As 2026 begins, tens of thousands of Hampshire residents are starting the year where they most want to be, at home – feeling safe, supported, and living independently. Hampshire County Council is caring for more adults than ever before in the comfort of their own homes, enabling people to live independently at home for longer. According to latest figures, over 40,000 residents in Hampshire now benefit from a range of tailored support – from telecare to Meals on Wheels, and from respite care to help recovering following a stay in hospital.

This commitment to keeping people safe and independent is a cornerstone of the County Council’s new Strategic Plan, the Local Authority’s blueprint for serving Hampshire through to 2028.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, the County Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, explains: “We know from the thousands of care conversations we have every year with people who need support and their families, that their number one priority is, wherever possible, to stay out of hospital or residential care – and instead to be cared for in the comfort of their own homes. We’re helping to make that a reality for thousands of residents and with the numbers of people aged 75 and over expected to rise by 20 per cent by 2030, this is more important than ever as demand for care is only going to get bigger.”

Some of the services that are making a real difference to achieving these aims are:

Technology Enabled Care (TEC) – Hampshire is leading the way in care innovation. From falls detectors and GPS trackers to smart speakers, TEC helps people live safely at home. Over 14,300 residents now use TEC, and more than 47,000 have benefited over the past 12 years, making Hampshire one of the UK’s largest providers

Meals on Wheels – delivering 120,000 meals annually, combining nutritious food with welfare checks to help prevent hospital admissions and reduce reliance on carers

Carers Support Service – nearly 6,000 referrals in nine months, offering vital help to those caring for loved ones. One carer described the service as “the light at the end of the tunnel”

Occupational therapy and reablement – with a 99% satisfaction rate these services help people regain independence and reduce longer term social care costs

Extra Care – 974 self-contained apartments designed to support independent living whilst offering the security of care and support on-site, and reducing the need for more expensive residential care

Councillor Fairhurst continued: “These services are about independence, dignity, and quality of life, and thanks to our determined action, we’ve seen admissions to high-cost nursing care reduce by 29% over the past year – which is better for those who need support, as well as council taxpayers.

“We’re continuing to strengthen our commitment to helping people stay healthy and look after their wellbeing. There’s a wide range of information, advice, and early help available, because staying healthy earlier in life, and understanding the care and support options available, gives everyone the best chance to stay independent as they get older. For example, over 125 Fall Prevention Classes are delivered every week, helping to prevent slips, trips, and falls.”

For anyone starting to plan for later life, a good place to start is Connect to Support Hampshire, the County Council’s trusted online hub for advice and local resources. With over 425,000 visits to the website last year, it’s the go-to place for information about staying independent and finding support in your community.