Borders Care and Repair receives funding boost
Delivery of new services made possible by the award of a grant from Borders Caring Services.
The Borders Care and Repair Service has announced the introduction of its Falls Prevention and Dementia Awareness Services.
The delivery of these new services has been made possible by the award of a grant from Borders Caring Services. This funding boost has meant that the original team has now increased with the appointment a new handyman, Kenny Forsyth, and the purchase of a brand-new van for a period of two years.
Having a new handyman means that the team will have more time to engage with clients who wish to participate in the completion of a new online questionnaire during a visit. By completing the questionnaire, it is hoped that any support the person needs will be identified, and they will be more aware of how small changes to their home environment can help them to stay independent for longer.
John Duncan, Director of Property Assets at Eildon Housing said: “Borders Care and Repair offers an extremely valuable service and has the potential, with the appropriate support, to make an even larger contribution in future to help people to continue to live safely in their homes and, in doing so, take pressure off other health and social care services.”
Val McNab, Borders Caring Services Chair, said: “We are pleased to see our legacy funding being used to address the growing problem of dementia as Eildon adds another important development to the long list of their successful work in Borders.
“We know, from experience, that care and repair services do add value to the health and social care and prevention agendas and, particularly, in relation to integration of local services and reducing falls and accidents in the home.
“This increase in handyperson services, which cross health, housing and social care objectives, can also offer cost-effective solutions, with cost benefits and improved social and financial investment returns. The need to identify and quantify improvements in the independence of older and vulnerable local people is crucial. We are glad to see our contribution being used to help increase quality of life and wellbeing and, essentially, for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.”
The Borders Care and Repair service is provided by Eildon Housing Association, in partnership with Scottish Borders Council and is open to any Borders resident over the age of 60, or those of any age with a disability. The aim is to keep residents safe and help them to continue to live independent and productive lives in their own homes.
Borders Care and Repair Service offers a Handyperson Service which costs £40 a year and provides access to the team which carries out small DIY tasks with no limit to the number of visits in a year.