Living at home as you get older

Most older people want to live at home for as long as possible, and there are many benefits to maintaining your independence for longer. There are things you can do yourself, and support services you can use, to help you keep living at home. Maintaining a healthy and active mind matters, so if you have a particular hobby or interest, keep doing it.

If you are finding it hard to continue, talk to your family or carer about how they can help. Keeping your social, family and community connections, exercising your body and mind, and focusing on the things you enjoy will help you stay healthy, positive and motivated.

Staying connected#

Staying connected to your friends, social groups and family is an important part of maintaining your independence and keeping healthy. Keep going to the family, social gatherings and community activities you enjoy. To stay connected and independent, you need to be able to travel to the places, events and activities you want to attend.

Getting around#

There are many transport options to help you get around.

Driving#

If you drive, you do not have to stop just because you are getting older. Your health and your driving behaviour, not your age, determine whether you can keep your driver licence, and older drivers are generally just as safe as other age groups on the road.

You may decide to stop driving yourself, or you may need to give up your licence if you are no longer healthy enough to drive safely. If you have health problems, or you are unsure whether you can drive safely, you may be asked to have an assessment. These rules are in place to keep everyone safe.

Other transport#

Even if you can no longer drive, you can keep your independence and social connections. A family member, friend or carer may be able to drive you, or you can take a taxi. Your doctor may be able to tell you about schemes that offer reduced taxi fares for people who cannot use public transport. There are also many public transport options, such as buses and trains, many of which have easy access and priority seating for older people. Some organisations and local councils provide free community buses to help people get to and from their venues.

Looking after yourself#

As you get older, you may find it harder to look after yourself or do household chores on your own. If you, or someone you care for, is not eating properly, letting the house get dirty or not bathing, it may be time to change how things are done.

You may need to see an occupational therapist or physiotherapist to get aids, equipment or home modifications that make daily tasks easier. If you are concerned about your personal hygiene or coping with day-to-day tasks, talk to them about home care services, which may include delivered meals. Delivered meals can also be bought from private providers.

If you are caring for someone, ask whether they need help with anything, such as shopping, cooking, taking out the bins or cleaning the bathroom. Tasks that seem simple can be overwhelming for older people, and they may no longer want or be able to do them.

Living safely at home#

There are many ways to keep living safely and independently for longer. Some ideas include:

• Use bright light bulbs to keep your home well lit.
• Fix or remove unsteady furniture and loose carpet and rugs.
• Add handrails and other mobility aids to help you move around.
• Have heaters and appliances serviced regularly, and install safety switches and timers on electrical or gas devices.
• Arrange for family, friends or neighbours to check on you daily.
• Set up simple community-watch signals (for example, raised front-room blinds each morning can signal all is well, while uncollected newspapers and mail may mean someone needs help).

If you have trouble spotting things that need fixing, such as loose fittings or broken power points, ask a family member to help with regular checks around the house.

Personal alarms#

If you are worried about having a fall or needing help during the night, a personal alarm may be a good option. Personal alarm and alerting services are available from a range of private providers. Some telephones can be programmed to automatically call or text up to four numbers when a switch is pressed, and some include functions for people with impaired mobility, such as emergency pendants that activate calls to programmed numbers.

Home care services#

Sometimes it is hard to manage everything day to day. You may forget to take medication or feed your pets, or find it physically too hard to change a light bulb or weed the garden. Many home care services can help with daily tasks so you can keep living at home.

Home help can be as simple as assistance with meals and transport, or it can involve a higher level of care, such as help with bathing, dressing or home nursing. Talk to your doctor or local council about the home care support services available in your area.

Working with family and carers#

It is a good idea to talk and work with your family, friends and carers to find ways to make your living situation better, so you can be confident and independent at home. They may need to accept some level of risk so that you can keep living independently and maintain your confidence and self-esteem.

Key points#

• Maintaining a healthy and active mind is important, so if you have a particular hobby or interest, keep doing it.
• It is important to keep going to the family, social gatherings and community activities that you enjoy.
• If you drive a car, you do not have to stop just because you are getting older.

Where to get help#