Practical steps to make your home work for you from Age UK.
Need a little help to stay independent?
Age UK has a range of products and services from trusted partners that can help you to continue doing things for yourself.
Staying independent
Creating a safe home
"I want to know what changes I can make so I can continue to live in it safely."
Making your home a safe environment
If you are getting older, or have a health condition that restricts your mobility, by making some simple changes in your home, you can:
- make it safer for you to move around your home and do things on your own
- remove any hazards that could cause you to trip, slip or fall
- do things more independently - with the help of some specialist gadgets or equipment
- create a space that is perfect for you and your needs.
Consider your home one room at a time
If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, you might not know where to start - and it might take some trial and error to get your home just as you need it.
Think about each room you have one at a time:
- What do you do in that room, or what would you like to do?
- Is it safe and comfortable for you?
- What are the tasks you find difficult?
- What’s stopping you from using that room as you would like to?
You may find it easier to make a list.
Our tips
There are lots of simple things you can do yourself to make your home safe, often with little or no cost. We’ve put together some handy tips for each room of your home to help you:
Getting help to assess your home
If you are unsure about the changes you need to make to your home, our disability resource team can help. They can advise you what equipment may be suitable for your needs and organise an assessment.
For more information, please get in touch by either of the following methods and leave your details:
Aids, equipment and adaptations
You can also take a look at our section on living aids, equipment and adaptations. It:
- provides more examples of living aids and equipment and information on where you can get them
- explains the difference between minor and major home adaptations, and how to get help to make these changes to your home.