Home aids and adaptations

Whether you need to adapt your home now or you're just thinking about the future, it’s good to know about the kinds of aids and adaptations that can help you live more safely and comfortably at home. 

What is the first step to getting home aids and adaptations?

The first step to getting lots of the adaptations and equipment spoken about on this page is to contact your local council to arrange a care needs assessment.

The assessment looks at the care services that would help meet your needs, including home adaptations or equipment that may help you in your day-to-day life.

Find out more about the care needs assessment

Getting into and out of my home

Getting in and out of your home can be tricky – especially if you have arthritis, stiff joints or mobility issues. But a few simple changes can help.

• If you’re unsteady on your feet, or if you struggle to use your keys in the dark, consider installing an outdoor light.
• If you find the steps to your front door difficult, you could have a rail installed – whether that’s a grab rail or a longer hand rail. You could also consider asking a builder to create shallower steps.
• If you use a wheelchair, you might need to have a ramp installed – this could mean some larger alterations to the front of your home. If there’s not enough space for a ramp, you could look into installing a wheelchair lift instead. A portable ramp could also be a solution if there’s someone to help move it in and out of position.
• If you’re a renter, a leaseholder or you have shared access to your property, you may need your landlord’s permission or neighbours’ agreement to make any changes.
• Some local councils offer an assisted bin collection service to help if you can’t put your bins out yourself.

Answering the door

If you find it difficult to get to the front door when someone knocks – or if you’d like to know who’s there before you answer – think about installing one of these devices:

• a door-entry intercom, which lets you speak to the person at the door without opening it – wireless doorbells are easy to fit and come with an entry phone
• a video entry-phone, which lets you see who’s at the door – some let you open the door from where you’re sitting
• a police-approved key safe – a secure box for your house keys that’s fitted outside your home and can only be opened by people with the code you give them
• a ‘bogus caller’ button that you press if you’re concerned about the person at the door – you’ll be connected to someone who can help.

Many DIY shops and high-street retailers stock wireless doorbells and key safes. You could ask a family member, handyperson or Home Improvement Agency to fit them for you.

Find a Home Improvement Agency near you using their directory

Moving around my home

Making sure you can get from room to room easily and safely will help you to stay independent for as long as possible. It will also reduce your risk of falling. There are lots of changes you can make to your home to make it easier and safer for you to move around, including:  

• making sure your home is well lit – you could think about installing motion-sensor lights that switch on automatically when you enter a room or get out of bed during the night
• keep walkways throughout your home clear by tidying away any trip hazards like rugs or cables
• widening door frames or changing the direction your doors open to help you move through your home – this can be particularly helpful if you use a wheelchair
• having raisers fitted if you find it difficult to get into bed or a chair. These make the bed or chair higher so that you're not bending down as far 
• getting powered riser-recliner chairs and specialist beds that raise you into a position where it's easier to stand, or lower you to sit or lie down
• using easy-reach grabbers to help you pick up items and a long-handled shoehorn to help you with putting on your shoes
• extending your home so that you can keep all your essential facilities, like the toilet or shower, on one floor, or if you just want more space. Make sure you talk to a qualified surveyor or architect about what may be possible – it's important to note that you'd have to pay for their time and services

Getting up and down the stairs

Stairs can make living at home a lot harder – especially if your bedroom or toilet is on an upper floor. Even if you’re relatively mobile, going up and down the stairs several times a day adds up, and the impact on your joints and back can be significant.

If you can’t reduce how much you use the stairs, something as simple as fitting a second handrail could help – or a stairlift may be more suitable. There are different types with useful features, such as:

• swivel seats to help you get safely on and off
• specially adapted controls that are easy to grip
• automatic safety stops if something’s in the way

If a second handrail or a stairlift isn’t suitable, it might be possible to install a wheelchair lift – although this depends on the size and layout of your home.

Using the bathroom

Using the bathroom can be one of the trickiest parts of continuing to live at home – especially if your sense of balance isn’t what it once was. Many people find it hard to ask for help with these private things, and it’s understandable if you want to keep doing them yourself for as long as possible. Fortunately, some small adjustments can make a big difference. Some of the equipment you could look into includes:

• 'hands-free’ toilets have automatic washing and drying functions that operate while you’re seated
• a raised toilet seat or rails that could help you get on or off the toilet by yourself
• battery-powered bath lifts support your weight as you get in and out of the bath, while baths with a side opening mean you don’t have to climb over the side
• or you may want to swap out your bath altogether – a ‘wet room’ style shower means you can walk straight in
• if you're worried about overfilling the bath or sink, a special safety plug that only allows water to reach a certain level, or a flood detector that alerts a monitoring centre if the bath or sink starts to overflow, might be helpful
• long-handled sponges or foot-cleaning bath mats can help you if you have limited mobility and can't bend down easily
• non-slip mats for safety

Using the kitchen

Preparing food and drinks can be fiddly and potentially risky as you get older – especially if you have arthritis, stiff joints or mobility issues. But you might find that, with the right equipment, you can continue to do this independently. 

What if I need help while cooking or making hot drinks?

You might find the following pieces of equipment helpful:

• a perching stool which supports you in a near-standing position
• a kettle tipper to help you tilt the kettle or one-cup kettle that is easier to lift
• a spike board which lets you cut or peel vegetables using only one hand
• perching stools or chairs, which support you in a near-standing position

What if I find picking up, opening or moving things in the kitchen difficult?

You might find the following pieces of equipment helpful:

• wide-handled cutlery
• high-rimmed plates and two-handled cups
• assistive tin, bottle and jar openers
• a sturdy trolley to support mobility and help you move food and drink from room to room

If you use a wheelchair, consider installing adjustable-height work surfaces and cupboards, along with a shallow basin.

Your home should be fitted with gas, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors already – but if you have trouble hearing them, consider getting models that raise an audible alarm with a flashing light and that alert staff at a monitoring centre.

What if I have problems with my vision?

If you have problems with your vision, wires, loose carpets, broken handrails or general clutter can be a hazard. If you need help with repairs or removing risks in your home, you may want to get in touch with a tradesperson service.

When looking for a tradesperson, it's important that you find someone you can trust – it will save you time, money and frustration later down the line.

Read more about how to find a tradesperson you can trust

You could also try putting coloured tape on the edges of stairs and other borders to make your home easier to navigate.

What if I have problems with my hearing?

It’s common to experience some hearing loss as you get older, but there are ways to make it easier to live with.

• Many specialised devices for the home are available for people with hearing impairments, such as doorbells and smoke alarms with visible alerts - like a flashing light, so even if you can’t hear them, you’ll still be able to see them
• You can get wireless smoke alarms fitted. These connect using radio signals so that if one goes off, they all will. There are also versions that use vibrating pads, which you can put under your pillow at night to alert you to an alarm
• If you find it hard to hear a ringing telephone, look into voice-based and text-based alternatives. Or you could install a sounder beacon on your phone that flashes and makes loud signals when someone calls

Find out more about fire prevention and gas safety

What if I have problems with my memory?

Memory problems can make even the simplest of daily tasks difficult, but there are ways to cope. Here are some tips and tricks for making things easier around the house:

• Stick post-it notes somewhere at eye level near the front door to remind you of anything important that you need to do when you're leaving the house, such as picking up your keys and locking the door
• Use an item locator so you can easily find things, like your keys or wallet – you attach small tags to your important items and, if you lose one of them, you press a button on the locator and the tag will beep and flash to help you find it
• Label cupboards and drawers in the kitchen so that you easily locate what you want, especially with everyday items like tea and sugar
• Stick a sign on the bathroom door, or just leave it open, so that the room can be seen and accessed easily
• Keep a calendar in a prominent place and write down important reminders, or use the calendar on your mobile phone or tablet
• Think about using a digital speech recorder to remind you about things you need to do at the time you need to do them, such as taking your medication
• Use a calendar clock that clearly shows the day, date and time to help you keep track

How can I get help with the costs of home adaptations?

The first step to find out if you're eligible for financial help with home adaptations or equipment is to get a care needs assessment. Your local council will send a social care professional to come to see you to find out how you're managing everyday tasks and assess your needs. They'll then advise on what support you need, including equipment and home adaptations that would make things easier for you. If you're considered 'eligible', the council has a duty to help you.

Following your care needs assessment, if the council recommends minor adaptations to your home or specialist disability equipment, these will be provided and fitted free of charge.

Find out more about getting help with the costs of home adaptations