The government is currently advising clinically vulnerable people to continue shielding and stay at home as much as possible amid the pandemic, with interactions outside kept to a minimum, until July 31st at the earliest.
This position is regularly reviewed but if the shielding period does come to an end on this date, many will be left wondering how best to go about protecting themselves from the risk of coronavirus.
New research from disability rights charity Scope has just revealed that only five per cent of disabled people who are self-isolating say they would feel safe enough to go out and leave the house after the shield period comes to an end, iNews reports.
Chief executive of Scope Mark Hodgkinson observed that societal and economic barriers faced by disabled people have been magnified by the coronavirus crisis and the risk now is that the clock will turn back on disability equality.
“Many disabled people are worried about life after lockdown. Shielding may be set to pause, but for millions of disabled people at greater risk of coronavirus, their fears have not been taken into account and they feel overlooked,” he went on to say.
This comes as housing association Habinteg called on the government to offer more support to older and disabled people, following the publication of the English Housing Survey 2018/2019, revealing that just 16 per cent are currently living in accessible homes.
In addition, it was found that less than 64 per cent had somewhere to store their wheelchair and that just nine per cent of homes in England have features such as doorways that are wide enough and toilets at entrance levels.
For help installing an accessible wet room at home, get in touch with Absolute Mobility today.
If you are interested in finding out more information call us on 01491 411041 or visit our website www.absolutemobility.co.uk
31 July,2020
