Independent living adaptations to older people's homes remain a priority in Wales

Wales minister for housing, regeneration and heritage, Huw Lewis, has confirmed the Welsh Government’s commitment to making safety improvement in older people’s homes, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and their subsequent cost on the public purse.

The Rapid Response Adaptations Programme (RRAP) has been active since July 2002 and has received much praise from disability rights campaigners. The Programme is delivered by Care and Repair Cymru and made available to individuals via a referral from either a health professional or a local authority.

The Government has maintained funding at £2m for 2012/13, which has been achieved despite cuts to the overall housing budget. Small-scale adaptations that older people with care needs can source include safety alarms, ramps, rails and hand grips, door entry systems and the levelling of paths.

Pleased with the Programme’s ongoing contribution, minister Huw Lewis said: “This Programme provides a valuable service that allows older people across Wales to get back to familiar surroundings more quickly and to continue living safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”

The minister went on to say: “Without this funding, it is inevitable that older people will spend longer in hospital or even have to move into care. Not only would this be very costly to the taxpayer, but more importantly it would have a detrimental effect on their emotional well-being.”

Hospital admissions were reduced by an estimated 9,500 in 2010/11, thanks to RRAP funding, with a further 4,500 hospital discharges made possible.