Published: Tuesday 7 May 2024
Moura's story
Moura (not her real name) has limited mobility in her knees and had been having trouble using the bath in her council home safely. Moura was referred to Adult Social Care who arranged for an occupational therapist to visit her. They recommended that a wet-floor shower be installed in Moura’s bathroom to help her bathe more easily, and also that a cupboard was fitted in her kitchen.
A building surveyor from the Aids and Adaptation Team visited Moura to plan the work and realised that rather than just fitting a cupboard, Moura would benefit from major work in her kitchen to make it easier for her to use (you will have noticed in the picture that Moura’s sink was previously in a corner, and difficult for her to access properly).
Our team helped Moura complete an application for disabled facilities funding to cover the cost of the work. Once that was processed we installed the wet floor shower, swapped the kitchen sink and drainer around, re-located the washing machine, installed new cupboards, and increased the worktop space.
Moura was delighted with the outcome and said:
"I enjoy my home now. The kitchen and the shower are brilliant, I can’t thank you enough. The contractors were brilliant. I feel alive, you have changed my life with what you have done for me, you don’t know what this means to me, I am beyond happy, I love it a lot."
Housing Management’s dedicated Aids and Adaptations Team empathetically manage the process around the installation of aids and adaptations in the homes of our residents. And this service is not just for those who reside in social housing, it’s also available to individuals and families who live in the private rented sector and even owner-occupiers.
So, from affixing simple grabrails to help you safely negotiate a flight of stairs to a major reconfiguration of your bathroom – if you, or someone you know is struggling in the home, Aids and Adaptations may have the solution.
Contact Adult Social Care in the first instance on 020 7361 3013 to enquire about an assessment of your needs or email [email protected]