Home care (also known as domiciliary care) enables people to be supported to remain in their own homes as an alternative to residential care. This section provides links to information on how members of the public can find homecare for themselves or members of their family.
Home care
Care at home
It may be possible to get services from the local council to continue to live independently at home. This Help the Aged information sheet looks at three particular issues in detail: managing a care package through Direct Payments; local council funding for care at home; and the common problems people have with getting and paying for community care services from their local council.
Paying for care and support at home
How much should be paid for care and support received at home? Local authorities can set their own charging policies but these have to comply with government guidelines. This Age Concern factsheet explains these guidelines as well as identifying benefits that may be available to help meet care costs.
Finding help at home
The right care and support can make the difference between staying at home and having to move elsewhere. This factsheet from Age Concern gives an overview of the different kinds of help that are available, how to arrange them and what assistance might be available.
Finance
Direct payments from social services
An Age Concern factsheet explaining how Direct Payments are money paid by the local authority to enable individuals to arrange their own care and support services. This can give greater control over how care needs are met rather than being provided with services, but may involve taking on greater responsibilities.
Disability equipment
Disability and ageing - your rights to social services
What care and support services can people expect a local authority to provide? Local authority powers and duties derive from a number of different Acts of Parliament. This Age Concern factsheet explains the difference between a power and a duty and explains how these influence the provision of services.
Disability equipment and how to get it
Age Concern give information about sources of funding and providers of disability equipment.
Hospitalisation
Coming out of hospital
This Help the Aged information offers advice on how a return home from hospital can be made as smooth and straightforward as possible. It explains what arrangements should be put in place to make someone feel confident about going home, and who is responsible for making them. It then looks at what happens if returning home is not a viable option.
