Waterford's elderly residents grapple with downsizing and housing grant applications
A high percentage of applications were returned with issues.
Elderly residents are grappling with downsizing their homes and applying for housing grant applications.
The issue came to the fore at a recent Council meeting, as Kevin Moynihan of Age Friendly Ireland gave a presentation on improving the lives of elderly citizens.
Mr Moynihan is a co-ordinator of the Healthy Age-Friendly Homes Programme, a nationwide initiative across 31 local authorities.
Answering a query made by Councillor Seamus Ryan (Labour) over housing adaptation grants, Mr Moynihan said: "In some local authorities historically some 80% of applications that Council receives for housing adaptation grants are incorrectly completed."
He explained that he and his team proactively help guide a person through filling out a grant application: "We sit with the person, we get them through the form. We get the back-up documentation."
He stressed that the work of the programme is to complement the work of Council: "We would love to work with you, for you and for your constituents and certainly not to replace."
Other councillors raised the possibility of elderly people downsizing their homes.
Mr Moynihan responded: "With the bigger housing crisis in view, the difficulties that you are facing are the same difficulties we have with this.
"There are people out there who would love to downsize but where to?"
