Capital costs of supporting young disabled people at home

The quality of life of disabled people depends partly on resources accessible to them. In this study, the capital costs of disability are defined and quantified for disabled people aged 16-64 years, inrelation to: their families, the state, the level of disability, medical diagnosis, and income, for 173 people in the Harrow area on Social Services registers of very severe and appreciable handicap. The mean cost of capital equipment and adaptations was 5,700 pounds (inter-quartile range 200 pounds to 6,600 pounds) to individuals and their families, and 4,500 pounds (inter-quartile range 100 pounds to 6,900 pounds) to statutory bodies (1993 prices, based on a 1988 survey). Two-thirds of this was spent on structural alterations, and one-third on aids and equipment, and costs to the individual were not apparently related to income from employment or state allowances. Capital costs of disability acquired in later life were partly ameliorated for some by accrued pensions, and for those disabled earlier in life, costs were often borne by carers and family. High capital outlay, often borne by the family, was reported for those with congenital disorders. The study indicates the need for financial support, and the need to increase suitable available accommodation for disabled people; regular review may help to identify individual requirements and changing needs.