If you need help with meals

Family, friends and neighbours can often provide short-term help. You can buy ready meals from supermarkets which, in many cases, can be ordered online and delivered to you. See page 7 for more information about getting online.

You can also buy hot, chilled and frozen meals from a range of Gloucestershire providers. There are activities like lunch clubs that you can attend where

Occupational therapy

The main purpose of occupational therapy is to promote health and wellbeing by ‘doing’ an activity. Occupational therapists (OTs) will empower you to carry out everyday tasks with more confidence and independence to improve your health, quality of life and wellbeing. OTs will look at a range of ways to do this, including rehabilitation and practical support.

If you, or a member of your family, are having difficulty getting around your home due to a physical disability, sensory impairment or becoming

Assistive technology or Telecare

Equipment that helps you live independently at home. This includes fall detectors, bed and chair sensors, movement sensors, smoke and heat detectors and medication prompting devices. Some sensors can be worn as pendants or wristbands, and some are fitted around the home.

The equipment can automatically alert a monitoring centre if an alarm is raised. It can also be used to alert an on-site carer or family member via a pager system. These gadgets can help you: meals are provided. In some circumstances, the council may arrange subsidised community meals for you. This is usually a short-term arrangement while you recover from an illness or setback. older, you can request an occupational therapy (OT) assessment to assess your needs which may result in suggesting different techniques, advice or provision of equipment or adaptations to enable you to live independently.

• Feel safer and more confident at home.

• Ensure help is called quickly in the event of an emergency in the home or out and about.

• Maintain independence with daily tasks like cooking.

• Give reassurance and peace of mind to your family or carer.

• Reduce the likelihood of hospital admission.

• Reduce the need for domiciliary care or going into a care home.

For more information about where to get meals, and the criteria for subsidised community meals, visit www.yourcircle.org.uk and search ‘community meals’ or ‘lunch clubs’.

To request an assessment, contact the Adult Social Care Helpdesk. See page 32 or use the online enquiry form. Alternatively, visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk (search ‘adapting your home’).

Telecare sensors can automatically detect potential emergencies at home including:

• Falls.

• Wandering.

• Medication mismanagement.

• Fire.

• Flooding.

• Carbon monoxide.

Who can Telecare help?

Telecare can help people with physical disabilities, memory issues, learning disabilities, mental health conditions and older people who would not be able to use a phone or link-line to call for help.

To find out more, visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/telecare

The assistive technology checklist on page 35 may help if you’re thinking of buying equipment.