Accommodation

Living solutions are individual, and are influenced by each persons own type of epilepsy, needs and living situation. Many can live alone regardless of epilepsy, but others with severe epilepsy require the support of others, and/or different medical equipment to cope. Some may need more help and supervision (service housing).

You can improve the safety of your home

Consider the safety risks regarding your epilepsy with your closed ones and professionals. You can think about the following questions:

How often do I have seizures, what kind of seizures are they?
What dangers can seizures cause?
Can I prepare for risks?
What actions can I take to ensure I’m prepared?

Mostly, these matters are related to incidents regarding an epileptic seizure and recovering from them when functionality has not yet reverted. You might want to consider the materials and furniture in your home, and how these are located. Are there any sharp corners and breakable items? Is there a risk to get burnt by boiling water or a dish? You can have home equipment that improves your safety, such as a thermostatic tap and an automatic tap, timed electrical outlets (for example to an iron) and a timed stove.

Disability services can reimburse home alterations for severely disabled persons

Sometimes there needs to be some alterations at home to improve safety and independency. Municipalities reimburse the costs of alterations to homes for severely disabled individuals when these are necessary for their daily life. Municipalities can also give or reimburse medical equipment that supports daily living, such as alarming machines.

Severe disability is not based on single diagnosis. Severely disabled is a person, who has special difficulties to succeed with daily functioning due to a disability or an illness.

According to the disability act, alterations at home can be, for example, removing doorsteps, attach supporting rails or altering the toilet and bathroom to improve safety.

Financial support for these alterations can be applied for from disability services. You will need doctor’s statement in the application. You can also attach other documents from your therapists and nurses about the need for these alterations.

If you are not entitled to housing alterations under the Disability Services Act, you can inquire about state-funded alterations and repairs from the municipal housing office. Income and assets influence on this kind of grant.

Help and support for daily living

Epilepsies are often unpredictable. Many cope well independently between seizures, but might need assistance once a seizure occurs.
You might need a lot of other kind of assistance. For example, cognitive functioning and memory weakening, restricted mobility and side effects of medicine might restrict independent living.

The wellbeing services county provides services for you when you need assistance due to an illness. These services include:

Domiciliary care and services if you need help to manage daily matters and personal functioning (chargeable)
Personal assistance to the chronically ill and disabled who repeatedly and necessarily need the assistance of another person to cope with daily activities and, for example, work and hobbies.
Family care allowance for a person assisting a family member or other close person.

Housing support

Housing services can be arranged under the Social Welfare Act and the Disability Services Act. Which law is applied and how services are organized depends on the individual situation, such as the amount of assistance needed. The ways to arrange these services may include:

Supported housing, if you manage relatively independently in everyday life but need help with certain things. Supported housing means providing support for independent living through guidance and other social services.
Communal housing, if your functional ability is reduced and you can no longer manage in your current home.
Service housing with 24-hour care, if you need extensive assistance, care, and supervision.
Service housing under the Disability Services Act, if due to your disability or illness you have a continuous need for assistance in managing daily activities. Housing support under the Disability Services Act can also be arranged in an owner-occupied home, rental apartment, or another similar dwelling.

House allowance supports low-income housing

If you have low income, you might be supported financially by Kela. Family size and income influences on the allowance, which is paid monthly, and the decision evaluated yearly.