When supporting someone who is older and frail, there may be equipment and technology which could help them to continue living independently at home for longer. This might include tools which help them to do daily tasks independently or to stay safe. This can help bring you peace of mind as a carer and even make some of your daily tasks easier too.
Adults who are older and frail can often find it more challenging to walk for long periods of time. This can be due to fatigue, pain or difficulties with balance. Equipment such walking sticks, walking frames and rollators can all be used to help someone move around more easily and safely. If supporting someone who has reduced mobility or is recovering from an injury, it can be worth exploring whether a walking aid would be useful. Long term, walking aids can help someone to continue to be mobile for longer as they can offer stability, help to reduce pain in specific joints and increase confidence in those who are concerned about falls. Everyone is individual and will have different needs, so it’s best to explore what would be most useful and when to avoid reducing someone’s mobility long term.
Before getting any of the equipment we mention below, it can be worth talking to an occupational therapist. They are experts in supporting people to be as active and safe as possible. To decide what support would best help the person you care for, they will often carry out an occupational therapy assessment. This may be carried out at the same time as a care needs assessment.
In order to speak to an occupational therapist about the person you care for, you may need to speak to their GP about a referral. Alternatively, a social worker, nurse or other health care professional can also refer someone to an occupational therapist. You can find out more about ‘Occupational Therapy Assessments’ on our website.
When supporting someone who is older and frail to live independently at home, it can be incredibly important to take steps to help them prevent trips and falls. Equipment such as grab rails and hand rails can help to steady someone when going up and down steps as well as getting in and out of the bath, shower, bed or chair. These can help someone to maintain their balance and move around more confidently, reducing the likelihood of a fall.
Equipment can also be installed to remove the need for someone to go up and down steps entirely, such as ramps and stairlifts. This can help to avoid trips and slips on the stairs whilst allowing someone to continue to access all areas of their home. These can be particularly useful if someone relies on a wheelchair or walking frame.
It can also be useful to have tools and strategies to help someone if a fall occurs. Many older adults who are concerned about falls find it helpful to have a system in place for if they do experience a fall. For example, some have call alarms which they wear around their neck or pull chords in their home which will trigger an alarm when activated. Others also use fall alarms which have in-built sensors that call for assistance if the person wearing it falls. This can be a specialist fall alarm but some apple watches and other technology now have this function too.
Alongside installing or introducing new equipment, there are a number of small changes which can be made at home to help prevent or manage falls including:
- Ensuring that all walkways are clear – this may mean relocating furniture and removing mats
- Increase the lighting in hallways and rooms
- Relocating items in the kitchen to reduce the amount of movement between appliances (e.g. kettle near the sink)
For more information read our guide ‘Preventing and managing falls when supporting someone who is older and frail’ above.
Furniture can also be used to support an older adult to live more independently. Depending on the type of furniture, it can sometimes be accessed through an occupational therapist but many can be bought from a retailer.
There are a number of ways to access, hire or purchase equipment for those who many benefit from support to move around. Healthcare providers such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists and district nurses sometimes have access equipment or can signpost individuals to organisations and charities who provide equipment locally. For example, the British Red Cross hire out wheelchairs. Read more about mobility equipment in our guide ‘Equipment and assistive aids to help the person you care for’.
Voice activated technology has also been a valuable tool for older adults who can ask Alexa, Siri, Google or similar to call a family member or friend. This allows them to get in touch with someone quickly if they have fallen. For carers, this can bring peace of mind, especially if you are caring for them at a distance.
If the person you care for lives alone, a key safe which is installed outside of their home can be incredibly useful as it enables outside support to get into the home should a fall occur and they are unable to come to the door.
Furniture can also be used to support an older adult to live more independently. Depending on the type of furniture, it can sometimes be accessed through an occupational therapist but many can be bought from a retailer.
For many older adults who struggle with their mobility, an electric bed can be hugely beneficial. Electric beds are adjustable so they can reposition people from laying to sitting, helping them to get in or out of bed more easily. If an older adult is bedbound, an electric bed can also be useful to help look after someone’s physical health including raising their legs to improve circulation, adjusting their height to enable a carer to clean or dress them more easily and move them within the bed to reduce bed sores.
Rise and recline chairs are an electric arm chair which is designed to support someone with limited mobility to sit, lay and stand safely. They can be made to measure and adapted to ensure that someone is comfortable and supported whilst in their chair when sat for long periods of time.
For some older adults, getting to the toilet in another part of the house can be challenging. Equipment such as commodes can be a safer alternative to rushing to the bathroom. Commodes come in a range of styles, and can be discreet for those who would benefit from a commode in their living room or communal space. These may be available through the GP, a continence nurse or social worker.
If looking to buy these types of items, there might be some financial support available to help. For example, you may be able to apply for financial support from your local council or apply for a grant.
Sometimes, home adaptations can be made to enable someone to continue to live at home independently. This might be:
- installing a wet room
- widening doorframes for easy wheelchair access
- lowering kitchen worktops and tables so they can be used when sitting down
- having a side-opening or battery-powered bath lift
- installing a stair lift
These are significant changes to someone’s home and so it is important that, when exploring these types of changes that
- it is the most suitable adaptation for the individual long term
- the changes are within budget or there financial support to help
- it does negatively affect anyone else living in the home
- the impact of structural changes and building works in the home
It is therefore important to seek advice from an occupational therapist, other health professionals and specialists in home adaptations to understand the options available for you and the person you care for. Sometimes it’s possible to get financial help for these adaptations. That might be, for example, through your local authority or by applying for a charitable grant. Take a read of our guide to ‘Financial support for home adaptations’.
Sometimes small adjustments, like using wide-handled cutlery, can make everyday tasks much more manageable. Just some of the kitchen tools and appliances that could help the person you care for include:
- non-slip worktop mats
- wide-handled cutlery
- one-cup kettle
- jar and bottle grip opener
- double-handed mug or mug with a lid
- kettle tipper (a frame that lets you tip a jug kettle without having to lift it).
These tools and appliances are widely available online but can also be found in mobility high street shops.
Assistive technology can be used to help older adults in their home too, from keeping people safe to taking their medication. Lots of these devices can be especially reassuring if you are caring from a distance.
- Video doorbells: Being able to see who is at the door before opening it can help the person you care for to feel safer at home.
- Motion-sensor lights: These plug-in lights turn on automatically when someone walks past and can be useful for night-time trips to the bathroom.
- Virtual assistants: (like Amazon’s Alexa): These voice-activated devices can be programmed to give reminders, such as when to take medication. They can be used for lots of other tasks, including making phone calls, acting as an intercom between different rooms, and playing music.
- Wearable technology: Some wearable technology can have features which can be used to detect falls and locate adults who can become disorientated when walking out and about.
You can read more articles on ‘Caring for someone who is older and frail’ here.
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