WIREDGOV

The funding has been awarded to Care & Repair Cymru and to individual Care & Repair agencies across Wales. The service helps older people and people with disabilities to repair, improve and adapt their homes to enable them to continue living independently by offering a range of services including:

• co-ordination of all the services needed to successfully complete the work
• advice about housing options
• provision of direct in-house fast-track solutions, often through Care & Repair handyman services

Announcing the funding, the Deputy Minister said:

"Care & Repair provides a valuable service that allows vulnerable older people across Wales to continue living safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Simple adaptations to a person's home, such as grab rails or , can have a huge impact on their quality of life.

“Recent research has shown that every £1 spent on Care & Repair saves the tax payer £7.50 in NHS and Social Care costs, so spending money on services like this also makes financial sense, especially in these difficult times."

Gwenda Thomas, Deputy Minister for Social Services, said:

“The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to improving the lives of older people by ensuring that the older generation live independently for as long as they choose. People are living longer and should also be able to enjoy a decent quality of life.Through this investment more people can be supported to stay at home, where they would wish to be.

“The funding also helps older people return to their own homes sooner after spending time in hospital. This is an example of how the Welsh Assembly Government is working to improve the care for patients and tackle delayed transfers of care.”

Commenting on the funding announcement, Chris Jones, Managing Director of Care & Repair Cymru said:

“We are delighted to see the Assembly’s continued recognition and support for Care & Repair in Wales. Everyone knows that prevention is better than cure and our services prevent or reduce the need for more expensive services like residential care or hospital treatment. We also get people out of hospital and back home quicker, making a significant contribution to reducing bed blocking. We really believe that small things matter, and stitch in time repairs and adaptations, give better value for money and keep older people living independently at home for longer

Related

Links

Improvement and repair