Keeping older people safe and well at home
These resources have been developed to help keep older people safe at home by reducing deconditioning and falls hazards, supporting people with conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's, and improving overall wellbeing to help to keep their minds and bodies active.
This is particularly relevant for shielding and isolated older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also applies more generally to older people who live without assistance in their own homes and might be exposed to other risk factors or hazards.
Keeping Well at Home Guide
| Keeping Well at Home |
Patient home environment checklist
This checklist has been developed by Sussex Health and Care Partnership for older people to help identify and address potential falls hazards in their homes.
| Patient Home Environment Checklist |
Activities for Older Adults During COVID-19
This resource has been compiled by the Health Innovation Network (HIN), the Academic Health Science Network for South London, to support the provision of activities in older adult inpatient settings and care homes during the national response to COVID-19.
Staying well at home
Discharge of patients at risk from inactivity
The resources have been developed by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) for people with mobility difficulties to build activity into their day at home.
| Resources to support discharge of patients at risk from inactivity |
Staying well with dementia during the COVID-19 outbreak
Developed by the IDEAL project, these leaflets contain simple tips for people living with dementia and their families and carers on staying safe and well during the COVID-19 outbreak.
| How to stay well during the coronavirus outbreak: 5 key messages for people living with dementia and carers |
Supporting people with dementia during COVID-19
This booklet on supporting carers and care staff to understand and respond to changes in behaviour in people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic was written by Dr Frances Duffy, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Jill Richardson, Associate Psychologist from CLEAR Dementia Care and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NI).
George's Race: Stay strong, stay steady
A short illustrated story about a cross-generational falls strategy featuring George (who is 79-and-a-quarter) and his granddaughter Martha (who is 7-and-a-half). It was written by physiotherapist Oli Williams.
Health and wellbeing at home
| Health and wellbeing at home: Advice and resources for everyone spending more time indoors |
Active at home
| Active at home |
Later life training videos
Aims to provide specialist, evidence based, effective exercise training for health and exercise professionals working with older people, frailer older people and stroke survivors.
| Later life training on YouTube |
10 Today - Physical activity for older people
Keep On Keep Up (KOKU)
HowFit
HowFit is an innovative fitness plan conceived by North Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) designed to help people of all ages to get fit in their own homes. The programme encourages users of any ability to undertake a plan of simple exercises arranged in three levels progressing from chair-based to push-ups. These exercises can be carried out at home without the need for special equipment. It suggests exercises focusing on mobility, stability, balance, co-ordination, strength and cardiovascular health, with three difficulty levels to choose from.
| HowFit |
Strength and Balance Exercises
A programme of strength and balance exercises with demonstration videos, plus a self-check online tool from NHS Inform (Scotland).
| Strength and balance exercises from NHS Inform |
Falls Assistant
Falls Assistant is a falls prevention and self-management tool specifically designed and created to help prevent falls, keep people steady on their feet and stay as independent as possible. It enables older people, their carers and family members to assess their own falls risk, and then provides tailored advice that will give them a plan to reduce their future risk of falls and fractures. This resource has been developed by NHS 24’s Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare (SCTT) as part of the European SmartCare programme.
It includes information on falls, falls assessment, an exercise centre with downloadable customised plans, as well as advice and information.
| Falls Assistant |