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For example, you might need help with cleaning or would find it useful if you had a bath rail fitted. You may be entitled to financial help to maintain your own home.

Health and social care assessments

To find out what sort of help you could get you will need to have a health and social care assessment from your local social services team. This is your opportunity to tell social services what will make your everyday life easier.

You may also be entitled to 'direct payments'. These are local council payments available for anyone who has been assessed as needing help from social services, and who would like to buy in services instead of receiving them from the local council. For example, direct payments could be used to pay a home help.

• Direct payments - arranging your own care and services (disabled people section)

Health and social care assessments in your local area

You can find out about health and social care assessments in your local area and you may be able to apply for one online. The following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website.

• Find out about health and social care assessments in your local area Opens new window

Care in your own home

Care in your own home is offered to people who require assistance with personal care such as washing or dressing, or other practical daily tasks such as help with domestic chores like cooking and cleaning, or in some instances, help in managing finances.

You can find out about home care in your local area. The following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website.

• Find out about care in your own home Opens new window

Making your home easier to live in

You may find making adaptations to your home – like adding hand rails, draught excluders or bath hoists – useful. You can get advice from your local social services department and, in some cases, receive financial assistance to alter your home.

Often local authorities have agreements with 'home improvement agencies' to carry out the work.

• Home and housing options (disabled people section)

Employing a carer or personal assistant

If you're looking for a care worker to help you live independently at home, you may get one through your local social services department or a home care agency or you may choose to employ someone directly.

• Employing a professional carer or personal assistant (disabled people section)

Shopping and home deliveries

If shopping is difficult at times, you might want to consider internet shopping. Some supermarkets and shops deliver shopping to your door.

Warm Front scheme and other support

You may be able to get financial help to warm your home. This may include:

You may also get financial help such as Winter Fuel Payment or Cold Weather Payment.

• Help with heating your home
• Financial support in retirement (money, tax and benefits section)

Support when you are caring for someone

If you are a carer you may benefit from getting some help at home. Perhaps it would be useful if the person you care for visited a day centre for a few hours to let you have some personal time. You may also benefit from some home help like cleaning.

• Support services (caring for someone section)

More useful links

• Keeping mobile and preventing falls
• Meals at home services (home and community section)
• Find out about community alarm services locally Opens new window