Staying Independent: What to Do, in Order
Staying Independent: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
The practical measures that keep people living in their own homes safely. Most loss of independence follows a fall or an acute illness, both of which are substantially preventable.
Key takeaways
- Occupational therapy assessment: available via GP or local authority
- Equipment and adaptations: often funded by the local authority
- Most useful single change: Ask for an occupational therapy assessment before a crisis.
- Commonest mistake: Waiting for a fall before making adaptations.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Ask for an occupational therapy assessment before a crisis
- Fit grab rails, better lighting and remove trip hazards
- Keep eyes, feet, hearing and teeth maintained
- Keep strength and balance training going
Do not
- Waiting for a fall before making adaptations
- Loose rugs, trailing cables and poor stair lighting
- Declining help that would keep you at home longer
The numbers behind the list
Where the items above come from.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Occupational therapy assessment | available via GP or local authority |
| Equipment and adaptations | often funded by the local authority |
| Annual eye tests | free from 60 |
| Foot care | a common and underestimated cause of reduced mobility |
If you change one thing
Ask for an occupational therapy assessment before a crisis. That one first, and the others when you get to them.
Where to go next
- Staying Independent: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Understanding Staying Independent: A Plain-English Explainer
- Staying Independent — the reference entry
- Nutrition in Later Life: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- What the Guidance Really Says About Skin in Later Life
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP after any fall, even without injury. Seek prompt assessment for a sudden decline in ability to manage at home, new confusion, or unintentional weight loss — these usually indicate acute illness. Call 999 for a fall with head injury, especially while taking anticoagulants.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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