Stuart Anderson MP has thrown his support behind carers in South Shropshire. On 6th August 2025, he visited Arden Grange Care Home in Ditton Priors. It is managed by WhiteLodge Alveley Specialist Care, a group of care homes in South Shropshire.
Two days later on 8th August 2025, Stuart then visited Care of Excellence. A home care service based in Ludlow, they provide high-quality care and support to individuals in their own home.
Following these visits, Stuart has urged Ministers to support South Shropshire's social care workforce. He has also responded to a consultation that has been launched on the way in which the Disabled Facilities Grant is allocated.
The consultation document states that the current approach is outdated, as data from the 2021 Census shows that local authorities with the highest proportions of older residents are now mainly coastal and rural ones, like Shropshire.
Stuart wants to ensure that rural areas like Shropshire get a fair share of support available from this scheme, which helps older people and those with disabilities to live safely and independently in their own home.
It is available to homeowners and private renters as well as those who live in social housing accommodation. Since 2010, there have been almost half a million home adaptions across the country, backed by £4.8 million provided by the last government.
The scheme supports around 50,000 older and disabled people in England each year to adapt their homes to make them safer and suitable for their needs so they age with dignity.
Changes like wheelchair ramps, handrails, or a stairlift can reduce emergency admissions to hospital and speed up a return home following a hospital stay.
It can also delay, or even prevent, the need for costly residential care in the future. Stuart has said that he wants to ensure that Shropshire receives a fair share of support.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"I am committed to supporting our local communities in South Shropshire. As part of this, I want to ensure that older and disabled people can live with the dignity and respect that they deserve. So, I was pleased to recently visit Arden Grange Care Home in Ditton Priors and Care of Excellence, a home-care service based in Ludlow. The staff who make up the paid social care workforce provide an invaluable service to our community. I am committed to supporting them as they help elderly and disabled people. I also want to ensure that rural areas like South Shropshire continue to benefit from changes to the Disabled Facilities Grant, which has enabled almost half a million home adaptions since 2010. This valuable scheme helps older people and those with disabilities to live safely, independently, and with dignity in their own homes."
