When it comes to adapting homes for the disabled, nearly two thirds of councils in the UK are failing to complete within the one year legal requirement.
The Long Wait For A Home report, published by Leonard Cheshire Disability, has found that a jaw-dropping 44% of councils haven’t successfully adapted the homes of people in need.
Adapting Homes For Disabled – The Extent
It also reports that almost 2,500 disabled people have to wait over a year to get the vital funding to make their homes accessible. This is an outrageous figure. Especially when the demand for home adaptations for disabled people has risen. The funding for these essential changes is falling.
The Demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) has been reported to have risen at twice the rate at which councils can meet. It has risen by 6% since 2011/12, but the amount of applications councils have been able to actually process and fund is around 3%.
This means that even more disabled people will be living in accommodation that’s unsuitable and potentially damaging to their physical and mental wellbeing.
Adapting Homes For Disabled – The Effect on Social and Health Services
More and more pressure is being put on our NHS service. Surely councils should be spending more on these adaptations to prevent further damage to some of the most vulnerable?
Andy Cole, the campaigns director at Leonard Cheshire Disability, has commented on the wellbeing of these people. They are desperately waiting for their homes to be adapted for them to live safely.
“This will mean even more disabled people will be left stuck in homes that are damaging to their health, and their independence.” “The effects of poor housing causes stress and depression which put a huge strain on our health and social care services.”
The Better Care Fund
Introduced in 2013, the Better Care Fund (BCF) was intended to help join the health and social care services in the UK.
However, looking deeper into these seemingly fair plans has revealed a distressing lack of focus on housing and housing adaptations. It is a concerning worry that some of the DFG funding will be distributed to subsidise other priorities. Once again, housing adaptation will be overlooked.
Currently, 75% of councils have said that they use funds from their own budgets. That’s on top as the DFG budget they are given from the government. But once the DFG budget becomes a part of the Better Care Fund, only 10% of councils have pledged to spend more than their DFG allocation on housing.
Sadly, 37% of councils told the report that they are not planning to spend any of their BCF allocation on housing or housing adaptations.
Lifetime Homes
Lifetime homes are simply standard houses and flats which incorporate a set of 16 design criteria. These can be applied to new homes with an average cost of £1,100 and save money in the long run. But they make sure certain items (such as grab bars and stair lifts) can be installed cheaply and easily if and when the residents needs change.
Lifetimes Homes Idea
The Lifetime Homes idea is based on five basic principles:
- Inclusivity –That anyone regardless of age, gender, race or disability can use the environment. By considering the diverse nature of today’s society, it aims to break down those unnecessary barriers and exclusions between people’s needs.
- Accessibility– That the widest range of people will be able to access the environment, despite any impairments or needs someone may have.
- Adaptability – The ability to be able to easily adapt the environment if and when the needs of the user requires.
- Sustainability– That the design of the environment will meet current and future needs by being completely flexible and accessible.
- Good Value– That the adaptability of the environment should actually save the user money if any adaptations need to be made.
Ensuring that more new homes adhere to these standards would enable more disabled people to gain the adaptations they need. They wouldn’t have to wait.
Here at Uk stairlifts, we’re committed to doing our bit. We provide the best quality products, which come with a replacement of product option. We will also offer a full refund if you aren’t 100% happy!
If you would like to learn more don’t hesitate to contact us on 0800 046 3438.