Living at home can become more challenging for older people, especially if they have difficulties with their mobility. This does not have to mean your relative needs to move house yet, as there are plenty of services and products available in Hertfordshire to make your elderly relative’s home a safer environment to live in.
Fall Prevention
Falls are some of the more common problems elderly people can face as moving around becomes more difficult, which can be especially concerning when they live alone. It’s important to put measures in place that can prevent your relative from having a fall, as this will radically reduce their chances of being admitted into hospital or requiring other forms of care.
The chance of a fall can be reduced by using products that help with minor movements around the house, such as getting in and out of the bath, or making adaptations to the home, such as installing a stairlift. If you are worried about your relative falling you may be interested in reading our Top Tips on Preventing Falls at Home.
Beyond this, there are a vast array of mobility products and assistive technologies available from public services in Hertfordshire to ensure independent living can be safe for the elderly people of Hertfordshire.
Mobility Stores Across Hertfordshire for Daily Living Aids
Lea Valley Mobility, Hoddesdon
The Lea Valley Mobility Shop is a family-run business based in Hoddesdon Town Centre that offers a wide variety of mobility products. They are also able to provide home visits for those that are interested in their services, with no obligation to buy.
- Telephone: 01992 443844
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Lea Valley Mobility Shop, 1 Fawkon Walk, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 8TJ
- Visit Website
Mobility World, Letchworth
Mobility World in Letchworth has a wide selection of products to help older people to maintain their independence. Some of the products they offer include mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walking aids and bathing aids.
- Telephone: 01462 418478
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Birds Hill, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 1HX
- Visit Website
Auto Mobility Concepts, Watford & Hemel Hempstead
Auto Mobility Concepts is a one-stop shop for mobility products and services, small and large. They sell daily living aids for the bathroom and kitchen, as well as the latest and most advanced wheelchairs. They also specialise in re-fitting vehicles to meet bespoke mobility requirements. They have two Hertfordshire showrooms in Watford and Hemel Hempstead.
Watford
- Telephone: 01923 804142
- Address: 172 High Street, Watford, WD17 2EG
Hemel Hempstead
- Telephone: 01442 242850
- Address: 172 High Street, Watford, WD17 2EG
Alphamarque
Alphamarque offer a full range of mobility equipment including scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers, as well as a variety of home living aids. Alphamarque offers a free home demonstration service with no purchase obligation to those living in Essex.
- Telephone: 01727 837836
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Assistive Technology in Hertfordshire
Assistive Technology can improve the lives of older people and keep them safe. Telecare is one of the most popular types of assistive technology, which includes alarms and sensors that can be fitted around your relative’s house. These can connect with a monitoring service, that will be able to alert you to any unusual activity, such as them being out of bed for an extended period of time during the night.
In Hertfordshire, Herts Careline is the main provider of telecare services across the county, aside from in the Dacorum Borough Council area where the council provides its own service. You can find out more about both options below.
Hertfordshire County Council has also recently released an online guide to technology that can help older people living at home. This easy-to-read guide shows the types of equipment available to elderly Hertfordshire residents from room to room.
Dacorum Borough Council Assistive Technology
Dacorum Borough Council operate their own telecare and assistive technology scheme: Lifeline. This means that the council have their own telecare products and round-the-clock services that your relative can contact if they need help. You can find out more about their available services by visiting the website below or getting in touch.
- Telephone: 01442 228347
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Herts Careline
If you live in your own property or rent from a landlord, you can arrange for telecare services from Herts Careline. Herts Careline is a not-for-profit service organised by the North Herts District Council.
One of their two key services are community alarms, which your relative can press to be connected with one of their highly experienced call operators 24/7, who will ensure they get the help they need by contacting designated family or support.
There is also the Home & Away Pendant, which is a portable location service. Your relative can press its “SOS button” if they need help, which will send a text message of their location to a designated family or friend responder, as well as to Herts Careline, who can provide 24/7 help.
Herts Careline does not have long term contracts and has a fairly modest cost compared with other forms of care. You can find out more information about all their services by visiting the Herts Careline website or contacting them through the provided details.
- Telephone: 0300 999 2999
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Free Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service Home Safety Visits
Hertfordshire County Council can organise free Safe and Well visits to your relative’s home. The service is provided by the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Services. Their team will check that any existing smoke detectors are correctly working and will provide replacements free of charge where required.
The Safe and Well appointments don’t last for more than an hour and they will run through other ways of staying safe, including electrical safety, cooking safety, escape plans and effective ways of staying safe in the winter.
Your relative can request a Safe and Well visit, or you can request a Safe and Well visit on their behalf, using this Online Form on the Hertfordshire County Council website.
