Adaptations, six months on

In this report Healthwatch Manchester explore the impact of home adaptations on the wellbeing and independence of residents in Manchester. Commissioned by Manchester City Council (MCC), the report is part of HWM’s 2024–2025 work plan which aims to provide insight into the user experience from assessment to installation, identify strengths and gaps in service delivery, and offer recommendations for improvement.
The findings are based on in-depth interviews with 17 Manchester residents who had received a home adaptation through MCC at least six months before. Data was collected in July 2024 via telephone surveys with residents.

Key findings:

•  Most participants reported significant improvements in wellbeing, confidence, mobility, and independence.
• Assessment process was generally well recieved with many praising the clarity and helpfulness of occupational therapists.
• Participants who received devices such as alarms or trackers reported feeling safer and more secure.
• A recurring issue was the lengthy delay between assessment and installation, with some waiting up to a year.
• Mixed feedback: A minority felt their adaptations didn’t meet expectations or failed to address all their needs.

Key recommendations:

1. Maintain high-quality communication during assessments and installations.
2. Repeat the review with incentives  to increase sample size and participant diversity.
3. Expand future research to include a detailed review of tech-enabled care services.

The report has been submitted to the lead officer overseeing adaptations at MCC, but no response has been received to date.