These pages offer practical tips and information to help you if you need to make changes to your home or find alternative accommodation after a stroke.

Your accommodation needs after a stroke

If you have a disability after a stroke, you might need to make some changes in your home to help you live independently. If your needs cannot be met at home, then you will be supported to find a new home. This could include options such as sheltered housing or a residential or nursing home.

If you need to make changes in your home environment, the first step is to think about your own needs and wishes. This can help you begin the process of deciding how and where you could live.

On this page:

• Assessment of your needs
• NHS continuing healthcare
• Support
• Accessible resources

Assessment of your needs

After a stroke, your care and accommodation needs should be assessed. The name of this assessment depends on which part of the UK you live in, but it’s often described as a care needs assessment.

If you stayed in hospital after your stroke, this assessment should be arranged as part of the hospital discharge process.

Care and support plan

An assessment looks at your support and care needs and sets out what help you might benefit from. This is drawn up in a care plan. This plan can include services to help you at home, such as equipment, or carer workers to help with washing or dressing. It can also include information and support for you and your carer if you have one. The assessment may make a recommendation about your accommodation.

Each local authority has its own assessment process, and you can ask to see a copy. This covers eligibility, the application process, waiting times, decisions, the services they can provide and complaints. It may include a means test, to look at your savings and income, to work out whether you will have to contribute to paying for your care.

If you find it difficult to look after yourself and your needs cannot fully be met at home, other options will be explored with you. This may include supported living or a care home. There are eligibility criteria for all levels of support offered by your local council. There are fewer criteria around your choices if you are self-funding your care or change of accommodation. A social worker or your occupational therapist will be able to guide you through the options appropriate to you.

You can find out more about the hospital discharge process and the assessment you should receive.

NHS continuing healthcare

People with long-term, complex health needs may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare. This is a package of ongoing care and support arranged and paid for by the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It can be provided in your own home or in a care home. The NHS pays for your care home fees as well as any medical care. In Scotland, the ‘Hospital based complex clinical care’ scheme provides care for people in a suitable setting outside hospital.

To find out if you are eligible, you go through an assessment process. The assessment involves an initial set of checks against a list of eligibility criteria, completed by a health or social care professional. Afterwards, you may be referred for a full assessment. This will involve several different professionals and looks in more detail at all your different care needs, such as cognition (understanding), continence, mobility and nutrition. Beacon has information and advice about the continuing healthcare process.

Where to get support and information

Accessible formats

The information on this page can also be accessed in the following formats:

• PDF
• Word document (Large print)
• Order a printed copy from our shop.
• To request a braille copy, email feedback@stroke.org.uk