she has worked out her shifts correctly and they are not altered in the meantime, she will work Christmas Day next year as well. She would like to spend time with us, her family, but acknowledges that care work is her chosen field, and with it comes working unsocial hours.

Some paid carers do enjoy their jobs and do the best they can for their clients. Incidentally, not all are on NMW either. My daughter wasn't when she was with the agency, and she isn't now.

Poppie68

Our local council have a team that deal with grants for disabled facilities. I contacted them for a neighbour last year and they sent someone out to asses her. They installed a downstairs toliet and walk in shower which are all pretty basic but a life changing help for my neighbour.

Horseunderwater

Grants are definitely available via social services adult section. and yes you can self refer. I did this for myself as I have issues. Have not had Occ Therapy out to see me yet - these things take time.

Parva

Yep, I too phoned Social Services and got a visit from them to assess my needs. Took a few months for the visit and a few months more for the adaptations but now have a stairlift and 'wetroom', ie. walk-in shower. It's transformed my life!

C_Mababejive

Am i imagining it or has my original post as quoted in #8,disappeared?

There does seem to be a very marked contrast between care afforded by different local Authorities. My Aunts LA and the hospital were more concerned with trying to stick a "carer" badge on ME so that they had a good reason to hoof her out of hospital into the "community" to clear a bed at the hospital. remember well telling them that though i did care for her as a member of my family, did not recognize the title carer and so refused the role of official carer on their forms.

As i say,they did almost nothing for her except fill out forms,assess this that and the other,....in other words they got the paperwork squared up to cover their own sorry backsides..That was Stockport MBC by the way.

Recent story...

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1597144_failing-council-care-firm-from-stockport-providing-just-one-third-of-home-care-its-paid-for