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In Good Repair – looking after your home during retirement

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In Good RepairIn Good Repair

Ever wondered if adaptations to your Ever wondered if adaptations to your home would make it easier to manage?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 Worried about paying for building work or finding a good builder?or finding a good builder?

Then this information could be useful!Then this information could be useful!

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Where do most people want Where do most people want to live during retirement?to live during retirement?

Most of us want to Most of us want to continue to live in continue to live in ordinary housing, ordinary housing, often in our current often in our current home. home.

Making sure that our Making sure that our home is warm, home is warm, comfortable and comfortable and adapted can help to adapted can help to make this possible.make this possible.

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Where do most of us live during Where do most of us live during retirement?retirement?

90% of people over retirement age live in 90% of people over retirement age live in ‘ordinary’ housing (5% in sheltered, 5% in ‘ordinary’ housing (5% in sheltered, 5% in residential care or other home)residential care or other home)

71% of homes are now owner occupied (all 71% of homes are now owner occupied (all ages) – even higher amongst younger retiredages) – even higher amongst younger retired

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Home frontHome front

If you own your home If you own your home it helps to keep on top it helps to keep on top of small repairs. of small repairs. There may be a local There may be a local odd job service that odd job service that can help.can help.

For both tenants and For both tenants and owners, social owners, social services can help with services can help with small adaptations.small adaptations.

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Prevention better than curePrevention better than cure

Planning ahead - adaptationsPlanning ahead - adaptationsThe most common adaptations that older The most common adaptations that older people need are bathroom adaptations and people need are bathroom adaptations and help to get upstairs. Is it possible to:help to get upstairs. Is it possible to:

Put in a downstairs WC – or even a level shower if Put in a downstairs WC – or even a level shower if you have the space?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 Find out now if there is a Disabled Living Centre nearby where you can get advicenearby where you can get advice

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Prevention better than curePrevention better than cure

Planning ahead – maintenance checkPlanning ahead – maintenance checkDealing with small repairs promptly helps to Dealing with small repairs promptly helps to avoid more costly damage. Keep an eye on:avoid more costly damage. Keep an eye on:

WallsWalls – – cracks, pointing, airbrickscracks, pointing, airbricks,,Roof – Roof – missing/ cracked slates or tilesmissing/ cracked slates or tilesGuttering – Guttering – needs clearing out regularlyneeds clearing out regularlyDoors and windows – Doors and windows – check sealant, check sealant,

rotting wood, putty/ rubber sealsrotting wood, putty/ rubber seals Pipes – Pipes – deal with small drips and leaksdeal with small drips and leaks

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Staying in controlStaying in control Worry about cowboy Worry about cowboy

builders can put people builders can put people off doing repairs and off doing repairs and adaptations.adaptations.

A local home A local home improvement agency improvement agency may help.may help.

You can look at the self You can look at the self help guide ‘help guide ‘In Good In Good Repair’ Repair’ to point you in to point you in the right direction.the right direction.

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Who can help with adaptations?Who can help with adaptations?

MoneyMoney – a grant from the council may be – a grant from the council may be available to help with larger adaptations or a available to help with larger adaptations or a loan may be offered. Some small items may be loan may be offered. Some small items may be free of charge.free of charge.

Technical Advice Technical Advice – help with deciding what – help with deciding what work needs to be done, finding a builder and work needs to be done, finding a builder and supervising the work may be provided by a supervising the work may be provided by a occupational therapist. Or in some areas, a occupational therapist. Or in some areas, a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) can help.Home Improvement Agency (HIA) can help.

CONTACT: CONTACT: Social Services, HIA or advice agencySocial Services, HIA or advice agency

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Who can help with repairsWho can help with repairs

MoneyMoney – a grant or loan from the council may be – a grant or loan from the council may be available. Free or low cost ‘handyperson’ available. Free or low cost ‘handyperson’ scheme may be available for small odd jobs.scheme may be available for small odd jobs.

Technical Advice Technical Advice – help with deciding what – help with deciding what work needs to be done, finding a builder and work needs to be done, finding a builder and supervising the work may be provided by a a supervising the work may be provided by a a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) or in some Home Improvement Agency (HIA) or in some cases, by the local council Grant Dept.cases, by the local council Grant Dept.

CONTACT: CONTACT: HIA, local council or advice agencyHIA, local council or advice agency

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Avoiding rogue buildersAvoiding rogue builders

If in doubt, keep If in doubt, keep them outthem out – never – never agree to work being agree to work being done by builders who done by builders who knock on your door knock on your door saying your home saying your home needs repairsneeds repairs

Never pay cashNever pay cash: and : and only pay after the job only pay after the job is properly finishedis properly finished

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Cold, damp and condensation –Cold, damp and condensation –respiratory respiratory illnesses, heart problems, arthritis and illnesses, heart problems, arthritis and rheumatism all made worserheumatism all made worse

Defective gas and sold fuel appliances and Defective gas and sold fuel appliances and inadequate electrical wiring – inadequate electrical wiring – risk ofrisk of carbon carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazard, falls monoxide poisoning, fire hazard, falls hazard from trailing wireshazard from trailing wires

Better home, better health?Better home, better health?

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Help and adviceHelp and advice

Warm Front grants can help with the cost of Warm Front grants can help with the cost of insulation and installing central heating. Tel:0800 insulation and installing central heating. Tel:0800 952 0600952 0600

Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and safety checks can save lives. Age Concern or safety checks can save lives. Age Concern or the HIA may know about low cost/ free optionsthe HIA may know about low cost/ free options

Your GP practice should know about the local Your GP practice should know about the local Falls Prevention ServiceFalls Prevention Service

Home security service: ask Age Concern or HIAHome security service: ask Age Concern or HIA

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Who can help? Who can help? Anytown organisationAnytown organisation

(add details about presenting organisation)(add details about presenting organisation)

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Anytown OrganisationAnytown OrganisationOur aim is to enable older, disabled and low-Our aim is to enable older, disabled and low-income homeowners to live in homes that are income homeowners to live in homes that are warm, safe, secure and adapted to theirwarm, safe, secure and adapted to their needs.needs.

We offer:We offer: Help and advice with repairs and adaptationsHelp and advice with repairs and adaptations

Handyperson ‘odd job’ serviceHandyperson ‘odd job’ service

Hospital Discharge & Emergency RepairsHospital Discharge & Emergency Repairs

Advice and information about moving homeAdvice and information about moving home

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How to Contact anytown How to Contact anytown HIA/AC/OrganisationHIA/AC/Organisation