Home Improvement Agencies will Help Old and Disabled People

The majority of disabled and older people want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Care & Repair agencies provide advice and practical assistance to enable clients to achieve this aim and remain independent, safe and comfortable.

Care & Repair services are client led and the small agency team, consisting of surveyor, casework and administrator acts with respect for the clients wishes and needs.

The majority of potential clients are usually concerned that they cannot afford to pay for adaptations themselves. They do not know who to ask or what to ask for and they are frightened of being ripped off by cowboy builders. They do not understand the technical jargon and are concerned about the hassle and disruption. Acting as agents for their client, HIAs try to reduce the problems.

All clients are visited in their own homes and their problems, requirements and fears discussed in complete confidence. The team?s caseworker checks that welfare benefits are being claimed and that income is otherwise being maximised. The client is also put in contact with all other agencies which can offer assistance. The caseworker then works with the client to identify all possible sources of finances to pay for works carried out. This might be in the form of grants, loans, equity release or the clients own funds.

The teams surveyors then visits the client to assess their needs in relation to the physical characteristics of the property and the clients disability. As far as possible, elements of disrepair are addressed as well as the need for adaptation or extension to meet the needs of physical, or other, disability. The team liaises with health professionals, occupational therapists and local authorities and employs a creative approach to meeting the particular requirements of each individual.

Once the extent of proposed works is agreed with the client, the surveyor draws up plans and a specification and obtains statutory consents e.g. building regulations approval. The surveyor has considerable experience in designing for the disabled and will discuss individual needs with the Occupational Therapist and specialist suppliers of lifts, shower enclosures, and other fixtures and fittings. The client is also assisted in the choice of suitable contractors from a list of local, vetted and monitored firms. The building work is monitored and all liaison with the contractors and specialist suppliers carried out by the agency on behalf of the client.

On completion, the surveyor inspects the work with the client and all other interested parties to ensure compliance with regulation and good practice. The agency also deals with queries and problems and assists in ensuring that all payments are made.

Clients usually have a long relationship with the agency staff and call upon them time and time again for assistance when their needs change or they have further problems with their property.

There are over 200 agencies in England and similar schemes exist in Wales and Scotland. Details of a local agency can be found through the local council or Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for HIAs, on 01457-891909.

Our thanks to Jane Keningley of Hanover Housing Group
for her help with this article.
She can be contacted on 01962 841911