Assistance for those now living alone having lost their loved one/partner

When your partner, spouse or civil partner passes away you may need additional help around the home or you may need to look into other living arrangements.

Community Alarms and Telecare Services

If you are worried about having an accident or falling ill while you are in your own home alone, community alarms provide emergency access that is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The community alarm is connected to your telephone line and can be activated via a pendant worn around the neck or a wrist band. They provide reassurance to your family and friends that help, if needed, is only a touch of a button away.

Telecare systems are a range of simple sensors that either raise an alarm or act as a reminder to help to keep you safe and independent in your own home, they include items such as: door sensors, movement sensors, medication reminders and smoke, gas or flood detectors. The housing department of your local council, Age UK and private companies provide this valuable service.

Home Care Agencies

Home care agencies are committed to supporting families to ensure their loved ones can continue to live independently in the comfort of their own home whilst being kept safe and looked after properly. They tend to provide flexible support when required, whether this is for short time periods or 24 hour live-in care. Home care can also help clients with day to day activities such as washing, dressing and cooking.

Meals on Wheels

Many Meals on Wheels services have now been disbanded or contracted out to private companies due to funding cuts. There may be a number of private companies locally that offer either a hot meal delivery service or frozen meals. Details will be available by searching online, through your local authority, and in directories such as the Yellow Pages.

Go to www.gov.uk where you can search your postcode to see if the service is available in your area. You might also consider contacting voluntary organisations such as the WRVS (See Useful Contacts/Organisations section).

Care Homes

Sometimes people are unable to stay in their own home and a care home is the best option for them to ensure they receive the required and sufficient care. Care homes provide a safe environment for residents to live. Although leaving your own home to live in a care home can be very daunting, there are many positives to living in a care home.

There are staff available 24 hours a day to provide you with the reassurance you need, it is a safe place to live and most care homes allow residents to personalise their rooms with furniture, pictures and ornaments. There can be care homes which specialise in care for certain illnesses.