Elderly, disabled and vulnerable people across South Lanarkshire are being reminded that through Care & Repair South Lanarkshire, a service to help people live independently, is still open for urgent small repairs under the latest coronavirus lockdown rules.
From blocked toilets to broken locks, the South Lanarkshire staple has modified its business to safely offer critical support to those living in privately owned or privately rented accommodation.
Its Small Repairs Service remains a vital lifeline for many in the area and recently assisted an elderly woman with wheelchair complications. From one simple visit, the Small Repairs Officer was able to fix the wheelchair, allowing it to be used and moved around the house in a safe manner, replace five light bulbs, identify a problem with the cooker and assist with self-referral to Social Work for a home assessment, allowing the client to continue living independently and safely at home.
The full range of services still operating include:
- Small, urgent repairs and maintenance
- Home Adaptations, to enable people to continue to live safely at home
- Safe as houses – home security advice for victims of crime and domestic abuse
- Help to find suitable contractors, surveys, drawing and quotations for any urgent work that is permitted within
current lockdown restrictions
The Scottish Government confirmed that tradespeople can continue to enter households, under strict regulations, to carry out essential work including repairs and essential maintenance.
To ensure your home visit is as safe as possible we recommend following the below precautions:
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- Before a Care & Repair tradesperson arrives at your home, chat to the team about what work needs done by telephone
- Prepare your home by opening windows and doors to help air circulate and prevent them needing to touch door handles
- Maintain a two-metre distance from the tradesperson
- Treat animals like another household member and keep them in a separate room to ensure a safe distance
- After the visit, disinfect any handrails and surfaces they may have come in contact with
- Let Care & Repair know if you or another member of your household develop any coronavirus symptoms at any times, both during and after the job being done
Jamie Burgess, Manager of Care & Repair in South Lanarkshire, explains safety is the number one priority: “The new restrictions require people to stay at home for longer but for some their home isn’t a safe environment, and they may be unaware of the services still operating. Our reduced services ensure that those most in need get the help they depend on for living a comfortable and independent life at home.
“We’ve taken extra steps to ensure our customers and staff feel protected and safe whenever we visit their homes. We’re also continually reviewing the latest government guidelines and when possible will be able to offer more services once safe to do so.”To find out more about Care & Repair Small Repair Services and arrange an appointment please visit; careandrepair-sl.co.uk