Where you are:

Housing LIN > Resources > Topics > Design > Occupational Therapists input on the design of housing > Housing Adaptations

Housing Adaptations

Occupational therapists have specialist experience and knowledge of designing bespoke adaptations for individuals in their own homes.

Housing adaptations can make it easier and safer for disabled and older people to live in their own homes. Typical adaptations might include improvements to access (ramps, level thresholds, automatic opening doors, steplifts), internal door widening, wet floor level access showers, wheelchair accessible kitchens, stairlifts or through floor lifts.

On these pages, we provide access to information relating to housing adaptations under the following headings:

Promoting the Safety and Independence of Older Residents in Social Housing

This report outlines the learnings from HACT's Age Friendly Social Housing Programme in Southwark, with specific recommendations that are applicable for any housing association with elderly residents across the UK.

Navigating housing challenges for older adults: The importance of person-centred care

In this blog for the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence, Helen Brown, a PhD researcher at the University of Sheffield and experienced Occupational Therapist, examines the complexities of providing person-centred housing solutions for older adults.

Three useful resources for local authorities interested in expanding financial support for home improvements

The Centre of Ageing Better have published three reports with Foundations to better understand how local authorities are financially supporting individuals to make changes to their home despite an extremely challenging context for public budgets.

A step change: improving delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant

This Age UK report highlights the shocking delays many older and disabled people face waiting for councils to install home aids and adaptations, making it more difficult for them to live independently at home.

Measuring Impact: Top tips on how to show the difference your home improvement services make

Based on a learning session held at a Good Home Network event in 2023, this briefing from the Centre for Ageing Better contains a series of ‘top tips’ and ideas to support the work of home improvement services and shows how to measure the impact of their services.

Disabled Facilities Grant Decision Maker

This template from Foundations, the national umbrella body for home improvement agencies, is designed to help professionals manage their caseloads efficiently and effectively and support any DFG decision making.

Key Skills for Housing Adaptations: A Workbook for Occupational Therapists and Students

Highlighting the long-term benefits environmental adjustments can afford, this book delves into the crucial role occupational therapists play in helping those with additional needs to adapt their homes in order to have a better quality of life.

Housing LIN Case Study (no. 170): Becoming Trusted Assessors gives agency to Middlesbrough Staying Put Agency

Written for the Housing LIN by Janet Seward, Partnerships Manager at TACT, this case study shares Middlesbrough’s Staying Put agency's experience with TACT Ltd to provide Trusted Assessor training accredited by OCN London in line with the national qualification for Trusted Assessor.

Housing LIN Case Study (no. 170): Becoming Trusted Assessors gives agency to Middlesbrough Staying Put Agency

Housing LIN welcomes 3 new supporters of its Accessible Design and Occupational Therapist web resources

We’re delighted to welcome on board ProCare Ltd, Invisible Creations, and Johnnie Johnson Housing as new sponsors of the Housing LIN. Find out more about the new sponsors of our Accessible Design and Occupational Therapists webpage.

Home environment design theories and models related to the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review

This study report explores housing challenges for individuals with intellectual disabilities, emphasising limited control and unsuitable living conditions and provides insights that guide the development of better housing options and support systems for enhances occupational performance and well-being.

Making Adaptations Work for Older People in Scotland

Age Scotland launched a report to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week 2023 which reflects the need for clear advice and information, a more streamlined process across tenures, access to funding and a focus on prevention not reacting to crisis.

Adapting Homes for Cognitive Impairment – Dementia-friendly design

This Housing LIN guest blog by Jane Jones, Senior Occupational Therapist at Stoke on Trent City Council, coincides with Dementia Action Week 2023 and reflects on a project to design level access shower schemes for Client’s with a Cognitive impairment.

Housing Associations and Home Adaptations: Finding ways to say yes

This report, published by Foundations and produced in partnership with Habinteg and Anchor Hanover with support from Taylor Wimpey, follows the publication of the Independent Review of DFG in 2018 and provides guidance on delivering better home adaptations in social housing.

Housing associations, home adaptations and independent lives: Finding ways to say yes

Published by Foundations, the national umbrella body for home improvement agencies in England, in partnership with Anchor Hanover, Habinteg and Taylor Wimpey, this paper provides guidance on delivering home adaptations in social housing, including how local authorities and housing associations can work better together.

Adaptations for children and young people with behaviours that challenge

Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs), has published new guidance for housing adaptations. It calls for a better understanding of the needs of people with autism and/or learning disabilities in housing adaptations and the system-wide cost benefits.

Move or improve?

To coincide with National #IntegenerationalWeek, this new guest blog by Laura Wigzell at Motionspot’s Fine & Able, offers her insights into how people are beginning to think further ahead and reassess their housing priorities and future-proof their options for later life, including multi-generational housing.

Remote Home Visit: Exploring the feasibility, acceptability and potential benefits of using digital technology to undertake occupational therapy home assessments

This article in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy reviews how home assessments are integral to the occupational therapy role, providing opportunities to personalise and integrate care.

Meeting the home adaptation needs of older people: Is your council actively addressing residents’ need for help with home adaptations?

This recently updated report from the LGA, in association with ADASS, Age UK and Care & Repair England, explores the crucial role of housing adaptations in supporting people’s independence and reducing demand on stretched social care and health services. It now also includes fresh links to relevant resources on tackling coronavirus.

Ageing in the right place: An Australian perspective

The Global Centre for Modern Ageing in Australia has released a report looking at the impact of aging the role that home adaptations can play in supporting choice for an older person to remain at home.

Act to Adapt

This report from the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association calls for better access to housing adaptations for people with MND.

A strengths based approach to delivering the Disabled Facilities Grant – Thurrock Council

Housing LIN case study 155 outlines how Thurrock Council have adopted a strength-based approach to delivering Disabled Facilities Grants to enhance individual’s independence and provide overall improvements to their health and wellbeing.

Adaptations Without Delay

This RCOT report, written by the Housing LIN, is intended to be used by practitioners and organisations across the UK who may be contacted by disabled and older people and their families who are seeking advice or support with home adaptations

Causes of Delays during Housing Adaptation for Healthy Aging in the UK

This study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, investigates the timelines across the key stages of the adaptation process - including referral, allocation, assessment, funding and installation - and examines the main causes of delays in current practice.

External Review of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and Other Adaptations

An independent review of the Disabled Facilities Grant which features 45 recommendations to the government to overhaul the current system.

How do people access and experience home adaptations? Perspectives from people in later life and practitioners

This Housing LIN case study report summarises the findings from recent research conducted on the lived experiences of home adaptations, funded by the Centre for Ageing Better

Housing and disabled people: A toolkit for local authorities in England

A toolkit from Habinteg and EHRC advising about best practice for planning, designing, and adapting housing for people with disabilities.

Small but Significant: The impact and cost benefits of handyperson services

This report from Care & Repair England concludes that handyperson services offer a high rate of return on investment, as well as wider social benefits, and are highly prized by older people, particularly 'older old' single women living alone.