A new grant has been awarded to Age UK Isle of Wight to help those with dementia and their carers get extra help to remain living at home.

Awarded by Foundations Independent Living Trust (FILT) and funded by a donation by Taylor Wimpey, the £2500 grant will pay for the materials needed to make simple modifications to make more homes dementia friendly in the Isle of Wight.

Maria Bunce, Head of Income Generation at Age UK Isle of Wight, added: “The Isle of Wight has twice the average national rate of dementia. This means that a significant number of our older Island residents, plus the lives of their family, friends and carers will be impacted by a diagnosis of dementia.

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“The grant from the Taylor Wimpey Dementia Fund will allow us to offer a range of dementia-specific aids and adaptations to those with dementia, free of charge. These items such as primary colour grab rails help to aid visibility and mobility, while door signs can help with orientation and reduce agitation and confusion. These small aids and adaptations can make a real positive difference. They can make day to day life easier at home and enable people to live independently in their home for longer.”

Launching its new Begins at Home campaign, FILT aims to highlight the big difference home improvement agencies make to the health and wellbeing of older and vulnerable people through simple home repairs.

“Well designed homes that are warm and hazard free reduce the risk of accidents and falls as well as major cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalisations” Simon Stevens

The campaign focuses on those homeowners that may not usually have access to grants to make their homes fit for the future so they can age in place.

FILT Chair, Sara McKee, said: “Home is where the heart is and we know people with dementia want to stay in familiar surroundings with their loved ones. Sometimes the condition or layout of their house makes this difficult and they end up moving into residential care prematurely. Our hope is that these home improvements will make life easier for the person with dementia and their carer, allowing them to live safely at home and in a comfortable environment.”

The role of housing in health care is rising up the national agenda, with a new report from King’s Fund and National Housing Federation finding poor housing cost the NHS £1.4billion a year.

In response, Simon Stevens, NHS England Chief Executive, said: “Well designed homes that are warm and hazard free reduce the risk of accidents and falls as well as major cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalisations. They are a key element of a healthy childhood and an independent old age.”

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/old_woman_home-e1612434890383.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/old_woman_home-150x150.jpgCalvin BarnettHousingNewsroomThird SectorAge UK,Begins at Home,charity,donation,FILT,Foundations Independent Living Trust,grant,home adaptations,housing,Isle of Wight,living independent,Mobility,NHS,Taylor WimpyA new grant has been awarded to Age UK Isle of Wight to help those with dementia and their carers get extra help to remain living at home. Awarded by Foundations Independent Living Trust (FILT) and funded by a donation by Taylor Wimpey, the £2500 grant will pay for the...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals