The Health Cost-benefits of Adapting Housing for Disabled and Vulnerable People

In 2014 a ‘Bletchley Day’ workshop was organised by Care & Repair England. BRE was tasked with considering ways to demonstrate the investment value of home adaptations and modifications through the production of better evidence.

BRE researched some of the cost-benefit to the NHS of undertaking preventative home interventions for households with a long-term sickness or disability, where the risks of accidents in their home are worse than the national average.

This research has identified the need for preventative work in around 3 million households who have a long-term sickness and disability. This work would make their homes safer and warmer and so reduce the likelihood of NHS treatment and the need for a DFG adaptation required as a result of injury.