Adapting your home: where to start

Adapting your home can be a long, complex and costly process - it is important to spend time to get the adaptations right. This will avoid you having to cope in less than satisfactory surroundings in the future, and will save you the cost and bother of having to re-do adaptations at a later stage.

Key people who can help with the adaptations process include:

• A community occupational therapist, who will generally work for the local Social Services or Social Work department. It is a good idea to refer yourself (or your child) as soon as possible, as there is often a waiting list.
• Your MDC Care Advisor

Further details on the Adaptations Process:

This information comes from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Adaptations Manual, 2nd edition.

The Adaptations Process

This is a guide to the stages involved, with the precise order varying according to the procedures of individual Local Authorities.

Download the document: The Adaptations Process (32 kb)

(This information can also be found in chapter 2 of the Adaptations Manual.)

Being your own Keyworker

Suggestions for a DIY approach to the adaptations process for disabled people and/or their family and carers.

Download this document: Be your own key worker (46 kb) 

(Taken from chapter 3 of the Adaptations Manual.)

Record of key contact people

You may find it useful to print off and use these forms to keep a note of all the key people who are involved in the adaptations process.

Download this form: Keyworker contact details (31 kb) 

(Taken from chapter 3 of the Adaptations Manual.)

Diary

It's a good idea to keep a diary of phone calls and meetings held. This will be useful when you want to chase people up. It is also helpful to record decisions made and actions to be taken.

Download a sample form: Keyworker contact diary (23 kb) 

(Taken from chapter 3 of the Adaptations Manual.)

Assessing what is needed

A discussion of the main issues involved when making housing and equipment decisions.

Download this document: Assessment of Need (127 kb) 

(This is chapter 4 of the Manual.)

About the Adaptations Manual

The Adaptations Manual is a detailed guide to all the process and decisions that are involved when planning and undertaking home adaptations. Visit this link to find out more: Adaptation Manual - Chapter Downloads

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