The document summarizes a dementia dwelling grant pilot program in Worcestershire, England. The program provided up to £750 grants to help people with dementia remain independent in their homes through minor home adaptations. Over 500 people received assessments, with an average of 5 adaptation items installed per home at an average cost of £138. Early evaluations found improvements in feelings of safety, independence, and accommodation satisfaction. The program aims to provide evidence of the benefits of integrated health and housing support and influence future funding.

1. WORCESTERSHIRE
DEMENTIA DWELLING GRANT
Beyond the Front Door
Dementia and Housing Conference
13th June 2018
Kate Curran Manager – Care and Repair Worcestershire

2. Partnerships

3. Population over 65 130,400
Area (miles)2 738
CCG 3
BCF (DFG) £4.6M; £518K-£1.09M
Dementia prevalence
data (2017)
9,022
NHS diagnosis - (2016) 4,797
Wychavon
Redditch
Malvern Hills
Wyre Forest
Bromsgrove
Worcester City
Worcestershire

4. How it came about
 The introduction of the Better Care Fund - increase in money
available to help people stay independent at home
 Brought stronger links between housing and health partners –
 Plan had to be agreed between the NHS & Local Authorities aim
for services to work more closely together .
 Guidance specified that the development of the plans should
include and recognise the vital role housing can play within
the delivery of these plans.
 Advised to use DFG funding innovatively & utilise powers under
the Regulatory Reform Order to support strategic initiatives.

5. How it was set up
 A Multi Agency Project Group established
 Countywide agreement for a pilot and integrated working across disciplines
 Agreed Age UK to be the main delivery partner
 Dementia Advisors would undertake the assessment
 Handyperson would undertake installations where needed
 University confirmed types of work that are likely to help enable people with a diagnosis of dementia
to manage their surroundings, retain their independence and reduce feelings of confusion and
anxiety.
 Age UK researched suppliers and costs of items – Partnership agreed list of aids and adaptations in
the home designed to and committed amount of money for pilot.
 Pilot commenced 1st April 2017, supported by Care and Repair Worcestershire and the Dementia
Advisors from Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire
 Evaluation of the pilot being undertaken by the Association for Dementia Studies, University of
Worcester

6.  Referral route via Community Mental Health Team, GP and
Early Intervention Dementia Team.
 Health and Social Care Partners, voluntary sector and carers
 Non means tested
 Maximum Grant £750
 Eligibility
 must have clinical diagnosis of dementia
 All ages
 Living in all type of housing tenure
 Resident in Worcestershire
The Dementia Dwelling Grant

7. How the Service Works
 Guided conversation to undertaken an initial environmental and individual circumstance assessment,
including questions relating to evaluation – where consent has been obtained
 Products and solutions are identified to help maintain independence
 Range of standard and bespoke solutions from Dementia Clocks through to providing sofa bed for family to stay over
 Handyperson fits items as needed
 Service user data and feedback is collated and reviewed at agreed points in time
 Any issues arising or additional products are discussed and actioned at regular project meetings
The grants do not cover items that can be met from other sources e.g. DFG or via social care
Referrals to
the service
Assessment
Signpostings
/ Referrals
Handyperson
Service
Monitoring
and Review

8. Dementia Dwelling Grant
Most popular items
Dementia Clock 125 Whiteboard and pen 45
Nightlight (plug in and
battery)
121 Key Locators 41
Bedside light 77 Memo Minder 37
Light switch covers 45 Keysafe 35
Other popular items:
Cupboard door locks Bath Mat
Coloured key fobs Towel rails red
Day/Night clock Big Button telephone
Cork board and pins Coloured Toilet seat
Labels/signage Magiplug – sink/basin
Average cost of installation per household is £138
Average of just over 4 items per person

9. Aims
 Provide robust evidence of the overall impact of the pilot
programme to inform future planning
 Explore experiences and impact for people living with
dementia at home
Methodology
 Assessment form
 Evaluation form – at assessment, 3 months and 9 months
 Case studies
Evaluation

10.  510 assessments - 75% received a DDG grant.
 Average age 80 (36 to 98)
 55% female
 62% married, 30% widowed
 97% white British
 60% referred to Age UK by EIDS
Interim Report
(April 2017 to 16 March 2018)

11. Interim Report
(April 2017 to 16 March 2018)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
1 2 3 4 5 6
Numberofassessments
DDG assessments per district
Assessed but no DDG received/needed
DDG received, no consent for evaluation
DDG received, consent for evaluation

12. Source of Referral

13.  101 consents to participate in the evaluation
Of these
 95% have at least one carer (80% live with them)
 86% owner occupiers
 68% live with a partner/spouse
 54% have at least one other medical condition
Interim Report
Evaluation cohort

14.  Average requirement 5 items (4 different types of item)*
 Range from 1 to 13 items
 Cost range £11 to £463 excluding time of Dementia Advisor and
Handyman fitting service
 Average cost £138
 On average those who live alone needed more items than others
 Type of dementia does not seem to affect the number of items
requested
 Does appear some difference in number of items requested per district
e.g. Malvern Hills 1.5, Wychavon 11.2
* Includes night lights
Interim Report
Evaluation cohort

15. Wellbeing - early indications
 Slight reduction in levels of loneliness
 Little change in satisfaction with health
 Slight improvement in levels of satisfaction with accommodation
 Improvement in ability of participants to look after themselves
 Improvement in ‘feeling safe’
Evaluation cohort - 3 month
assessments

16. Next steps
 Completion of case studies
 Analysis of remaining 3 month assessments
 Analysis of 9 month assessments
 Analysis of comparative data
 Preparation of final report (end 2018)
Evaluation

17. The Future
The Dementia Dwelling Grant will :
 Provide a scheme to ensure people remain independent in their
own homes avoiding costly admission to hospital and residential
care.
 Provide robust evidence of integrated working and a successful
new and innovative way to utilise Better Care Funding
 Be used to influence future funding decisions both nationally and
locally

18. Kate Curran
CRW Manager
01684 579 456
kcurran@fortisliving.com