THE CEDARSTEP GUIDE

Getting started with help at home

Start with the task that is difficult, ask for an assessment and find out what support is available before buying equipment.

You don't need to choose a product before asking for help. Start by describing what is difficult: stepping into the bath, carrying a drink, or getting up from the chair you normally use.

Start with a conversation

An occupational therapist (OT) looks at daily tasks and the home around you. NHS guidance on home adaptations explains the free council home assessment route in England. Services and funding arrangements differ across the UK; ask your local council, or health and social care trust in Northern Ireland, where to start.

Choose your next step

If you're helping someone else, ask what matters most to them. A change that looks useful on paper may get in the way of how they prefer to live.

Sources and further reading