Disability & Home Design

Dependent Persons’ Units, affectionately known as Granny Flats, are typically thought of as a housing option exclusively for our elderly loved ones, but did you know that they can be used for a myriad of other needs? Dependent Persons’ Units (DPUs) can be utilised as accommodation for anybody, as long as they have a dependency on the people who live in the primary dwelling. This encompasses a diverse range of people and lifestyles, including those who have physical or intellectual disabilities.

Often, those who have a disability or care for someone who does, will have to consider making costly modifications to their home, or move, in order to accommodate the needs that are specific to the persons’ disability. This can sometimes be an unrealistic solution and can leave some families facing the prospect of having to use alternative accommodation.

While there are some organisations, such as Scope, who provide housing solutions for those living with disability, there is a definite shortage of appropriate housing available to meet the volume of people in need. Unfortunately, this shortage results in a lot of people with a disability living in residential aged care facilities.

Given the fact that these facilities were not designed to cater to the varied and specific needs of people living with a disability- especially young people- building a Dependent Persons’ Unit can be a great alternative.

As with any large-scale project, it is imperative that the work is undertaken by a reputable and experienced business who will understand your individual needs and know how best to cater to them.

Premier Homes and Granny Flats has been providing high quality, specialised housing solutions to Victorians for over 20 years. We are a family driven company and hold the strong belief that keeping loved ones safe and close should be possible for every family, no matter the circumstance. We have worked hard over the years to implement new and innovative building techniques to ensure our clients’ needs are met.

There are numerous devices and techniques that can be incorporated into the design of a home or granny flat to make it more accommodating for a disabled person. Some of these may include, but are not limited to:

• Grab rails installed in bathroom, shower and toilet.
• Ramps for wheelchair access
• Wider doorways and hallways
• Lower storage spaces for easy to reach access
• Lower placement of light switches
• Open showers for wheelchair access
• Non-slip surfaces
• Integrating specialised structural elements, such as extra load bearing joists and beams for the installation of ceiling hoists, slings and handles.

If there are any specialised requirements or requests from our clients, we will always endeavour to do our best at providing the solution.

The beauty of building a Dependent Persons’ Unit is that it provides a person with their own space that is specifically designed to suit their personality and lifestyle. It gives them the dignity and independence of having their own home, whilst still having family and carers close by for assistance.

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about DPU eligibility, assisted living, or how we can custom design the perfect home for any necessity, then contact us today at premierhomesvic.com.au or visit our display village at 110 Canterbury Rd Bayswater North (03 9761 6699)