Cuts to a lifeline Angus charity will eventually lead to more elderly and disabled people losing their independence, it has been claimed.
In the past five years Angus Care and Repair has seen referrals to its services from Angus Council almost double, while financial support from the local authority has been frozen.
The charity carries out modifications to the homes of the elderly and disabled to help their quality of life and maintain independence. However, the charity was forced to scrap its “safe as houses” service, which provided equipment and advice to protect the vulnerable from cold calling, doorstep crime, fire and falls in the home.
In addition, its small repairs service, which used to be free, is now charged at £20 per half hour after a funding drop to £420,000 from £468,000.
Chairman Callum McNicoll told the charity’s AGM: “Last year and this has seen significant cuts to our services.”
“Up until two years ago we had been an expanding business. We had provided more and more services for older people.
“Now, we no longer have our Safe as Houses initiative and can no longer provide free small repairs due to a funding reduction from Angus Council.
“Whilst I appreciate the financial constraints that all sectors are working under, I am concerned that the result of these cuts will not assist people to remain independent and will lead to increased anxiety about living alone, increased falls in the home and increased disrepair of properties.
“We have already seen a reduction in people asking for assistance for major repairs due to the removal of repairs grants and it is an ongoing concern that some of our clients’ properties will result in serious disrepair in the coming years.
“If we are to encourage older people to remain independent and not move into nursing or residential care, we have to ensure their properties are fit to do so.
“We will continue to campaign locally and nationally about this and we will try to secure funding to reinstate some of our Safe as Houses service.”
Angus Care and Repair’s “safe as houses” service was a joint venture with police to reduce crime and fear of crime.
It was first piloted in Forfar in 2000 and Kirriemuir in 2002 before the group got funding to take the initiative Angus-wide.
It has helped more than 4,500 people with security checks and installations such as door locks, peep holes, smoke detectors and timer switches.
The AGM at Forfar Golf Club also heard the charity has been involved in several dementia events and consultations.
Mr McNicoll added: “Hopefully, soon we will be able to carry out adaptations for people with dementia to enable them to remain safe and happy at home.
“Another development this year was our child safety equipment installations with Rospa providing the equipment and Fire and Rescue Scotland storing the equipment for us.
“The results of the evaluation are due out at the end of September but the outcome has been both eye-opening and has provided plenty of ideas for future good practice in child safety and education.”