• Handy person scheme • Designated support workers
• If you feel under pressure to do so many things all at once, try stepping back for a moment, sit down and
Some housing has facilities such as a community room, guest room and laundry room. People can access sheltered housing by application to their local authority. To do this, people need to register with the online system and are then able to apply for a specific property that meets their needs. This is then awarded on a case-by-case basis.
prioritise the tasks so you can do them all safely and in an appropriate order. This will help stop you feeling overwhelmed too.
• If you are going somewhere new, research your journey, route and how long it will take, and this will help you feel less anxious if you think a trip is taking longer than you thought it would. Whilst payment cards and contact-less payment methods are usually accepted everywhere, securely keep a small amount of cash with you as a back-up. • Be alert to your surroundings, especially if somewhere new, and perhaps tell someone other than who you care for, where you are going and what time you expect to be home, so they can check in on you and make sure you are OK. Ageing/Frailty As you become older, you can become frailer. Frailty defines those older generations who are at greatest risk of falls, disability, fatigue, reduced muscle strength, going into hospital or needing long-term care. 10% of the population over the age of 65 live with some form of frailty and up to 50% of us over 85 years old. Signs you are becoming frail include loss of appetite, sudden reduction in your mobility, new or progressive confusion or changes in your continence. Becoming frailer may negatively impact your quality of life and result in unplanned hospital visits and stays or the need for long-term care for yourself. Such changes may affect your ability to care for others and your caring responsibilities, so it is important to remain alert to changes. Ageing well • When you are busy with caring responsibilities it can be a difficult and a challenge to recognise and accept that you might need some support as well. There is no shame in this at all and we all need help and support from time to time. • Be aware of yourself and remain alert for any changes in your condition and
www.northnorthants.gov.uk/council-housing/sheltered-housing
www.westnorthants.gov.uk/housing-choices-later-life/older-persons-housing
Promoting Healthy Ageing www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/mind-body/ageing- better/ Keeping yourself safe When you care for others, sometimes you can be so focused on your caring responsibilities that, through no fault of your own, you might not be as alert when keeping yourself safe. Stress, depression and lack of sleep caused by caring for others can also reduce your awareness of your own personal safety. Taking on too many tasks at any one time can mean you inadvertently take less care than you usually would when doing something. When you are caring for someone, you might be administering their medication so ensure that everything is clearly labelled with the correct required dosage. If you are out and about, you might rush what you are doing as you feel a sense of urgency to get back to your caring responsibilities. Keep yourself and those you care for safe • Try to ensure you get plenty of rest and sleep, so you are alert to your surroundings and potential hazards. • Plan your routine and day so you do not have anything unexpected happen that could affect your routine and safety, and that of who you care for.
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