Rochdale’s home adaptation service resumes

Rochdale Borough Council’s adult care service has resumed its disabled facilities grants work, which includes home improvement adaptations for older and vulnerable people.

The service was put on hold following the government’s introduction of lockdown measures to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Following the easing of some restrictions, the service will now resume with a phased approach to prioritise its work to provide hand rails, grab rails, stair lifts and level access showers for residents.

Work will be safely carried out in line with social distancing guidelines and public health infection control policies.

Hundreds of adaptations are carried out in homes every year, helping to improve residents’ sense of control, confidence and day-to-day living.

Nearly 300 residents, currently on a waiting list for work to proceed, will benefit from new facilities over the coming months.

In 2019 the council’s adult care team was awarded the runner-up prize at the national Healthy Housing Awards for disabled facilities grants adaptations service of the year.

‘The adaptations team do an excellent job, ensuring vulnerable residents can remain independent in their own homes,’ said the council’s cabinet member for adult care, Cllr Iftikhar Ahmed.

‘It’s vital that this important work can safely resume in line with national government guidance and residents will be contacted prior to work taking place.

‘Our teams will be wearing Public Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times, regularly using sanitiser and ensuring infection control policies are fully complied with. The safety and wellbeing of our residents will always be our number one priority,’ added Cllr Ahmed.

The council’s home improvement agency, which delivers the adaptations service for local residents, can be contacted on 0300 303 8886.

Photo Credit – Memory Catcher (Pixabay)