Occupational Therapists (OTs) can help you live safely and more independently at home. We can look at how health problems affect your everyday life and help you find ways to make things easier.
We visit people at home to see what support you might need and will work with you to understand what is important to you.
We can help with problem-solving, giving advice and information, and suggest easier ways to do daily tasks. We can also provide basic equipment or small changes to your home. Sometimes, we may be able to offer specialist equipment or suggest bigger changes to your home if needed.
OTs can also advise you on safe ways to move and lift, and we can show your carers or family how to help safely.
Our aim is to help you learn the skills and find the tools you need to manage your daily life, so you can feel confident and independent.
Adapting your home
If you’re finding it difficult to move around your home because of:
- a disability
- a long-term health condition
- a visual impairment
- getting older
We may be able to help by providing equipment or making adaptations to your home. These changes can make daily life safer and more manageable, helping you live independently or supporting a carer to look after you.
Minor adaptations or equipment
Through our occupational therapy assessment, we can advise safe use of equipment or minor adaptations.
This could include:
- Rails
- Mobility equipment
- Bathroom equipment
- Manual handling or transfer equipment
If you would like to source equipment or minor adaptations privately please follow the links below to access the Plymouth Online Directory:
Local suppliers for equipment and assistive aids
Information and advice to help you remain independent
Disability Facility Grant (DFG) for major adaptations
What is a DFG?
A DFG is a means-tested grant provided by local authority for major adaptations to help disabled people live more independently in their own homes.
For more in-depth information about this please visit: Disabled Facilities Grant guidance | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK
Occupational therapy’s role
Prior to recommending a major adaptation we will assess whether alternative solutions or equipment would meet your long-term needs. If they do not, we may consider or recommend the adaptation of your home with funding from a disabled facilities grant.
An occupational therapist will visit you at home, complete a clinical assessment to understand your functional needs, and what recommendations are necessary and appropriate to meet these needs.
We will then support with completing a referral form to Plymouth City Council.
Purposes for a grant may include:
- Making the property safer
- Facilitating access to and from the home and part of the garden
- Facilitating access to a shower or bath
- Facilitating access to a toilet
- Facilitating access to a hand washing facilities
- Facilitating access to a bedroom
- Facilitating access to a living room
- Facilitating preparation and cooking of food
(Section 23 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996)
Self-assessment tools
AdaptMyHome: Adapt my Home is an online self-assessment tool for members of the public to quickly check if they could be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
Means test calculator: A DFG is a mean tested grant, please check the calculator to establish if you might have to make contributions.