Disabled and elderly people in Reading can use a new service to make life easier both at home and while fulfilling daily tasks.
AskSARA is an innovative system which asks people a series of questions about aspects of life that they find difficult and their needs.
It then comes up with a series of recommendations for what can be done to help.
In some cases, it will recommend an appointment with an occupational therapist to provide home adjustments and equipment to make life easier.
The service has been commissioned by Reading Borough Council’s adult social care department.
Samantha Midwinter, an adult social care officer presented it at a meeting of the council’s Older People’s Working Group on Friday, April 11.
Members were shown how to use AskSARA during the meeting.
The system has been devised by Living Made Easy, which is part of the Shaw Trust, a charitable organisation which supports people with complex needs.
It also signposts a range of services the council provides, such as the ReadiBus assisted bus service, mobility aid providers and a link to apply for a disabled parking blue badge.
The commissioning of the service comes after the council received a £1.08 million grant towards helping vulnerable adults live at home from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Adult Social Care Technology Fund.
The grant spans two years and was announced in October 2023.
This year, the council’s net budget for its Communities & Adult Social Care department totalled £64.558 million.
Council tax was raised 4.99 per cent, with 2.99 per cent going to council services and two per cent collected specifically to pay for adult social care.
