1 In Good Repair – looking after your home during retirement

2 In Good Repair Ever wondered if adaptations to your home would make it easier to manage? Ever wondered if adaptations to your home would make it easier to manage? Does your home need some repairs? Does your home need some repairs? Worried about paying for building work or finding a good builder? Worried about paying for building work or finding a good builder? Then this information could be useful!

3 Where do most people want to live during retirement? Most of us want to continue to live in ordinary housing, often in our current home. Most of us want to continue to live in ordinary housing, often in our current home. Making sure that our home is warm, comfortable and adapted can help to make this possible. Making sure that our home is warm, comfortable and adapted can help to make this possible.

4 Where do most of us live during retirement? 90% of people over retirement age live in ordinary housing (5% in sheltered, 5% in residential care or other home) 90% of people over retirement age live in ordinary housing (5% in sheltered, 5% in residential care or other home) 71% of homes are now owner occupied (all ages) – even higher amongst younger retired 71% of homes are now owner occupied (all ages) – even higher amongst younger retired

5 Home front If you own your home it helps to keep on top of small repairs. There may be a local odd job service that can help. If you own your home it helps to keep on top of small repairs. There may be a local odd job service that can help. For both tenants and owners, social services can help with small adaptations. For both tenants and owners, social services can help with small adaptations.

6 Prevention better than cure Planning ahead - adaptations Planning ahead - adaptations The most common adaptations that older people need are bathroom adaptations and help to get upstairs. Is it possible to: Put in a downstairs WC – or even a level shower if you have the space? Put in a downstairs WC – or even a level shower if you have the space? Put in a second handrail to make stairs easier? Put in a second handrail to make stairs easier? Find out now if there is a Disabled Living Centre nearby where you can get advice Find out now if there is a Disabled Living Centre nearby where you can get advice

7 Prevention better than cure Planning ahead – maintenance check Planning ahead – maintenance check Dealing with small repairs promptly helps to avoid more costly damage. Keep an eye on: Walls – cracks, pointing, airbricks, Walls – cracks, pointing, airbricks, Roof – missing/ cracked slates or tiles Roof – missing/ cracked slates or tiles Guttering – needs clearing out regularly Guttering – needs clearing out regularly Doors and windows – check sealant, rotting wood, putty/ rubber seals Doors and windows – check sealant, rotting wood, putty/ rubber seals Pipes – deal with small drips and leaks Pipes – deal with small drips and leaks

8 Staying in control Worry about cowboy builders can put people off doing repairs and adaptations. Worry about cowboy builders can put people off doing repairs and adaptations. A local home improvement agency may help. A local home improvement agency may help. You can look at the self help guide In Good Repair to point you in the right direction. You can look at the self help guide In Good Repair to point you in the right direction.

9 Who can help with adaptations? Money – a grant from the council may be available to help with larger adaptations or a loan may be offered. Some small items may be free of charge. Money – a grant from the council may be available to help with larger adaptations or a loan may be offered. Some small items may be free of charge. Technical Advice – help with deciding what work needs to be done, finding a builder and supervising the work may be provided by a occupational therapist. Or in some areas, a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) can help. Technical Advice – help with deciding what work needs to be done, finding a builder and supervising the work may be provided by a occupational therapist. Or in some areas, a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) can help. CONTACT: Social Services, HIA or advice agency

10 Who can help with repairs Money – a grant or loan from the council may be available. Free or low cost handyperson scheme may be available for small odd jobs. Money – a grant or loan from the council may be available. Free or low cost handyperson scheme may be available for small odd jobs. Technical Advice – help with deciding what work needs to be done, finding a builder and supervising the work may be provided by a a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) or in some cases, by the local council Grant Dept. Technical Advice – help with deciding what work needs to be done, finding a builder and supervising the work may be provided by a a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) or in some cases, by the local council Grant Dept. CONTACT: HIA, local council or advice agency

11 Avoiding rogue builders If in doubt, keep them out – never agree to work being done by builders who knock on your door saying your home needs repairs If in doubt, keep them out – never agree to work being done by builders who knock on your door saying your home needs repairs Never pay cash: and only pay after the job is properly finished Never pay cash: and only pay after the job is properly finished

12 Cold, damp and condensation –respiratory illnesses, heart problems, arthritis and rheumatism all made worse Cold, damp and condensation –respiratory illnesses, heart problems, arthritis and rheumatism all made worse Defective gas and sold fuel appliances and inadequate electrical wiring – risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazard, falls hazard from trailing wires Defective gas and sold fuel appliances and inadequate electrical wiring – risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazard, falls hazard from trailing wires Better home, better health?

13 Help and advice Warm Front grants can help with the cost of insulation and installing central heating. Tel: Warm Front grants can help with the cost of insulation and installing central heating. Tel: Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and safety checks can save lives. Age Concern or the HIA may know about low cost/ free options Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and safety checks can save lives. Age Concern or the HIA may know about low cost/ free options Your GP practice should know about the local Falls Prevention Service Your GP practice should know about the local Falls Prevention Service Home security service: ask Age Concern or HIA Home security service: ask Age Concern or HIA

14 Who can help? Anytown organisation (add details about presenting organisation)

15 Anytown Organisation Our aim is to enable older, disabled and low- income homeowners to live in homes that are warm, safe, secure and adapted to their needs. We offer: Help and advice with repairs and adaptations Help and advice with repairs and adaptations Handyperson odd job service Handyperson odd job service Hospital Discharge & Emergency Repairs Hospital Discharge & Emergency Repairs Advice and information about moving home Advice and information about moving home

16 How to Contact anytown HIA/AC/Organisation