From worry to 'happy bunnies' - a home transformed

How the Disabled Facilities Grant helped 'happy bunnies' Richard and Tina reclaim safety and independence at home.

For Richard and Tina, who share a cosy three-bedroom home, everyday routines had slowly become a source of worry, strain and, at times, danger.

Richard's mobility challenges meant that something as simple as getting into the bath placed him at  constant risk of falling. For Tina, who supports him daily, the fear of an accident was never far away.

But thanks to the Government's Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), administered locally through West Berkshire Council, life at home looks and feels very different now.

With funding from the DFG, the couple received several life changing adaptations to their home, designed to improve Richard's independence and safety:

• a dropped kerb and hardstanding, enabling easier access to the property
• a new ground floor WC, converted from the understairs cloakroom
• a full first floor bathroom adaptation, including a level access shower

These changes weren't just practical - they brought peace of mind.

"We didn't realise quite how much we needed it until it was finished," Tina explains. "The old shower over the bath just wasn't working for Richard, and it was dangerous getting in and out."

"Now, it's completely life changing. He's so much more independent, and it's much safer. I don't have to worry anymore about him slipping or falling."

Richard quietly chips in with a smile: "Well...you did before. I did fall out of the bath." They both laugh, but beneath the humour lies the weight of a very real fear.

"If Richard had another fall and broke his leg," Tina continues, "I honestly don't think we'd ever get him mobile again. That was my biggest worry."

When it came to the design, Tina was determined that their home shouldn't end up looking clinical or hospital-like.

"Much to Richard's disgust," she jokes, "I didn't want anything that looked medical, so, I chose a pale pink floor. I wanted it to feel like our bathroom - pretty as well as practical."

"It's lovely. I was worried about slipping, but it's brilliant. No problems at all."

With new blinds and fresh paint, the bathroom is now a space they both genuinely enjoy.

Richard rolls his eyes affectionately: "Well, I'm happy if she's happy. The reason I've got an orange car is that someone else chose the colour!"

But even he agrees: "It's lovely. I was worried about slipping, but it's brilliant. No problems at all." With new blinds and fresh paint, the bathroom is now a space they both genuinely enjoy.

One of the biggest wins is the new level access shower, complete with a rainfall head and handheld attachment.

"The shower is super duper!" Tina says. "It's very swishy and posh."

Most importantly, the adaptations mean Tina can step back a little and Richard can do more for himself, something that means the world to them both.

"You're far more independent now," she tells him.
"Yes," he nods, "much more."

Richard and Tina can't speak highly enough of the contractors. "The guys who did it were great. Really helpful," Richard says.

And now? "Happy bunnies," they say in unison.

For Richard and Tina, these adaptations haven't just made their home safer, they've transformed how they live in it.

"It's fantastic," Tina says. "It really has changed our lives."

Richard agrees, "Yeah. We're happy...even though it's pink."