Medical Aids and Adaptations

AIDS AND ADAPTATIONS

The Scottish Government classifies Adaptations in three groups: 

  1. Stage 1 - design features which are not specific to a condition or an individual and which are incorporated into the initial specification prior to construction or improvement.
  2. Stage 2 – adaptations to a house to meet the particular needs of a tenant to whom the property has been allocated before, or close to, practical completion.  These adaptations may be completed by the original contractor.
  3. Stage 3 – works to adapt a property to suit the changing needs of the existing tenant, or of a new tenant, where these could not reasonably have been identified when the house was originally provided.

Applications for Stage 1 and Stage 2 adaptations funding will normally be included in main scheme submissions.  Our policy concentrates on Stage 3 adaptations.

ASSESSMENT OF REQUESTS FOR ADAPTATION

Requests will normally be received from the Social Work Occupational Therapist following a self-referral, GP referral or discharge from hospital.  Where a tenant requests an adaptation direct, the Association will inform the tenant to seek a medical assessment via these channels.

All referrals from Social Work will be discussed with Maintenance and Housing Management to enable consideration of the applicant’s circumstances such as:-

  • The tenant’s preference to transfer to a more suitable property or to remain in their existing home.
  • Availability of suitable accommodation.
  • Likely waiting time for alternative accommodation.

Where transfer is a feasible option and provides an alternative to the provision of a high cost adaptation, then the option of transfer will be pursued.

TYPES OF ADAPTATION CARRIED OUT BY THE ASSOCIATION

The list of adaptations below indicates various adaptations that may be referred to the Association.  These works may be eligible for HAG funding from Glasgow City Council. 

  • remove bath and install level access or wet floor shower - (ground floor flats only)
  • Any level access or wet flower showers above ground level the suitability of the adaptation will be discussed by the housing and maintenance teams.
  • provision of ground floor wc/ bathing facilities
  • installation of lever taps
  • provision of threshold ramps or over entrance stairs.
  • support handrails over stairs
  • alterations to windows or doors –width, sightlines, ironmongery etc.
  • provision of support rails by bath /wc
  • non-slip floorcovering

The list is not exhaustive and all appropriate referrals made by Social Work will be considered by the Association in order to meet the needs of the occupant.

LIMITATIONS ON ADAPTATIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE ASSOCIATION

The Association has limited resources for adaptations which makes it necessary to minimise the risk of installing adaptations in unsuitable property and avoid the adaptation needing undone when the person leaves. This also allows works to be completed without an impact on rents.

The Association proposes to make best use of limited budgets by: 

  • discussing and approving any  walk-in or wet floor showers into flats above ground floor.  
  • Ensuring value for money on all adaptations.

TEMPORARY ADAPTATIONS PROVIDED BY SOCIAL WORK

The Local Authority Social Work Department is responsible for the provision of items classed as ‘temporary’ (non-structural) including:-

  • Specialist bathing equipment
  • Raised toilet seats
  • Access ramps
  • Stair/bath lifts (Association responsible for the provision of Associated structural works)

HOUSING ALLOCATION

In order to balance the housing needs of disabled tenants/potential tenants and make the best use of existing adapted stock the Association will ensure that - 

  1. Where possible no offer of accommodation will be made to an applicant with special needs without referral to the Social Work Department’s Occupational Therapist (SW O.T.) for an assessment of the suitability of the property being offered for that person’s needs.
  2. The Association will maintain a list of existing properties where adaptation work has been completed.  This will facilitate the allocation of these properties to ensure, where appropriate, that disabled people are offered existing adapted units instead of adapting their current home.
  3. Where a disabled tenant is residing in an adapted property and applies for a transfer to another tenancy, no consideration will be given to the application unless an O.T. assessment is obtained.  Only in cases where the transfer will provide a significant improvement to the quality of the life of the tenant will approval be given.  This might include cases where the tenant will be nearer to a main carer, etc
  4. Where the application is made for other reasons, it may be refused on economic grounds, due to the cost of adapting the new tenancy.

Medical Adaptation Downloads