22/02/2008

Active Gardening Boosts Home Safety for Older Victorians

Archicentre have again combined with the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria to provide all home-owners having the free Home Safety Inspection with a bonus $25.00 garden voucher.

The Victorian Government through the Department of Human Services funds the service which is carried out by Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. Victoria is one of the few States that funds free health and safety home inspections for its older, disabled or those caring for someone with a disability. As a result Victorian home-owners are more likely to be able to live safely and independently in their homes for longer. On average a million dollars a year is spent on this unique inspection service. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the direct cost to the nation's health system to help people aged 65 years and over recover from falls was $566 million. It costs $555 a day to keep an older person in a Victorian hospital. The lifetime cost of fall injuries for Victorians aged 65 years and older is estimated at $199.3 million annually. The Home Safety Inspection provides creative and practical solutions to make the homes safe for the elderly and the disabled enabling them to live independently as long as possible in their own homes where they can enjoy their gardens. CEO of the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria, Steven Potts, said, "The aim of the program provided a focus on the health and therapeutic benefits associated with gardening for the elderly and linking it to water wise gardening practices. The Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria will be providing plants from over sixty seven outlets throughout Victoria."

David Hallett, General Manager of Archicentre said, "The home safety inspections for older persons show there is a constant need for monitoring safety around the home. Common problems encountered during inspections include the use of double adaptors for radiators and other appliances, slippery surfaces, tangled power and telephone cords contributing to falls, clutter of newspapers, deadlocks on doors without keys on the inside and slippery paths in the garden".

"The partnership between the State Government, the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria and Archicentre is an innovative initiative that can save lives, prevent serous injury and also lead to an improvement in the older home-owners quality of life," Mr Hallett added. "The garden is a place where many older people find relaxation and this new initiative will both brighten up the garden whilst improving safety in the home."

The FREE Home Safety Inspections are funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Human Services for aged pensioners, veterans' affairs card holders and disabled persons. To access the service telephone (03) 9815 1900 or 1300 136 513.

Media Enquiries:
David Hallett, General Manager of Archicentre Victoria (03) 9819 4577 Mobile: 0439 439 115
Steven Potts CEO Victorian Nursery and Garden Industry Association (03) 9576 0599
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications Archicentre (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201