Most councils failing disabled over home adaptations

By The Press Association21st April 2015News EnglandDisabilities, Home Care, Local Authorities, News England

Nearly two-thirds of councils are failing to complete home adaptations for disabled people within the one-year legal limit, a charity has found.

Leonard Cheshire Disability said thousands of disabled and older people are currently trapped in unsuitable homes, leaving them unable to move around freely.

Often confined to a limited number of downstairs rooms, they are forced to wash in their kitchen or sleep in their living room, with many unable to even get in and out of their front doors.

Anyone who is disabled and requires essential adaptations to their home can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), but the charity said that while demand has risen by 6% since 2011/12, the number of grants paid has gone down by 3% in the same period.

Councils have six months to provide a decision once an application has been made, and if the grant is approved the work should be completed within a further 12 months.

But Freedom of Information requests from 245 housing authorities found that almost half (44%) are making disabled people wait more than two years to carry out work – while 62% failed to fund agreed adaptations within the one year deadline.

The charity said that living in an unsuitable home can lead to physical injuries and mental health problems, and increases the demand for social care for people who need help with washing and cooking because they do not have the right facilities.

It pointed out that adapting homes will reduce the need for social care, and is therefore more cost-effective for councils.

Wheelchair user Adam Lotun, 51, was initially told he would receive a DFG for a wet-room and kitchen extension, but the council later refused the work – saying he would have to pay up to £100,000 out of his own pocket.

Mr Lotun, from Kingston-upon-Thames, said: “I have to leave my wheelchair outside and get around the house by holding on to furniture and using a stick, or crawling to get up the stairs.

“I don’t have the money to pay for a stair lift so wash in my kitchen sink, and use a bucket to go to the loo downstairs.

“I have been trapped without a ‘disabled-friendly’ home for 10 years, and all I want is somewhere I can live independently with my family.”

Andy Cole, campaigns director at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: “Each year, 2,500 disabled people have to wait over one year to get adaptations to make their homes accessible, so it is shocking that while demand for this essential work is going up, funding for the programme is falling.

“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 cause stress and depression as well as physical injuries which put a huge strain on our health and social care services.

“All political parties must address this housing crisis and ensure the funding is put in place for local councils to resolve this.”