Independent Living

by Roger Harmer on 7 April, 2012

A regular element of my casework is helping older or disabled people to get adaptations done to their home to help them live more independently. This can include having ramps put in for wheelchair access, having stairlifts fitted or getting walk in showers to replace baths. Such work makes a big difference to the independence and well-being of those who are helped.

Under the last Labour administration (which left office in 2004) there was, sadly, a huge backlog for major adaptations, with residents waiting for up to 2 years from assessment to grant provision. It has been one of the successes of the current Lib Dem / Conservative coalition administration in Birmingham that this waiting time has reduced radically. This makes a huge difference to those in need of such help. Here are the average waiting times, in weeks, over the past 7 years:

  • 2005/6:  97 weeks
  • 2006/7:  88 weeks
  • 2007/8:  74 weeks
  • 2008/9:  56 weeks
  • 2009/10:  33 weeks
  • 2010/11:  19 weeks
  • 2011/12:   14 weeks (ytd at February)

This improvement has been endorsed by the Audit Commission who stated in 2010 “The adaptations service has been transformed into a high quality, modern service, which provides consistently strong outcomes.” Perhaps the best endorsement is that Birmingham has been approached by several other larger local authorities who are interested in learning about how the service has been transformed.

If you feel you may need the support of an adaptation to your home, please get in touch with me.

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