Most people over the age of 85 are able to remain living independently in their own homes in Peterborough.
There are lots of things you can do remain living independently in the community for as long as possible. This page provides details of support that is available to help you do this.
Many people move to a more suitable home as they get older, so they are able to stay independent for life. You can find out more on the Housing Options page.
The Peterborough City Council Home Service Delivery Team brings together teams across Adult Social Care and Housing. It focuses on keeping you living safely and independently in your home for as long as possible. The team provides a ‘one stop shop’ approach which looks at your ability to carry out activities of daily living and your physical home environment. The service brings together:
You can find out more about the team on the Home Service Delivery Team information sheet.
Most people want to stay independent in their own home for as long as possible. You can do this by:
Find out lots of useful tips on staying warn this winter on our new page:
If you, or someone you know, struggles with everyday tasks, there might be gadgets or equipment to help make life easier. This might be equipment, adaptations, occupational therapy or Technology Enabled Care.
You can find out more on the Equipment and Living Aids page.
Reablement is a programme of short term support tailored to your individual needs, to help you (re)learn the skills needed for daily living and reduce the amount of care and support you need. Reablement is about helping people to do things for themselves rather than having things done for them. Reablement programmes can last from as little as a few days to a maximum of six weeks.
Find out more on the Reablement page.
Doing the right type of strengthening exercises is important. For older people, ‘strength and balance exercises’, which strengthen the muscles in the legs and improve balance and co-ordination, have been specifically proven to help people stay strong and steady.
Simple strength and balance exercises twice a week are a proven way to keep you stronger for longer, independent and enjoying the great things in life. You can do the exercises yourself at home. Find out more on the Stay Stronger for Longer page.
You could think about employing a local cleaner, gardener or handyperson but make sure that they are reliable and trusted.
Home care agencies don't just provide personal care services. For a fee, they can also help with domestic chores, even if you don't need personal support. You can find local care providers in the Peterborough Guide to Independent Living.
The Handy Person scheme offers assistance to households solely occupied by vulnerable, older and/or disabled residents. This service is to maintain, repair and to assist people to continue to live independently in their home and is mainly for small non-urgent repairs. Find out more on the Care and Repair page.
Age UK also has a homes and gardens service, providing help with household tasks and housework.
There are tools, equipment and organisations which can make meal times easier. You can get groceries delivered directly to your house, or use a meal delivery service (often known as meals on wheels).
There is equipment which can help with food preparation, making it easier to grip or prepare food with one hand. Daily living aids which can make eating and drinking easier.
You might want to find lunch clubs where you can meet other people, or find someone who can help you with food and meal times.
If you need help with opening containers, using utensils or food preparation, there is a range of equipment which can help. This includes:
There are daily living aids which can help to make eating and drinking easier. These include:
You can buy these from various places - some are available at high street kitchenware stores. Specialist retailers, including Safe and Well below, have a wider range, and allow you to order online or over the phone. You can also buy many items from large internet retailers.
The Safe and Well website has information on products which can help you to live independently. There are 2,500 products which you can buy online, by mail order or over the phone.
Supermarkets - All of the big supermarkets offer online delivery. Some also offer a telephone delivery service for those who are unable to shop online. Please contact your local supermarkets direct to find out if they offer this service.
Fresh or frozen ready meals - specialised frozen food delivery services such as Oakhouse Foods and Wiltshire Farm Foods deliver across the country. They can cater for special diets and take orders by telephone.
Hot meal delivery - also known as 'meals on wheels', there are providers that will deliver a hot meal to you. In Peterborough you can purchase hot and frozen meals from icare cusiine.
Lunch clubs - These bring groups of people together - often older people - to socialise and enjoy a nutritious meal.
Employing someone to prepare lunch for you - you may be able to use a home care organisation to employ someone to help you with meal times. You can find more information about organising home care and a list of care agencies in the Peterborough Guide to Independent Living from Care Choices .
Food banks - Food banks provide emergency food supplies for people in crisis. You may need a foodbank voucher - contact the foodbank for more information. You can visit the Foodbank website here.
There are lots of potential hazards in our homes but if you're aware of the danger areas and unsafe habits, you are more likely to be able to keep yourself safe. There are preventive measures you can take and sources of help and advice.
More accidents take place in the home than anywhere else, particularly in the kitchen and on the stairs. It’s important to keep your home well-lit and clutter free to avoid falls.
To ensure you remain safe at home, you may like to think about some of the preventative measures such as:
You can find out more on our Staying Safe web page.
Peterborough’s new Safe+Well Service, provided by NRS Healthcare, supports local residents who may be older, disabled, recently discharged from hospital (or caring for someone that is) to find ‘daily living aids’ to help with everyday activities and stay independent.
Contact Safe+Well on 01480 415719 or for more information or visit the Safe+Well webpage.
The Guide to Independent Living on the Care Choices website has lots of information on care and support options.
If you are unable to download the guide in PDF format or read it as an eBook, please contact us by calling 01733 747474 or using the contact form from Care Choices so a copy can be sent to you.
Many people are able to stay safe, well and independent without needing personal care. We recommend that you explore options such as equipment and technology and community help listed on this page first.
If you have tried other ways to stay independent and still need further support, the first step is to contact us for a conversation. We may suggest that you have a care needs assessment.
A social care assessment looks at your strengths and your needs and identifies what support you need.
This includes information and advice to help you remain independent for as long as possible, and care and support for those with the highest levels of need.
You can find out more on our Adult Social Care Assessment and Care and Support Planning page.
On the Adults Information Sheets page you can find the following Fact Sheets:
Home Services Delivery Team
Reablement
Assessment and Eligibility
Planning for your care and support
What happens if you need care and support when you leave hospital?
How to make a compliment, comment or complaint about Adult Social Care
If you need to contact Adult Social Care please:
Complete our online form
Tel: Adult Social Care: 01733 747474
Email: adultsocialcare@peterborough.gov.uk
Postal address:
Peterborough City Council
Sand Martin House
Bittern Way
Fletton Quays
Peterborough
PE2 8TY