No place like home

When you are thinking about making your home accessible or looking for a new home, it’s important to consider your requirements and the current barriers you face at home, and contemplate what type of housing would be best for you: supported living; social housing; private renting; buying a property. In social housing and supported living facilities, you should be given accommodation that suits your needs, or the provider will be responsible for making any necessary adaptations that aren’t currently in place. Organisations like Dimensions UK (www.dimensionsuk.org), Mencap (www.mencap.org. uk) and Lifeways (www.lifeways. co.uk) can provide information on supported living and if its right for you or your loved one, while you can search for your local social housing provider on the government website (www.gov.uk).

If you rent privately or own your home, the process of applying for funding to help with the cost of adaptations is similar, but you may have to discuss this with your landlord if you are renting.