ABSTRACT
The adaptation of the home and the provision of Assistive Technology (AT) are attracting much attention as a means of helping older people maintain their independence. Drawing on OPCS data on disability prevalence in older people profiles of seven standard users were developed. The combinations of informal care, adaptations and AT and formal care were considered for each user profile at both points in time. Costs vary greatly in relation to the type of disability and the characteristics of a user’s housing. This chapter focuses on many other analyses and sources of information and employs a range of assumptions. However, the approach used to generate the user profiles, the specification of formal care requirements, adaptations and AT, and the costing of these, has been strongly based on information and experiences which are generally acceptable to professionals in the health care, social services and housing sectors.
