Llanelli grandmother praises Care and Repair

A LLANELLI grandmother says she is ‘thrilled to bits’ with work that the Care and Repair Carmarthenshire team have carried out at her home.

Elizabeth Jarman, of New Zealand Street, has had a range of hand rails and grab rails installed throughout her home, and has also had an easy-access shower fitted in her bathroom.

She has spoken of her delight at the work during Care and Repair Week (Feb 17-21), which aims to raise awareness of the range of support the agency can provide to help older people live more safely and comfortably in their homes.

Working in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council, Care and Repair Carmarthenshire carried out over a million pounds worth of work last year alone, helping over 2,000 clients and providing work for local contractors.

Mrs Jarman said: “The work they have done for me is amazing, I am thrilled to bits.

“They did rails on the steps in the front, down in to my conservatory and in my garden, and have put a new shower in too. It’s made such a difference – it’s allowed me to start enjoying Nordic Walking because now I can have a shower when I get home which eases my arthritis.”

Care and Repair Carmarthenshire is part of a national charitable body that provides small scale – but vital – adaptations in older people’s homes, including grab rails, stair rails and external lighting, with the aim of preventing potential accidents, which could lead to hospital admission.

In Carmarthenshire alone, it is estimated that this work has saved local authority and NHS health and social care budgets somewhere in the region of £5.5million, with indications of around £7.50 saved for every £1 spent on adapting someone’s home to suit their needs.

Mark Warren, Manager of Care and Repair Carmarthenshire, said: “We are extremely proud to be offering such a worthwhile service to older members of our communities.

“It is always a pleasure to assist our clients, making their lives easier and safer by making small adaptations to their homes.

“Quite often, by talking face to face with our clients, we are also able to help signpost them to other organisations that may be able to help them, where it falls outside our area of expertise.”

For further information about Care and Repair Carmarthenshire, email careandrepair@cccpartners.org.uk or call 01554 744300

For further information about Care and Repair nationally, visit www.careandrepair.org.uk