A study by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has revealed the amount of disabled people who face issues with their homes
Disabled Scots are being left housebound as they are living in unsuitable accommodation.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has undertaken an inquiry which has shown 61,000 Scots are waiting for alterations to their homes.
Up to 17,000 wheelchair users in Scotland were deemed to be poorly housed – with only simple adaptations needed in many cases to deliver results which would make a huge difference to people’s lives.
John Wilkes, head of the EHRC in Scotland, said: “During our inquiry, we heard many stories of people unable to leave their homes, restricted to eating, sleeping and bathing in one room and loved ones risking their own health to carry family members upstairs or between rooms.
“The effect of this cannot be understated. It impacts on every aspect of a disabled person’s life, their ability to participate in family life, to work, to access education and social life, as well as their dignity, health and wellbeing.”
More than 400 disabled people from across the UK were quizzed as part of the research, which exposed stories of people eating, sleeping and bathing in one room as they are unable to get around the house.
One respondent said: “I can’t access the whole house, including my children’s room. I can’t use my wheelchair around the house, so I get exhausted very quickly just getting from the stairs to my chair or the kitchen – around three metres.
“This cuts down the amount of interaction I can have with my family, and also means that I need a lot more help with everything than I would if my house was accessible.”
And the difficulty in getting suitable adaptations made was also revealed.
“It took a year for the team to agree, fund and plan the adaptions, despite being told when we accepted the property that these things would need to be done,” said another person who took part in the survey.
Another said: “I have not been outside since 2011, except for essential hospital stays. My flat is on the second floor, with no lift; it is not wheelchair-accessible, and although I have and need a power wheelchair, I cannot even use it indoors, as the flat is not adapted.”
The EHCR has called upon the Scottish Government to produce a strategy which ensures an adequate amount of homes that are fully accessible are built.
Wilkes added: “If we don’t act now, we are simply storing up trouble for future generations. We estimate that demand for wheelchair accessible homes will rise by 80% in the next five years.
“Building accessible housing is far cheaper than keeping people in care homes or hospitals as we do just now simply because there is nowhere for them to live.”
Kamran Mallick, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, also backed the call.
“This research shows some of the fundamental issues we face on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
“Appropriate housing is key to independent living and creating choice and control for disabled people.”
SNP housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Everyone should have a home that meets their needs.
“We are taking action to ensure everyone has access to a home that is the right size, in the right location or flexible enough to suit requirements they may have in the future.
“We are working with health and social care partnerships, disability organisations and the housing sector to ensure those in need of any adaptations to their home can access those services as and when they need them. We are refreshing the Local Housing Strategy guidance to make sure realistic targets are set at local level for the supply of wheelchair housing.”
Heather Fisken, manager of Independent Living in Scotland said “This is indeed a hidden crisis. Disabled people living in unsuitable housing are denied their human rights to participate in and contribute to their communities. Living in inaccessible housing can mean not getting outside at all or only rarely, or even being forced to move to a care home."
