Stairlifts to tackle £2bn cost of falls

WET rooms and stairlifts will be installed in the homes of elderly people in a bid to reduce the astronomical annual cost of falls, ministers announced yesterday.

More pensioners will be given sensors and personal alarms to enable carers to check remotely whether they are safe, as part of the Government’s ten-year vision for social care.

But last night charities laid into the plans, saying much more funding was needed if the social care system was to meet the needs of the elderly. Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said there was nothing in the plans to suggest ministers had any ‘real strategy’ for dealing with workforce problems, which will be magnified if Covid surged again.

Jeremy Hunt, the former Health Secretary, said billions more was needed to keep councils afloat.

A government White Paper said falls cost the NHS more than £ billion a year, and increasing funding through the Disabled Facilities Grant for grab-rails and stairlifts could help reduce this.