Staying put - Independent living for the elderly
Much can be done to promote independent living for the elderly. Below we consider some of the areas that older people have identified as needing help with to ‘stay put’ comfortably, along with suggested reading materials providing independent living tips to promote elderly independent living.
Personal security & safety
This involves generally feeling safe at home and in the your neighbourhood and knowing your home is secure when you are out. For independent living tips concerning personal security and safety we recommend you read:
Your safety : Preventing accidents in the home
Your security : Personal safety at home and in the street
Read about
Homesharing if you would like the comfort of having help at hand if you ever needed it.
Property condition, costs, management, comfort
How you feel about the condition of your home, inside and out, and your garden (if you have one). Is it suitable to allow elderly independent living? How you are managing and paying for any repairs and maintenance to the property, rent or mortgage costs, council tax, and so on. How comfortable is your home is to live in and can you heat it properly?
Home repairs and improvements
Help in your home
Home Improvement Agencies are local not-for-profit organisations that can help you repair, improve or adapt your home.
Find your nearest Home Improvement Agency Property location and suitability
- Whether you like the area you live in
- Whether you have too little, or too much, contact with neighbours
- How easily you can get out and about
- How easily family and friends can visit you
- Whether your home is too big, or too small
Wellbeing and quality of life
- Is your home a good base for your activities and interests?
- Do you have as much company as you wish?
- Do you feel you can live there as long as you wish (and not have to face moving later)?
Housing: adapting your home to stay independent
Equipment for Daily Living
Homesharing
Weighing it all up - Independent living for older people
Housing Options: Your housing choices is a short but comprehensive guide by Help the Aged to housing options for older people. Whether you want to stay put, or are thinking about a move, it aims to help you review all the options available.
Housing Options : Your housing choices EAC’s Housing Appraisal Tool is a simple question and answer technique to help you think about different aspects of your home and how you live in it, identify problems and reflect on which ones matter most. An online version also offers practical suggestions for solving any problems you identify.
Paper version of the Housing Appraisal Tool
Online version of the Housing Appraisal Tool
Call the FirstStop Advice Line which is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday on 0800 377 7070 to talk to someone about independent living for the elderly or, request a call back at a time that suits you.