Your Client Services Officer can help you get expert advice on how to modify your home.

Most people receive help from an:

  • occupational therapist
  • architect or building consultant.

How an occupational therapist can help

There are a number of things to think about when it comes to modifying your house.

Your Client Services Officer can arrange for an occupational therapist come to your home and make an assessment of what you need changed.

An occupational therapist will look for things like:

  • whether ramps need to be built
  • if wheelchairs can fit under sinks and benches
  • if you need aids or tools that can help you do everyday tasks.

They will also consider your long-term needs, and how the house can be changed for you in the future.

Once you have a report from the occupational therapist you will need to organise for a quote on getting the work done. You can submit the quote along with your application to the Senior Master.

How an architect or building consultant can help

If you need major changes, an architect or building consultant will be involved as well.

They can assess a property you already own, or one that you are thinking about buying. They start by working out what you, and your family, will need so that you are comfortable.

The architect or building consultant will think about things like:

  • whether you can easily get in and out of the house
  • whether the floors are non-slip
  • if you can reach things in the kitchen and bathroom
  • if you need hoists or ramps included.

They also look at who will be living in the house with you:

  • Will you have enough private space?
  • Is there still space for the whole family?
  • Do you need room for overnight carers?

The architect or building consultant will look at how these can be incorporated into the current house site and develop a design. Once a design has been approved, they will manage the project and construction until it is finished. They will take care of permits, contracts and town planning.

Your Client Services Officer will arrange to pay for the construction from your funds held in Court as approved by the Senior Master.