The Requirement for Equipment Such as Platform Lifts and Stair Lifts Causes Concern
Care in the Community proposals that have evolved since talks began way back in 2001 are now steaming ahead but not to everyone's liking. Concerns are growing over the age old issues of costs.
In the proposals the ministers want to see nearly 10,000 people who are otherwise, as they say, institutionalised, offered the opportunity to live more independent lives. They will achieve this by offering housing and support in moving thousands of people with learning difficulties and physical disabilities away from institutes they currently reside at.
The fear is that many of these people will in fact be re-housed in unsuitable properties that might be ill-equipped to support their disabilities and physical needs because many housing authorities and social service departments will not be in a position to fund the requirements for such items as platform lifts for wheelchairs users and stair lifts for the able but weaker people.
The proposals have been through ministerial Green and White papers but are yet to have received law status but this has not stopped many health authorities who aim to introduce changes by early 2010.
As with many proposals like this, some see the move as a pro-active move in offering some people a better standard of lifestyle involving more independence but the others see the reality of costs interfering with this utopia. The overall and realistic cost of installing disability equipment such as wheelchair platform lifts into homes is uncertain at the moment but this is certainly an issue that is already offering concern to the long awaited Care in the Community Proposals.