The UK Government has pledged an extra £68m in funding to help support those living with disabilities to live independently in their homes.
The Disabled Facilities Grant funding will help thousands of people to improve their homes so they can live independently, supporting them to make adaptations such as stair-lifts, level access showers, wet rooms, winches, grab rails, and ramps, which can help to avoid hospital or care home admission and speed up hospital discharge.
Supporting people with funding
The funding is part of the Government’s programme to better integrate health and social care services and is in addition to the £505m paid to councils in May 2020.
Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, Kelly Tolhurst said: “I’m pleased that extra funding announced on the International Day of People with Disabilities, will see thousands more people benefit. This grant can be literally life changing and lengthening, helping more people to live independently in their own homes.
“Since 2012 over 280,000 home adaptions have been funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant Scheme helping many tens of thousands of people to live at home independently.”
Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “This grant will help hundreds of thousands of disabled people across England to live more independently in their own homes and improve their quality of life. I know this year has been incredibly difficult for disabled people in particular and I’m pleased thatwe’re able to provide this additional funding.
“The Disabled Facilities Grant is a really important part of our ambition to reduce health inequalities and support more people to live healthy, independent lives for as long as possible.”
