A BOLD bid to help people living with dementia in Worcestershire lead more independent lives has been launched by council chiefs.
District councils across the county have teamed up to trial a new grant scheme which will pay for adaptations to homes, making them safer and more convenient for those living with dementia.
Details of the Worcestershire Dementia Dwelling Grant were unveiled by Worcester City Council’s head of strategic housing, Nina Warrington, at a Dementia Conference in London last month.
The trial, which begins in April, will enable referrals to be made for eligible people living with dementia to have a range of adaptations made to their home.
Grants of up to £750 will be available, which will not be means-tested, but will be based on the assessment of each individual’s needs.
Ms Warrington said: “The aim of Worcestershire’s dwelling grant is to help reduce feelings of confusion and anxiety among residents living with dementia, and to allow them to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
“If the trial is successful, our aspiration is that further funding will be made available and that the grant could then be offered to Worcestershire residents on a more permanent basis.”
The grant will be open to anyone living in Worcestershire who has a clinically proven early diagnosis of dementia and is still living in their own home.
Applications will be assessed on a first-come, first-served basis and will be paid for through the Department of Health’s Better Care fund.
The trial will also be independently evaluated by the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies (ADS).
The evaluation will explore the impact of the grants for people with dementia and family carers and to identify any potential cost savings.
Simon Evans, Head of Research at The Association for Dementia Studies, said: “The Association for Dementia Studies is delighted to be evaluating this innovative trial.
“We hope that our findings will add to the understanding of how relatively small changes to the home environment can support greater independence and quality of life for people living with dementia in their own homes,” she added.
