Grant help to keep residents in their homes

From April Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council will be responsible for a £1.7 million grant fund to help eligible people physically modify their homes following an accident or illness, or to deal with problems arising from a degenerative condition.

Work could include replacing baths with easy-access showers, installing access ramps to properties with steps, improving wheelchair accessibility inside homes, or fitting stairlifts or through-floor lifts.

Gill Heesom, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's Cabinet member for Community Safety and Wellbeing, said:

Most people want to carry on living in their own home for as long as possible and, where appropriate, we want to help them do that.

 

Often simple changes can make a big difference and then people can carry on moving around their home and without a problem.

 

Not only does it keep the individual happy, but the cost is far cheaper than if they end up needing hospital treatment, visits from a care worker, or time in a nursing home.”

Subject to conditions, support is also available to residents in the Borough whose health is at risk from hazards in the home.

Qualifying work might include repairs to heating and hot water provider, preventing damp and changing things to prevent trips and falls.

The most recent figures show that while average life expectancy in the Borough is 79 years for men and 83 for women, on average they start experiencing poor health from 62 and 64, respectively.

Gill Heesom added:

It’s good that, on average, more of us are living for longer but as people start to experience poorer health and reduced mobility in later years, it’s vital that we do all we can as communities to keep residents happy, healthy and active.

 

£1.7 million is a lot of money but we know there is a great deal of demand for these services in the Borough, which we’ll deal with as fast as we can.”