Free Home Inspection Service extended

The free Home Inspection Service which assists older persons and people with disabilities to identify and rectify maintenance and safety issues in their home has been extended.

The program provides practical assistance to people over the age of 60 and people with disabilities wanting to retain their independence by living in their own home.

The program will be managed by Archicentre - the home inspection service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

Archicentre has joined with the Department of Human Services' Office of Housing to develop a special program targeted at ensuring residences fit the changing needs of older persons or people with disabilities in regard to access, security, safety and lifestyle.

The inspection service, carried out by fully trained architects, provides a report detailing general aspects of the home's condition which alerts home owners to the most common problems such as defective wiring, plumbing, cracking, or structural problems.

Specific recommendations will be made on potential danger areas such as slippery steps, inadequate lighting, or the lack of smoke detectors. The report will also recommend the placement and type of hand rails and other equipment in areas such as bathrooms and toilets for residents' safety to limit the risk of falls.

Falls are one of the major causes of injuries for older persons with an estimated 75 per cent of these taking place in the home.

Linked to the Home Service Report is a special program through which home owners can obtain a Home Renovation Loan of up to $20,000 with affordable repayments. This provides an opportunity for older persons or people with disabilities to fund the necessary home improvements.

A number of inspections already undertaken had revealed that many older persons and their families had failed to identify potential danger spots in the home. In some cases these can be life threatening, especially where wiring has deteriorated in older homes.

As part of the overall program, Archicentre will conduct an educational and community awareness campaign through its Internet site and in the media generally in relation to the service and the issues people need to consider.

To book a Free Home Inspection Service, home owners over 60 or people caring for a person with a disability should call (03) 98151900.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Housing, 15 February 1999)