Charity calls For action on home safety for people with sight loss
People with sight loss are at risk in their own homes because of a lack of home safety services that could protect them, says a new study by sight loss charity, Thomas Pocklington Trust (1). On the day that an All Party Parliamentary Group (2) willreport that a lack of help with basic home improvements is seriously obstructing older people’s struggle to maintain their independence, the Pocklington study (3) exposes gaps in existing services that put people with sight loss at particular risk.
The study found that people with sight loss didn’t know where to turn to for advice on home safety and maintenance issues, leaving them at risk in their own homes. National data (4) estimate that one third of pensioner households live in sub-standard housing, and because sight loss is associated with age it is likely that many of those householders will be affected by sight loss.
“The All Party group has said it is shocked by the problems of older people struggling to maintain their independence, but for people with sight loss the problem is made worse,” says Sarah Buchanan, Head of Research and Development, Thomas Pocklington Trust. “Our study suggests that potentially dangerous home safety issues are neglected and a targeted approach that seeks out and addresses safety in the homes of people with sight loss can reduce risk and increase independence.”
Most older people experience some level of sight loss which affects their daily lives. Yet existing home safety and maintenance services – from voluntary organisations, home improvement agencies and local authorities – are often unable to take this into account. They mostly rely on general leaflets to provide information and tend to focus on single projects such as smoke alarms and external lighting for security, or on making adaptations. For people with sight loss the study showed that a more accessible approach is needed that doesn’t rely on leaflets and looks at specific and wider problems which can be missed, such as damp that may affect health or flooring that may cause trips and falls.
The Pocklington study was based on a small pilot service run jointly with Birmingham City Council and offered one-to-one home safety advice to homeowners with sight loss. It was designed to test the theory that such targeted advice could help people with sight loss to remain independent. It revealed some serious safety issues and, after a home safety check, those participating in the pilot felt more secure and more confident about maintaining their independence.
The checks – which were purely visual - covered eleven areas of the home including gas and electrical fittings and systems, loft insulation and an overview of wall and floor surfaces, windows and decoration. Participants particularly welcomed the focus on safety. Although they were used to drawing on family and friends for support in many areas of their lives, they did not feel it was reasonable to expect them to know about safety. This meant the service filled an important gap.
Out of the ten houses checked, four were found to have a total of seven major safety issues including a gas fire that lacked adequate vents; lack of smoke alarms or alarms that had no batteries; taps so leaky they presented a health hazard; and safety risks in the garden and exterior of the house.
“This was a small pilot service but the fact that so many safety risks were found and householders felt vulnerable before the checks shows the need for a better service,” says Sarah Buchanan.
The study also exposed the difficulties in reaching the people most in need. People could be suspicious of the checks, fearing that any problems discovered may lead to costly work or a loss of their independence.
Now Pocklington is urging all those who have contact with people with sight loss to consider offering regular visual safety checks. These could include organisations supporting older people, local authority benefit advisors, home visiting services, vision rehabilitation officers and people carrying out energy efficiency checks, as well as those who go into people’s homes to provide one to one support such as occupational therapists, home improvement or handyperson services and care providers.
“We welcome the APPG attention to the important issue of living well at home but we hope that future services will particularly reach out to people with sight loss and take special note of their pressing need for help with home safety,” says Sarah Buchanan. “We know that the best way to reach and support people with sight loss is for the professionals and services who are already in touch with them to signpost and support access to other services. We want to work with them, using the experience of our pilot service to help bring home safety to those most in need.”
Editor’s Notes:
1.Thomas Pocklington Trust is a charity which aims to improve the quality of life of people with sight loss. It is a leading provider of housing, care and support services for people with sight loss in the UK , and is a major research and development body.
- The All Party Parliament Group on Housing and Care for Older People will launch a report from the “Living Well at Home” inquiry today (4.30pm, 18th July 2011) at the House of Commons. They have said: “The Inquiry Members (Rt Hon Nick Raynsord MP, Margo James MP, Baroness Barker and, the Chair, Lord Richard Best) have been struck – and sometimes shocked – to hear of the problems that face those older people struggling to maintain their independence. Our report looks at the obstacles to getting assistance with basic home improvements, or domiciliary help unless their care needs are absolutely critical.”
- “Home Safety Checks – Helping to Maintain Older People’s Independence ” – A Thomas Pocklington Trust Research Discussion Paper can be found at www.pocklington-trust.org.uk
- In 2006 Age Concern estimated that 32% of pensioner households lived in housing which failed the Decent Homes Standards, and that older women living alone were at particular risk of living in poor or unsafe housing.
