2 minute read
Design for Independence celebrates 10th anniversary
A decade of finding, designing and adapting homes for the less able.
ONE-STOP SHOP
Private housing occupational therapy (OT) company Design for Independence is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its unique approach to bespoke, costeffective property searches and adaptations for the people who have suffered catastrophic injuries.
The company was founded by Anava Baruch, a housing OT, it specialises in the most challenging and complex cases of physical, sensory and emotional disability. Each design is as unique as the individual client, their care needs and rehabilitation goals. The company takes pride in coming up with creative solutions for even the toughest challenges, even when space is tight, and budget is restricted.
During the last 10 years DfI have created a trusted team of construction professionals. They provide support for small adaptations as well as large refurbishments and rebuilds.
In the last 10 years the team has developed and grown, the OT team includes practitioners from a variety of backgrounds. This includes OTs with a paediatric background with specialisms in sensory integration and seating as well as end of life with a focus on pain management. The team as a whole has extensive knowledge in acute musculoskeletal injuries such as amputations as well as rehabilitation of neurological conditions such as brain and spinal cord injuries. They also specialise in designing homes for people who have severe visual and hearing impairments.
This knowledge and expertise enables the OTs to understand the rehabilitation and care involved along with the manual handling needs to support the client. With the experience of working with people who have suffered life changing injuries, the design takes into consideration the loss of privacy and the impact this has on the entire family. As well as the required space for substantial storage for medical supplies and equipment. The team provides bespoke layouts to enable their client’s independence when completing personal care activities. The recommended design is tailored to meet the client’s unique needs and style.
DfI have a bespoke property search service which is led by an OT and their in-house sales and lettings manager, with 15 years’ experience working within estate agency. This super-efficient service has no finder’s fees and is exempt from VAT as this work is completed by an OT. Once the OT understands an individual’s unique requirements, they create a proposed detailed design and support the client with sourcing all equipment, fixtures and fittings. If the project does not require a planning application the project can be managed in-house as they have experience in tendering and monitoring the work. The team can also provide manual During the last 10 years DfI have created a handling training for family members and the care team when a client moves in. trusted team of DfI design the property to enhance the construction client’s abilities and empower them to professionals. function effectively in a house they are proud of.
ACCOMMODATION EXPERT
Managing director Anava Baruch acts as an accommodation expert under part 35 of civil law. Her background in occupational therapy gives her a holistic view of Anava Baruch a client’s accommodation needs. Tel: 01799 588056 Email: info@designforindependence.co.uk Web: www.designforindependence.co.uk
