Home Adaptations For MND Patients ‘Take 375 Days On Average’
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has found that it takes, on average, 375 days for people in England with the condition to have essential home adaptations carried out through the disabled facilities grant because of a hike in systemic delays.
However, one-third of people with MND die within 12 months of being diagnosed, the Guardian reports, with approximately 50 per cent dying within two years, which means that many are living in unsafe, unsuitable homes, without the necessary support in place to make their last few months more comfortable.
Charity chief executive Tanya Curry said: “For someone whose condition may progress dramatically in a matter of months, waiting a year or more for vital adaptations is equivalent to being denied them altogether.”
The organisation is calling on the government to introduce fast-track processes for people with MND and other conditions that progress rapidly, as well as waiving means tests for home adaptations.
What home adaptations do people with motor neurone disease need?
Thinking about your future needs is important when considering how to adapt your home and which installations would be necessary. It can be beneficial to have a needs assessment carried out by an occupational therapist, who will be able to identify which areas of the home need to be reviewed first.
Potential accessibility features to consider include:
- A stairlift
- A through-floor lift
- Downstairs room conversions for ease of access
- Downstairs washroom facilities
- Hoists
- Widening doors and passageways to accommodate wheelchairs
- Grab rails
- Ramps
- A walk-in shower bath
What is the disabled facilities grant?
This is funding provided by your local authority to help you carry out vital home adaptations, helping you to remain in your home for as long as possible.
It can be used to pay for different adaptations, big and small, from large-scale work like extensions to smaller changes like bath seats.