£40 million to be invested on supporting people in their own homes

An extra £40 million will be added to the Disabled Facilities Grant to help people remain independent in their own homes for longer.

Speaking at the Housing Learning and Improvement Network Conference in December, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb said:

"For people with disabilities and older people, even the simplest things such as walking, getting up the stairs and climbing in and out of the bathtub can become difficult.

"We know that most people want to remain independent and be supported in their own home as far as possible. This funding will help people make the necessary practical changes to help them remain in their own home and postpone or even prevent the development of serious health and care needs.

"An adaptation can make a huge difference to the life of an older person by helping them access all facilities and all parts of their home safely and independently. Research shows that for every £1,000 spent through the Disabled Facilities Grant, the quality of life gains are estimated at £1,723 per year."

This money brings the total spend on Disabled Facilities Grant to £785m from 2010/11 to 2014/15.