Making an enquiry about equipment and housing adaptations
Equipment and adaptations for your home
If you live in East Lothian, have a disability and/or need support to do everyday tasks at home, the Community Occupational Therapy Team may be able to help.
The Community Occupational Therapy Team can provide equipment and adaptations to support you with everyday tasks such as preparing meals and hot drinks, going to the toilet, washing or dressing yourself and generally staying safe within your own home.
Making an enquiry
If you feel that equipment or an adaptation to your home could help, call us on 0300 3690 680 and select option 2.
The enquiry / assessment process
- Initial enquiry
- A member of our team will ask you some questions to find out what you are seeking support with and whether we can assist you.
- The Care Needs Assessment is used to determine the need level and risk that this subsequently has on your independence.
- In order to qualify for a service you must be assessed as meeting minimum needs thresholds. There are four levels of defined risk: critical, substantial, moderate and low. This is explained in more detail in a downloadable eligibility criteria for service users.
- During the telephone call, you will be advised if you meet the eligibility criteria.
- It may be that we signpost you to alternative or more appropriate services if we are unable to provide you with what you feel you need.
- Timescales
- If the Occupational Therapist feels that your situation is urgent you may be allocated to a member of the Occupational Therapy team immediately.
- Otherwise you will be placed on our waiting list and advised on approximate timescales on waiting times
- You can find information on our prioritisation of requests here.
- Home visit
- When your case has been allocated, a team member will arrange a time to come and visit you at home to complete an assessment of your needs.
- We will look at a range of interventions including rehabilitation and equipment where this is appropriate to improve your independence and reduce the need to be dependent on adaptations.
- Assessment
During your assessment, we will talk to you about:- What’s important to you and your carers
- What you are able to do
- Anything you are worried about
- Any risks to you being able to live independently both now and in the future
- Any support you have (both paid and unpaid)
- Requesting medical information
We may need to speak to your medical professional, to help us understand your long-term needs, and those of your carer. We will ask your permission before we do this. Here are some of the reasons why we do this:- Short-term conditions: We will not fund an adaptation if your symptoms are likely to improve in less than 12 months. If you have a short-term condition that is likely to continue for less than 12 months, we will usually only provide advice or equipment.
- Recovery after surgery: We will not fund an adaptation if you are due to have surgery or are in an active rehabilitation programme as your function should hopefully improve. We may review your situation following your surgery.
- Life limiting illness: We might not recommend an adaptation if we will not be able to complete it in time to provide you with significant benefit.
- Assessment review
If following a period of assessment and rehabilitation the team think that an adaptation to your house or some equipment could help you, they will talk you through the next steps. You should be given as much choice as possible about your preferred solution. The options provided must be feasible and meets the outcomes identified by our assessment.
- Changes in circumstances
We will recommend removing any equipment and adaptations if, following a re-assessment, there is considerable risk to you and/or your carers.
- Going on holiday
We will not provide equipment for any time being spent on holiday, as we are unable to safely assess the environment.