WIREDGOV

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to a report by Ageing Better on the role of home adaptations in improving later life

“Councils strive to offer the best possible level of care so older and disabled people can enjoy the independence, respect and dignity they deserve. Home adaptations are a key part of this, which this helpful report shows.

“The findings of this report underline the importance of investing in prevention and early intervention, which alleviates the pressures on hospitals.

“The NHS would do well to consider investing some of its new money from the Budget in services such as these, as part of a wider investment in the community.

“The Government’s announcement of a further £42 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant is a helpful boost to supporting people to live independently at home, but this pales into insignificance in the context of the annual £2.3 billion funding gap adult social care services will face by 2020.

“While it was hugely disappointing the Government didn’t address this funding gap in the Autumn Budget, it needs to put this right in the Local Government Finance Settlement.”

View report here