Grants help with improving access for older people

Small jobs, like fitting automatic light switches in a bathroom or toilet, or raising the height of plugs, would not be covered. However larger jobs, especially if grouped on a theme, such as improving safety with handrails in bathrooms and a non-slip floor in the kitchen, easing access with new steps or a ramp, may attract grants or aid to cover from 35% to 50% of the cost, depending on age and household revenue.
Anah publishes a guide on the most common work for a house that gives rough costings and advice on claiming aid.

Called Mon Chez Moi Avance Avec Moi, the guide is available as a download from tinyurl.com/h8zwf3e.

It has advice from ergonomic experts on how best to improve access, with room-by-room suggestions for work along with costings – which date from 2015 – and full information on the eligibility criteria.
As an example: for a dark house entrance it looks at work needed to improve access with extended steps, non-slip sections on the front edge of the steps, handrails for support, automatic light switches, an automatic gate opener and a video intercom for security.

This is priced from €4,800 to €8,000 for both products and fitting and Anah says aid of between 35% and 50% of the cost (before tax) may be available. Fitting an access ramp will also benefit from reduced VAT at 5.5%, but again with a condition of resources.

In the kitchen, the workspace can be made safer with several changes to get equipment to an easy-to-use height and with less possibility of spillage.
A non-slip floor would cost from €30/m2 to €100/m2 plus labour, a sink and swan-neck mixer tap (to improve ease of use) costs up to €2,500 fitted,
a new electric installation with four higher-level power points at €1,500 would give a total kitchen spend of €4,500.
This may again be eligible for 35% or 50% aid towards costs.