BMBC - EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTATIONS

We can help if you're struggling to manage everyday tasks because of an illness or long-term medical condition. We can tell you about equipment or adaptations to your home that might improve your situation and help you remain independent. 

We can offer you or your carer advice on:

• better ways of doing everyday tasks around your home
• safer moving/handling methods in case you need physically lifting in and out of a chair or bed

We can also provide equipment and make adaptations to your home, such as:

• a raised toilet seat to help you sit and stand from the toilet more easily
• a seat inside your bath to help you to get in and out safely
• fitting a grab rail to a wall, a second handrail to the staircase, or even a stair lift, ramp or shower

How to ask for help

If you need help with equipment or home adaptations you can:

• ask a professional to contact us on your behalf
• request an assessment by completing the online form below
• call the equipment and adaptations service on (01226) 775800
• text phone: 07825 454888 (for BSL users)

We'll ask you, or your representative, for information about yourself, your home and the difficulties you're having.

Assessing your needs

When you contact us, we'll assess your level of need before we provide any support. This helps us to prioritise support for people who have the greatest risk to their health, safety and independence.

Usually we'll arrange to visit you to talk to you and your carers about the problems you're experiencing. We may ask you to show us how you carry out practical tasks so that we can see exactly what you're struggling with.

In some cases, where you just need a basic piece of equipment, we may be able to arrange this without visiting you at home.

Getting the right support

Your personal circumstances will determine the way you can access support.

If you need basic equipment such as a commode, bed pan, urinal or bed cradle, you don't need a specialist assessment. Please call the Community Equipment Service on (01226) 645400 and they'll deliver the equipment to your home. If you prefer, you can collect it from: Unit 33, Grange Lane Industrial Park, Stairfoot, Barnsley, S71 5AS. 

For more specialist equipment, such as a bath lift or hoist, you'll need to get a social care assessment. If your assessment shows you qualify for equipment, it'll be loaned to you free of charge for as long as you need it.

Other professionals involved in your care, such as a nurse or physiotherapist, can also order some pieces of equipment for you. If you get a personal budget you may be able to use some of this money to buy your own equipment.

If you rent your home

If you're a Berneslai Homes tenant you can ask them directly for minor adaptations like a grab rail, second stair rail or lever taps. They may also meet the cost of major alterations. They'll ask for an assessment from us to assess your health and mobility first. Find out about applying for minor and major adaptations to Berneslai Homes properties.

If you're a housing association tenant, contact them first to ask for minor adaptations. They're usually responsible for assistance with this type of work.

Help with major alterations

If you're a home owner, housing association tenant or you privately rent your home, you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). This grant can help with major structural alterations to your home. Contact us to see whether you may be eligible for this grant. If you're eligible for assistance the DFG team will refer you to an approved supplier who can carry out the work. It's important if you do apply for this grant that you don't start any work before your application's been approved. Payment cannot be made for any work that's already been started.

If we can't adapt your home

If we can't adapt your home we can offer you advice and help to find and move to another property. We'll also refer you to other services that may be able to offer you additional advice or support. 

Online help guide - AskSARA

AskSARA is a national help guide, with an easy-to-use online self assessment. It's a useful starting point if you aren't sure what type of items you need to support you.

Choose the issue from a list of health and mobility problems, answer some questions about yourself, and receive impartial advice tailored to you.