Staying independent | Connect to Support

Independence at home

Supporting people to remain independent at home is vital for their wellbeing, confidence, and overall quality of life.

Sometimes we all need a little bit of help around the home or reassurance with daily tasks. In this section we bring together useful information, advice and guidance to support you with your independence. Be this finding out about how a smart watch might act as a falls detector, to places where you can have a small home adaptation fitted professionally,

Technology to help in the home

Technology can play a vital role in helping older people and people with disabilities live safely and independently at home.

Services such as Kent’s Technology Enhanced Lives Service (TELS) use simple, discreet tools, like smart watches, sensors, alert devices, and activity‑monitoring systems, to provide 24/7 reassurance, support daily living, and give peace of mind to families and carers.

These solutions are tailored to each person’s needs and can help with everything from fall detection to staying connected and confident in the home.

Alongside this, wider digital support initiatives such as Digital Kent and accessible communication tools like Teacher in Your Pocket help people build digital skills and stay safe, informed, and engaged in their communities, ensuring technology truly enhances independence and wellbeing.

Take a look at our Technology House to see what is available in the home and while out and about.

Adaptations to the home

There are a wide range of adaptations which can made to the home to help you stay independent, safe and comfortable. Adaptations can be small, such as grab rails, raised toilet seats, or outdoor lights, or more significant changes like stairlifts, widened doorways, walk‑in showers and ramps, depending on individual needs.

These changes are usually identified through a home assessment carried out by an occupational therapist, who will look at what tasks are difficult and recommend solutions. In many cases, minor adaptations can be provided free following an care assessment, while larger works may be funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant, which helps people access essential facilities and move around their home more easily.

These practical changes can significantly improve day‑to‑day independence and reduce the risk of falls or hospital admission, helping people remain confidently in the home they know and value. Visit The equipment house to see how equipment could you aid you at home.

Supporting you at home

Having support at home can make a significant difference to one’s quality of life, particularly when it comes to personal care and everyday household tasks.

Assistance with personal care, such as washing, dressing, or mobility, provides comfort and dignity, ensuring that individuals can maintain their independence in familiar surroundings. Help with household chores, whether it’s preparing meals, cleaning, or managing laundry, relieves stress and enables a safer, more organised living environment.

The reassurance of knowing that capable support is available not only benefits the individual receiving care, but also offers peace of mind to family members and loved ones.

Find out more about homecare services on our information pages. You can find home care services in Kent on the Kent Care Directory provided by Care Choices.

Concerned about returning home after a short stay in hospital? Kent Enablement at Home is a short intensive service provided for people who are assessed as needing practical support to learn or relearn skills after an illness or hospital discharge. The service is provided by the county council.

Being independent in the community

The Blue Badge Scheme, often referred to as a Disabled Parking Badge, helps people with significant mobility difficulties park closer to their destination, making it easier to access shops, healthcare, community spaces and essential services. It’s a national scheme run by the Department for Transport, with local authorities such as Kent County Council responsible for assessing eligibility.

The scheme supports people whose mobility, sensory, cognitive, or psychological needs make walking difficult, including those with hidden disabilities.

Eligibility can be automatic through certain benefits or determined through further assessment, ensuring that people who face considerable difficulties when walking, or who may be at risk of harm while doing so, can maintain independence and safely participate in their community. Find out more on the Kent County Council website.

Wheelchairs and mobility aids can offer reasurance or practical support in being able to access the community or getting around independently.

Wheelchairs. The Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service is operated by Ross Care. The service provide wheelchair and postural management services to the eligible residents of Kent on behalf of the NHS.

Their clinical team assess your mobility, pressure, and postural support needs. Following a detailed discussion that includes your lifestyle and personal priorities, our clinicians will develop a care and support plan with you. We can then offer the most appropriate wheelchair, pressure cushion and/or postural support from our NHS range. We may work with community health and social care teams to ensure you receive a holistic service and are aware of all the options available to you. Find out more on the services website.

Supported living

Extra care housing offers self‑contained homes for older people and those with care and support needs, providing 24‑hour on‑site support while enabling residents to remain independent in their own space.

Schemes include accessible flats, emergency call systems and shared facilities, with flexible care tailored to individual needs.

Kent County Council currently operates 18 schemes across the county, supporting people to live safely and comfortably for longer in a community setting.

Supported living services similarly help adults with a range of needs to live independently, offering personalised support in local housing rather than residential care.

Find out more about extra care housing and supported living on the Kent County Council website.

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