CARE HOMES: MANY older people may find that they have difficulty carrying out day-to-day tasks but feel they could still manage without going into a nursing home if they had a bit of help at home.

If you are feeling lonely then there are day centres, where you can go along and meet other people and you can also obtain practical help with maintaining your home and garden.

Your local Age Concern should have a list of everything that is available in the area.

If you are having difficulty coping at home you should get in touch with you local authority social services department, or your GP, to see if they can give you some advice or support.

The first step to getting help from social services is to ask that the authority carries out a care (or needs) assessment. This is the process by which the social services department finds out about the sort of help and support you may need.

The local authority is obliged to carry out an assessment of your needs if you appear to be someone who might need the type of assistance it provides.

There is also a wide range of disability equipment available to help people who have difficulty carrying out particular tasks.

Adaptions can be made to your home to enable you to live indepe ndently.

Doors can be widened to create wheelchair access, ramps can be installed by the front and back doors and hand rails can be put in the toilet or bathroom.

You can request the local authority arranges an assessment by an occupational therapist to see how you needs could best be met.

Smaller items may be free but you may have to pay something towards the cost of larger items. Some aid may be available on loan from the British Red Cross, Age Concern and other organisations.

There are two main types of assistance provided in the home.

Help with domestic tasks such as housework, shopping and cleaning, and personal care, for example getting dressed and undressed.

You can also have meals cooked for you and brought to your home.

Special diets are catered for and often a freezer is provided so people can deliver frozen meals and then you can heat your own, using a microwave or steamer, which may also be supplied.

Meals may be offered any number of days a week.

It is sometimes possible to find a 'live-in' help to come and live in your house.

Some care agencies may help you find the right person.

There are also a number of private agencies who may recruit and place live-in companions and daily or longer term nurses and care workers.