Reablement therapy

The Reablement Therapy Service for adults will aim to optimise your functional independence in completing activities of daily living.

They will enable you to live your best life with your disability or long-term condition and reduce barriers, connecting you to your local community.

The service provides reablement which is teaching people to learn or re-learn the skills necessary to engage in everyday activities that are important to them and reduce dependence on external bodies.

The service will also provide support and advice for those people who have a disability or long-term condition.

The team consists of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants.

The Reablement Service offers an assessment to establish your needs relating to your disability or long-term condition and the impact it has on your daily routines.

During your assessment information is gathered about what matters most to you, your strengths (what you can do), information of your physical disabilities, and the difficulties or challenges you could be having.

This is a 2-way open discussion covering all areas of your life which your physical disability has an impact on. The information gathered is used to agree a person centred and strength-based approach to an action plan that includes the jointly agreed goals.

The assessment generally takes place at home but could be in a centre where therapists are based. It takes into consideration your physical, social, and cultural needs and those of your carers.

Benefits of an assessment

Benefits are that:

• your needs are identified
• an action plan is made with you that include your goals for therapy reablement that can be achieved to meet your needs, goals, and aspirations
• you are provided with the most up-to-date information in relation to equipment and technologies which may help you
• you can access equipment which can support your safety and independence such as chair raisers, bathing equipment, toilet frames and more specialist equipment as identified as part of your programme
• you can access minor adaptations to your home to meet your needs such as grab rails and stair rails as identified as part of your therapy programme
• you can access major adaptations to your home to meet your needs such as stairlifts and walk in showers if identified as a need following reablement – link to major adaptation pages
• you can be supported to become part of your community
• you can be supported and signposted to other services which can support you to stay safe and independent and live your best life in your own home
• therapy intervention can support you to identify strategies to reduce dependence on others
• therapy interventions can in some circumstances support you to remain in your own home

Individual reablement programmes

Reablement programmes can enable people with a physical disability to regain confidence and develop independence.

These include areas such as mobility and daily living activities, both inside and out in the community.

Benefits from individual reablement programmes

Benefits are that:

• reablement can optimise your functional independence and reduce dependence
• reablement can teach you new techniques to live your best life and overcome physical challenges
• you can access training for activities of daily living in your own home
• you can access training to walk indoors and outdoors and access the local community safely
• you can access equipment, adaptations, and expert advice to support you live your best life
• you can have greater choice regarding the support you receive and how you live
• reablement support can promote recovery and prevent further deterioration resulting from long term health challenges

Other agencies which may help you include:

Northamptonshire Carers Association - exists to make a positive change to carers' lives.

Age UK Northamptonshire - provides support for older people and their families.

Parkinson’s UK - provides support to people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Alzheimer’s Society - provides support to people with Dementia and their families.

Huntington’s Disease Association - provides support to people with Huntington’s Disease.

Age Well Northamptonshire - provides support to older and frail people in Northamptonshire.

Disabled Living Foundation - a non-profit national charity providing information and advice on daily living equipment for older adults and disabled people.

Scope - a disability equality charity in England and Wales providing practical information and emotional support when it's most needed.

How to request an assessment

You can use our online form to request an assessment:

Alternatively, you can telephone the customer service centre on 0300 126 7000, then choose Option 1, Option 2, Option 2.

Last updated 27 November 2023