Disability and independent living

 

Around one in five adults in the UK is disabled, and more than 1 million of those live alone. With the right support and facilities, leading an independent life with a physical or learning disability is now more achievable than ever.

Living independently doesn’t mean that you’re not entitled to support from social services, and it doesn’t mean that family and friends aren’t important.
Wendy Gross is from the National Centre for Independent Living, which helps disabled people to live independently. She says, "Even though you want to live independently, it’s still important to have support from friends and family nearby in cases of emergency, and also for company."
What will I need in my home?
If you’re going to live independently, a suitable home is the single most important step.
Ask yourself: is your home adequate for your needs, or will it need adjustments before you can live in it?
“The social services department of your local council will conduct a health and social care assessment to establish your specific needs,” says Gross. This could include an assessment by an occupational therapist to instruct on the various types of equipment you need.
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has a handy tool that will help you compile a list of your requirements.
The DFL also offers advice on how to choose the equipment that's right for you.
Once I know what I need, how can I adapt my house?
According to the DLF, social care services can offer financial support to give you more freedom of movement around your home, and to provide essential facilities within it.
This may include:

• widening doors and installing ramps
• providing or improving access to rooms and facilities, for example, by installing a stair lift or providing a downstairs bathroom
• improving or providing a heating system that suits your needs
• adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use
• improving access to and movement around the home to enable you to care for another person who lives in the property, such as a child

A home improvement agency (HIA) will also give you free advice about what work needs to be done and can even recommend builders that can carry out the adjustments. To find a HIA near you, go to the Disabled Living Foundation website.
It will give you a list of organisations that supply disability equipment.
Can I live independently in provided accommodation?
Living in accommodation provided by an external organisation doesn’t necessarily mean the end of independent life.
There are various housing types available to you if you have special needs. Supported or sheltered housing enables people to live independently but with extra daily support. You can learn more from Directgov's pages on sheltered housing.
Care homes offer a level of support that can't be provided in your own home. Some offer full-time nursing care while others support people with a specific disability or medical need.
What financial help can I receive?
“Financial help will depend on your needs,” says Gross. This financial help is intended to help you pay for your rent, equipment, house improvements or essential adaptations.
Through the direct payment scheme you can get money directly from social services to arrange the social care that you're entitled to, instead of letting social services arrange it for you. This gives you more control over the care you receive.