From access issues to barrier-free living in Habinteg home | Tenant news

Front doors offer security, but they can also create accessibility barriers, as was the case for Habinteg tenant, and wheelchair user, Adan Yusuf in his former home.

For four years, Adan lived in a flat where he struggled to open the main entrance to his apartment block and his home’s front door without assistance.

In February, Adan moved into a wheelchair accessible home at a new Habinteg scheme in Isleworth, west London. His home is one of two wheelchair accessible apartments on the ground floor of the scheme , which also has 10 accessible and adaptable homes.

Barrier-free living

Adan, who is in his fifties, says that his new home has given him his independence: “The advantages of living in an accessible home for a wheelchair user are countless. I don’t need help with getting into my front door and I’ve got more freedom to move around my home. There’s no comparison to my old flat.

“In my old home, I had difficulties opening the front entrance door of the tower block and it was the same with my front door on the first floor. Once inside the flat, I couldn’t access the full area of the kitchen as it was so tiny.”

The flat has accessible features that make daily activities such as preparing and cooking food easy. The kitchen has a side opening oven, adjustable worktop sections with a sink and hob, and pull-out baskets in wall-mounted cupboards, for ease of use.

Adan said: “The pull-out baskets make it easy for me to access items. There is a lot of space in my kitchen for me to manoeuvre around, so I don’t need help with things like making a cup of tea or a sandwich.”

Reduced public spending

Habinteg research shows that homes built to higher accessibility standards contribute to increased independence, which can reduce or remove the need for care services at an average cost of £18 to £20 per hour.

For hospital patients who are ready to be discharged but need an adapted home, an accessible home can speed up discharge and reduce hospital stays, which cost £345 per night. An accessible home that supports independence can also remove or delay a move to residential care with an average cost saving of £970 per week.

According to Habinteg analysis, a wheelchair user of working age living in an accessible home is four times more likely to be employed than one whose home is not accessible.

More accessible homes needed

Christina McGill, Director of Social Impact and External Affairs at Habinteg, said: “We’re really happy to hear about the difference that his new home has made to Adan.

“For the disabled people that need them, wheelchair accessible homes are vital for supporting health and wellbeing and make a huge difference to independence. This is obviously great for the individual and their loved ones, but also often means far less reliance on health and social care services, which is good news for public spending.

“Anyone can become disabled, at any time, and everyone should have a home that meets their needs, so we’d like to see many more wheelchair accessible homes built across the country in both social housing and properties for private rent and sale.”