Welcome to Kernow Directory. Organisations supporting adults across Cornwall are continuing to add their details. If you are an organisation, please visit one of our directories and click “Add a listing.”
Our information, advice and guidance pages are co-produced with people who have lived experience and will continue to grow.
Living in your own home is the best solution for many people. But for some people, it can be tricky more difficult. That might be because you’re getting older, and need more support than you used to. Or it might be because you have a disability that means you need certain things to help you every day.
There are lots of support options to help you live as independently as possible in your own home.
Some of these are things that you can arrange or buy for yourself. Other things can be discussed after you’ve had a needs assessment. If you have eligible care needs, we can discuss whether we can provide these things for you.
Taking care of yourself is a key part of being able to live independently. There are many sources of support, and resources you can use, to ensure that you’re keeping in good health.
Healthy Cornwall has lots of useful information around:
healthy eating and drinking habits
losing weight
stopping smoking
Read more on the Healthy Cornwall website
Anyone aged 40-74 can get a free NHS health check, that will look for signs of key health problems, such as: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, some forms of dementia.
Find out more via the following link: NHS Health Checks
Information to help reduce the risk of developing dementia, as well as signs to look out for: Dementia - Reducing the Risk
Find out what vaccinations you’re eligible for – for example, flu, COVID, and shingles. Some people are eligible due to their age, and others due to medical conditions. Help keep yourself protected by getting all the vaccinations you’re entitled to: NHS Vaccinations
For over 55s, with information about physical activity, and managing long term health conditions. Visit Active Cornwall website
Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as keeping your body healthy. See our mental health pages, for information to keep help keep your mind well. We also have links to support for when you need it. Read more about mental health.
5 simple steps that you can take to help improve your mental health, and feel more positive.
Connect with other people
Be physically active
Learn new skills
Give to others
Pay attention to the present (mindfulness)
Read more about 5 steps to mental wellbeing.
Find out more about ‘social prescribing’, to help you get out more, and do new things, with Volunteer Cornwall. Visit Volunteer Cornwall website.
There is a huge amount of equipment and technology available to help you stay safe in your own home. This is things like lifeline alarms, sensors and gadgets which are known as Technology Enhanced Care. It also includes other non-electronic equipment, such as riser chairs, and long-arm grabbers.
The other sort of support is people coming into your home to support you to be more independent, for example helping you to get up in the morning. You can also find out more about changes that can be made to your home to make it safer, and easier for you to manage, like handrails and stair lifts.
As people age, they become more likely to have a fall, at home or when they are out and about. Those falls are also more likely to cause significant damage.
There are many reasons that people fall, ranging from trip hazards at home, to low blood pressure, or deteriorating eyesight. We are working to support people to prevent falls, and help them identify the possible causes. There are a number of steps that people can take to reduce falls.
Our Accommodation and Housing options page has more information on:
adaptations to your home
support with your housing
getting small jobs done around the house
Accommodation and Housing Options
Cornwall Public Health works with many organisations to produce an annual Winter Wellbeing guide. This gives useful information to help people manage when the weather gets cold. There is also information about fuel subsidies, and grants to improve your home.
You might find that managing everything at home is bit too much for you, and you need some support. You can find out more about what that could look like for you here:
Meals on wheels – fresh, frozen or shelf-stable meals delivered to your home. Visit Meals on wheels page
Home care – a carer to come in and help you with personal care, such as washing and dressing. Visit Home Care page
Handyman jobs – small DIY jobs at home. Visit Handyman page
Driving/transport - if you can’t drive, or struggle with public transport, there are options for community transport. Visit our Community Transport page
We offer a reablement service, for people who are recovering from a health or social care crisis, or a hospital stay. You might need some support to learn new skills, or manage with a new disability. This can help you get back some independence, and allow you to continue to live on your own. Visit our Home from hospital page.
We also offer an Empowering Independence service, which helps people learn life skills. This can be for people who are just moving out on their own. It might be for people with mental health difficulties, or learning disabilities, or for young people with complex needs. Visit our Help to stay living well at home page.
Occupational Therapists are professionals who can help you learn new ways of managing at home. Visit our Occupational Therapy page
Being part of your local community, whatever that looks like for you, is part of living well. There are many voluntary organisations and community groups that we can help you connect with. Learning craft activities, appropriate exercise, or simply meeting people for tea and cake are all helpful.
Explore volunteering opportunities locally with Volunteer Cornwall. A great way to beat loneliness, as well as sharing your time and knowledge. Find out more about local volunteering opportunities with Volunteer Cornwall.
Our colleagues in Transport have compiled a list of Community Transport options, to help you get around if you can’t manage by yourself. Visit the Community Transport page.
If you have assessed care needs, and can’t travel to activities that are in your care and support plan, then we may be able to help you arrange transport. Find out more about help with transport. Find out more about how to pay for this support, if you need it. Visit our Pay for Adult Social Care page.