Adaptations service back up and running

Our Housing Adaptations service helps you to live safely and independently at home for as long as possible by making your home more accessible, giving you greater independence and hopefully a better quality of life.

There are a whole range of adaptations that might be considered depending on your individual needs. These can range from major works such as installing stair lifts and level access showers, to smaller items like grab rails.

We receive hundreds of requests for adaptations each year and with such high demand and a limited budget we must prioritise those with the greatest need. Waiting time for adaptations can take up to 18 months for works such as level-access showers, which have the highest demand, but we are working on improving this.

Last year, we completed over 900 minor adaptations and 291 major adaptations. This year we aim to carry out even more adaptation work with the aim of making home life easier for even more Southampton residents.

COVID-19 and the lockdown impacted our ability to safely carry out assessments and install adaptations over the last few months. However, now restrictions are easing the service is slowly getting back to normal while ensuring the safety of both customers and staff. We are working hard to reduce waiting times and the Occupational Therapy team are using new ways to assess clients including telephone and video calls where possible. Plus, our contractors follow strict health and safety guidelines when carrying out work in customers’ homes.

If you think you would benefit from adaptations to your home, please call us on 023 8083 3003. You may be referred to an Occupational Therapist for a home assessment and we will then discuss what options are available and how your request will be managed.

Alternatively, you may consider purchasing and installing certain pieces of equipment in your home yourself. We can offer advice and guidance if you would like to discuss this with us before buying your own equipment. Remember, you must first ask our permission before undertaking any alteration work to your property.