VCOSS

Accessible housing RIS a Christmas win for senior Victorians

Download a copy of the release

‘Today’s release of the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) for Visitable and Adaptable Features in Housing brings the promise of safe housing for senior Victorians for the New Year,’ says Cath Smith, VCOSS CEO.

‘This long-awaited RIS seeks community input to the proposal to mandate the inclusion of:

a clear path from the street (or car set-down/park) to a level entry,

wider doorways and halls,

a toilet suitable for people with limited mobility on entry level, and

reinforced bathroom walls to allow grab rails to be fitted inexpensively if they are needed later.

‘These are measures that will cost very little, yet deliver enormous benefit to senior Victorian, people with disabilities and people with small children. In practice these measures mean it will be possible to visit new homes with a pram or a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair.

‘Accidents in the home which are currently the major cause of hospitalisations for senior Victorians will decrease and more people will be able to stay in their homes as they age.

‘One feature missing from the RIS is an accessible bathroom, including a shower, on the ground floor of dwellings. This is an essential feature to enable people to live in their homes once they can no longer negotiate stairs or step into the bath.’

For more information, or to arrange an interview
contact John Kelly – M: 0425 701 080

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VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au