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Your guide to adaptations

Our Adaptations Service for you

It is the aim of our Adaptations Service to enable our customers to remain independent in their home for as long as possible by providing equipment, aids or undertaking adaptations.

Do I qualify for assistance?

mhs homes’ service is available to all our customers if you feel you require equipment, an adaption or alteration to your home due to a disability or age. Please contact us to undertake a referral.

How do I apply?

Our Adaptations Coordinator can be contacted directly on 01634 354196, alternatively our Customer Service Advisors (01634 565 333) can undertake referrals. You can also ask a relative, neighbour, support worker, or qualified medical practitioner to undertake a referral on your behalf.

What happens next?

You will be contacted by mhs homes within 1 working day of your referral, we will advise you if we are able to assist and what timescales will be involved. Depending upon the request we may be able to instruct works immediately, alternatively mhs homes will undertake a home visit to you within 10 working days.

Your referral will be classed as either,

A Minor Adaptation:

mhs homes will arrange and pay for items such as grab rails or hand rails, lever taps or minor ramps. We will either advise you that we will complete your Minor Adaptation within 10 or 20 working days from initial home visit.

Or

A Major Adaptation:

Where works will exceed £1500 the adaptation will be classed as a Major Adaptation and the case will be referred to Medway Council for an Occupational Therapy Assessment and a Disabled Facilities Grant. We will keep you informed at each stage in the process until the work is completed, via your chosen contact method.
Examples of Major Adaptations are stair lifts, walk in showers, kitchen modifications and installations of hoists.

What is a Disabled Facilities Grant?

This is a local council grant to help you adapt your home so you can continue to live there. The grant is provided when the council considers that the changes are necessary to meet your needs and that the work is reasonable and practical.
The amount of Disabled Facilities Grant paid is usually based on a financial assessment or ‘means test’ of your income in relation to your outgoings. If you do not meet Medway Council’s criteria you may have to pay towards your Adaptation.

Can mhs homes fund adaptations over £1500?

We will always consider discretional circumstances and each case will be dealt with individually. We will consider funding your major adaptation if:

The Disabled Facilities Grant is not approved or partly approved by your local council.
There is a substantial delay in the time taken to obtain the Disabled Facilities Grant.
You provide us with sufficient evidence of your need.
We may be able to fund the full costs or some of the costs for your adaptation. We will then refer you to our specialist consultant who will contact you and your Occupational Therapist within five days of the referral.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to the principles of equal opportunities and will ensure no one is disadvantaged on the grounds of age, race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We will treat all customers fairly, according to their needs and make our services accessible for all people including features such as:

Accessible offices for people with mobility problems.
Hearing loops in our receptions.
An interpretation service or signing for customers when required.

For any advice or help with adapting your property, please contact us.

Getting in touch with us

You can contact us by calling our,
Aids and Adaptations Coordinator 01634 354196
or
Customer Service Advisors on 01634 565 333
You can also get in touch with us by:

Email: adaptations@mhs.org.uk

Writing: Adaptations Co-ordinator, mhs homes, Broadside, Leviathan Way, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4LL

In person: Call into our mhs express office, 115 High Street, Chatham, ME4 4DH

Office opening times:
Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm

Saturday 8:30am - 2pm