Rules on Council DF Grants

50Twuncle

I am disabled and having increasing problems getting into and out of the bath - where we have a shower - I have slipped a few times and am concerned that an accident is just around the corner..
We are wondering whether a DF grant is available to help pay for a "wetroom" ?
I am having a physiotherapy assessment at the hospital in a couple of weeks time for my knee (which is getting quite bad) and am considering mentioning the problems at home

1. Would I be right in thinking that the NHS input may help my application ?

2. We do have some savings - will the amount that we can claim be dependant on savings ?

cattie

It is unlikely that a wet room would be approved. It is more usual for a grant to be given for a level access shower if a person has trouble getting in or out of a bath.

Social services or the Occupational Therapist do an assessment before any grants can be given & very often the OT will be able to suggest low cost ways to remedy the problem you might be having. Perhaps having safety grips on the walls of your shower to assist you & stop you from slipping.

Savings do affect how much of a grant can be allocated. Each council has it's own procedure & allocation of funds.

50Twuncle

cattie wrote: »

It is unlikely that a wet room would be approved. It is more usual for a grant to be given for a level access shower if a person has trouble getting in or out of a bath.

Social services or the Occupational Therapist do an assessment before any grants can be given & very often the OT will be able to suggest low cost ways to remedy the problem you might be having. Perhaps having safety grips on the walls of your shower to assist you & stop you from slipping.

Savings do affect how much of a grant can be allocated. Each council has it's own procedure & allocation of funds.

But - our bathroom is small - the shower is over the bath - so there's no room for a separate shower !

tomtontom

50Twuncle wrote: »

But - our bathroom is small - the shower is over the bath - so there's no room for a separate shower !

In which case they would remove the bath. Criteria varies between local authorities, but most will look for the option of least cost.

cattie

50Twuncle wrote: »

But - our bathroom is small - the shower is over the bath - so there's no room for a separate shower !

If it has a bath in it it can't be any smaller than the bathroom in my previous house & a shower fitted in there perfectly will plenty of room to spare. Even quite a large shower will take up no or very little more room than a bath does.

Any grant that might be given will not be for fitting a separate shower in addition to a bath, it will be to completely replace the bath with a shower cubicle.

sueturnersmith

We also have a shower above the bath. They fitted a wide bath board across the bath, and three large grab rails. It's not perfect, but it does help. Much as I would love a wet room, funds are just not available, neither from the council nor from me.

margaretclare

We have a tiny bathroom and used to have a bath with shower. We decided long ago that this was about the most dangerous arrangement you could think of due to his knees and my hips. At least a decade ago we had the bath ripped out and a shower cubicle put in. Then, after DH was seriously ill and nearly died, we realised that we needed a shower cubicle with a much lower step-in, also grab-handles for safety. I had that installed in late 2008 to replace the original one. Money well spent.

I could possibly have asked the council for help BUT there would have been a waiting time of at least 3 months. Not practicable.

confuseddaughter_2

The Social Services assessed mum & dad and offered all manner of gizmos. They now have an electric seat that fits in the bath that lowers and raises them in and out of the water. They also fixed grab rails on the walls. They put another stair rail up so that they have two now, one either side, mum has an electric pillow/bed riser as well as a grab rail fixed under the bed, grab rails throughout down stairs as well as at the front and back doors. They had a small step built outside the back door. They also supplied a wide legged stool for the kitchen to sit at the sink/worktop. They provided a higher toilet seat with grab rails either side of the toilet for upstairs and for downstairs, provided a commode which is kept in the understairs cupboard.


The way forward is to get your Social Services involved and let them do an assessment. You don't need any grants and you don't have to pay for the things they supply.

zico_2

You need to be assessed by SS OT. If, following the assessment, simple solutions (already mentioned) and/or equipment do not meet your needs the OT will support your request for a disabled facilities grant to provide a shower facility that will meet your needs. This grant is means tested. You need to have a substantial and permanent disability to be eligible for the grant. If you are having treatment for any condition it is reasonable to expect to wait to see if you regain function following treatment before the OT will support a grant application. Waiting lists vary widely for these grants.

Richie-from-the-Boro

- crossposted