Help in your home and community

Staying independent is the best way to stay healthy whether you have care needs, a disability or need support into older age.

It is important that you can continue to lead an active and fulfilling lifestyle, while remaining safe and secure in your own home, whatever your care needs are. Having access to the right local services, support, equipment and technology when you need them can help you to achieve this.

What is assistive technology and how can it help me?

Assistive technology (also known as telecare) is a range of equipment and services that support your safety and independence in your own home.

Why not visit the Smart Flat for more information -

Carecall
The council’s personal alarm service, Carecall, can help you to live independently at home. It ensures people can get help as quickly as possible in case of an emergency. By pressing a button (worn as a pendant or on your wrist) you can trigger an alarm that will contact the Carecall control centre 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Carecall alarms can cost as little as £3.50 per week.

You can contact Carecall directly to request an alarm on 01925 458000 or by email ccontrolcentre@warrington.gov.uk.

Telecare
Telecare is a range of equipment and services that support your safety and independence in your own home. The equipment can sense risks such as smoke, floods and gas leaks, can remind you to take pills and even call for help if you fall. You can view a range of telecare equipment locally at the Centre for Independent Living.  For independent advice on telecare, see the WHICH? Guide to telecare services.  

If you need more information, a number of local services and suppliers of assistive technology are available.

"Why not visit the Smart Flat?"

A joint venture between Warrington Disability Partnership and the Council, sees Warrington’s first Smart Flat open at the Centre for Independent Living. The Smart Flat showcases a range of innovative technology to support people with adult social care needs including technology to monitor movement, improve security around the home, help stimulate appetite, support with taking medication, helping to remain composed and much more.

The majority of the new technology is taken from the domestic technology market and wouldn’t be seen out of place in any ordinary home. By applying this new technology to an adult social care setting we are opening up new opportunities to support clients, increase wellbeing and improve independence. The majority of this new technology is available to purchase direct from the supplier or high-street retailers at affordable prices.

Staff at the Smart Flat will be able to talk you through the equipment best suited to meeting your needs and will be able to help advise on where the equipment and technology can be purchased from or they will refer you to the council if further support is needed. The Smart Flat is open to the public on an appointment basis. Call 01925 240464 to make an appointment to view the range of technology. The Smart Flat is located at the Centre for Independent Living, Beaufort Street, Sankey Bridges, Warrington. 

Why not visit the Smart Flat for more information

What is care in your own home?

What is care in your own home?

Remaining in your own home can be challenging if you have additional needs, you are getting older, or you've found yourself at home after an unexpected illness or accident.

Home care (sometimes called domiciliary care) is when care workers come into your home to help you with agreed tasks. This may be things like help with taking medication, washing, bathing, dressing, toileting needs, cleaning, tidying, cooking and shopping - different agencies offer different services.

All home care providers are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC is a national organisation that inspects and monitors care service providers. You can view all registered care providers’ inspection reports on the CQC website. 

If you think you need help with care in your own home, you can arrange services yourself. However, if you have eligible care and support needs you can ask for an assessment by a social care worker, who may be able to plan and arrange services on your behalf. A social worker will also be able to suggest ways to reduce or delay your need for care and support services. Please contact Warrington Borough Council’s Adult Social Care First Response team to discuss or arrange an assessment.

Find different home care providers and their contact details.

Will I have to pay for my care and support services?

Depending on your financial situation, if you are eligible for care and support services, you may be asked to pay all or part of the cost of your care and support services. More information about paying for care services is provided in related advice below.

Find out how much you may have to pay

Our online calculator can help you to find out how much you may need to pay towards your care based on your income, savings and expenses.

Further Information:

Care Choices - Care in your own home

Which? - What is domiciliary care?

Age UK - How to find the help you need at home

NHS Choices – Help at home from a carer

Which? – Questions to ask a home care agency

CQC - What you can expect from a good home care agency?

What home adaptations and equipment are available to me?

There is a range of equipment available and adaptations to your home which can be made, to help you remain in your own home.  A lot of equipment is widely available both on the high street and online (e.g. Amazon, Argos, B&Q or local chemist shops) or in specialist shops (e.g. Miller Care). The Centre for Independent Living (CIL) in Warrington also provides advice and supplies equipment that you can try before buying. 

Why not visit the Smart Flat for mor information -  

Equipment to assist with daily living
Equipment to assist with daily activities can be any piece of equipment which will help to maintain your independence and promote your wellbeing. There are items of equipment available to assist with things like bathing, cooking and getting around both indoors and outside.

Minor adaptations
Minor adaptations are physical changes to your home which cost less than £1,000. They can include things like grab rails, half steps, lever taps and more.

Major adaptations
If, because of a medical condition or physical disability, you are having difficulty getting in and out of your home, or you are having trouble getting to and from essential facilities such as your bedroom or bathroom, a major adaptation may help you to remain independent and safe at home.  For example:

  • Fitting a ramp, if you are a wheelchair user, to enable you to get in and out of your home
  • Fitting a stair lift, if you aren’t able to manage the stairs, so that you can get to your bedroom and bathroom.
  • Adapting your home so you only need to live downstairs  
  • Adapting your bathroom or kitchen to enable you to use these safely and as independently as possible

Disabled Facilities Grants
You may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) if you’re disabled and you need to make changes to your home to help you live independently. Grants are means tested and therefore targeted at people on low incomes. Find out more about Disabled Facilities Grants, the application process, low cost loans, adaptations loan and relocation loans here.

If you need more information, a number of local services and suppliers of equipment and technology are available.

Needing more help at home

Care in your own home – Care can be provided in your own home through a registered care agency or a personal assistant. You can find details on carers, including how much you may need to pay towards your care, on mylifewarrington.co.uk Local care agencies are listed in the phone book or search mylifewarrington.co.uk

Warrington Disability Partnership – a local user led charity who can help you with mobility and independent living services that enable people living with long term health conditions to live as independently as possible. 01925 240064

WHIA - an advisory service for older, disabled or vulnerable people and families on low incomes who own their own homes or live in private rented accommodation and wish to repair, improve or adapt their homes. 01925 246810 or email  whia@wha.org.uk

The Smart Flat – Run by Warrington Disability Partnership, is a showroom of practical gadgets and equipment that could improve your quality of life and help you to be independent at home for longer. Book your visit by calling 01925 240064

Carecall – the council’s 24 community alarm service which enables residents to maintain freedom of independence in their own home. The service also includes an out of hours Response Service. 01925 458000

Support for Carers

WIRED Warrington Carers Centre – A local Carers service offering support and advice to carers of all ages. A carer is someone who looks after someone, often a family member affected by illness or disability

Staying Connected

Age UK (ageuk.org.uk) – a national charity set up to provide support and advice specific to older people. They can support with advice about money, housing, wills and trusted tradespeople. - 0800 055 6112

Independent Age (independentage.org) – a national charity set up to provide support and advice to older people who want to remain independent on their own terms. 0800 3196789

The Silver Line – a free confidential helpline providing information, friendship, loneliness and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 0800 470 8090

AccessAble - a national disability organisation providing accessibility guides to take the chance out of going out.  Guides are available free at Access-Able.co.uk and on the AccessAble App.

Can I have help with home and garden maintenance?

Home maintenance
You may need access to a range of trades-people including plumbers, joiners, roofers, builders, gas engineers, plasterers, locksmiths, window fitters, electricians, and painters and decorators.

Warrington Home Improvement Agency
Warrington Home Improvement Agency can provide minor adjustments, repairs or improvements to make homes safe and secure. They can also provide the provision of a Handyperson to complete health and safety related repairs and to supply and fit minor adaptations. This service is for elderly, disabled or vulnerable people, and families on low incomes who own their own homes or live in private rented accommodation and wish to repair, improve or adapt their homes.

Gardening services
Do you find it difficult to keep on top of gardening chores? If so, there are many services which can offer:

  • Grass cutting
  • Tree surgery and felling
  • Hedge trimming
  • Fencing

Find home and garden maintenance services.

Can I have help with meal preparation and delivery?

Meal preparation and delivery
If you are havening difficulty making your own meals at home, you can have meals delivered or pay for help with meal preparation.

  • Delivered frozen meals – there are services which will deliver to your door and unpack frozen ready meals and desserts.
  • Supermarket frozen and fresh meals – supermarkets will deliver frozen ready meals, fresh ready meals, groceries and other products. A delivery charge and minimum order delivery will apply for supermarkets.
  • Assistance with shopping / shopping deliver services – there are services that can assist you with your shopping if you are able to prepare your own meals but are unable to go to the shop.
  • Assistance with meal preparation – you could think about getting a carer who can visit you at home. They can help with cooking, shopping, tidying and cleaning.

Find meal preparation and delivery services.

In the kitchen – home adaptations and equipment
Depending on what difficulties you are having, you might find that there is equipment that can help you with tasks in the kitchen. For example:

  • If you find lifting pans difficult, then it may be worth buying smaller versions or using a cooking basket (like the baskets in chip pans) so you don't have to lift a heavy pan of boiling water.
  • A small jug / travel kettle may be easier to manage than a full size kettle.
  • Cutlery with larger / padded handles can be easier to hold and control if you have difficulties with your hands and grip.
  • Spreader boards, vegetable preparation stations, cutlery and can openers are available that you can use with one hand.
  • You can rest on a perching stool while preparing food, cooking or washing up so you don’t have to stand all the time, this can make kitchen jobs less tiring.
  • A ’helping hand’ or grab stick can be useful to assist with reaching higher or lower cupboards, etc. This reduces the need to bend or reach and can therefore reduce the risk of falls.


Equipment to help with managing day to day tasks is now much more widely available both on the high street (e.g. Argos, B&Q or local chemists) and in specialist shops (e.g. Millercare). The Centre for Independent Living (CIL) in Warrington also provides advice and supply equipment that you can try before buying.

Can I get help with personal care and hygiene?

Personal care is a broad term used to refer to supporting with personal hygiene and toileting needs, along with dressing and maintaining your personal appearance.

You could get help with personal care when you access home care (sometimes called domiciliary care), where care workers come into your home to help you with agreed tasks.

It can cover, but is not limited to:

  • Bathing and showering, including bed-baths
  • Applying lotions and creams as required
  • Dressing and getting ready for bed
  • Oral hygiene
  • Hair care
  • Support with shaving
  • Helping you to the toilet, including use a commode or bed pan
  • Changing continence pages, along with cleaning intimate areas
  • Support moving position in bed, to stretch and prevent bed sores
  • Changing or maintaining a stoma or catheter bag, or other forms of clinical intervention

All organizations which provide personal care are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC is a national organisation that inspects and monitors care service providers. You can view all registered care providers’ inspection reports on the CQC website. 

If you think you need help with personal care and hygiene, you can arrange services yourself. However, if you have eligible care and support needs, you can ask for an assessment by a social care worker, who may be able to plan and arrange services on your behalf. A social worker may also be able to suggest ways to reduce or delay your need for long-term care and support services. Please contact Warrington Borough Council’s Adult Social Care First Response team to discuss or arrange an assessment.

Find different personal care home care providers and their contact details

Can I get help with caring for my pet?

You must make sure that any animal you own or care for:

  • Has a proper diet and fresh water
  • Has somewhere suitable to live
  • Is kept with or away from other animals, depending on its needs
  • Is allowed to express itself and behave normally
  • Is protected from, and treated for, illness and injury.

There are services and volunteers available who will help owners and assist with dog walking, vet trips, cleaning litter trays and generally giving peace of mind regarding the care of their pet.

There are also services available that will arrange short term foster care of pets when an owner has to go into hospital, and services that work to keep elderly owners and those in final stages of a terminal illness together with their pet.

Find pet related services.

What daytime activities are available?

Remaining socially active and taking part in activities that you enjoy are a good way to stay healthy whether you have care needs, a disability or need support into older age. There are a range of services that can help you to get out and about and be part of your local community.

Find further information on the different types of daytime activities available.

Care Cost Calculator

The calculator will tell you how much you may need to contribute towards your care costs.

If you, or someone you know, need care, it is useful to get an idea of what the costs could be if it is arranged by the council.

The calculator will give you an estimated amount that you may need to pay towards long-term residential care, care in your home or a short stay in a residential home (respite).

It is a free, confidential and easy-to-use tool. It can take as little as 10 minutes to complete, depending on the level of detail you give. Only you will see your results, they will not be shared with anyone else.

Try to give as much information as you can; so that you get the most accurate result possible. Before you start you may find it useful to get together documents related to:

  • Your income, from your pensions and benefits.
  • Your savings and investments, such as ISAs and shares.
  • Your essential bills and spending, for example your council tax, rent and mortgage.

Care cost calculator