Is Care at Home the Right Option?
If you are arranging care for yourself or a loved one for the first time, it can feel like a lot to take in. There are different types of care available, and understanding what they involve, how they work and what is right for your situation can make all the difference. That is why we have put together this simple guide to care at home.
Understanding the different types of care
There are three main care options to consider:
- Visiting care at home, also known as homecare or domiciliary care
- Residential care, which can be short-term, such as respite care, or long-term
- Live-in care at home, where a carer lives with the person full time
Each option offers different levels of support and suits different needs and circumstances.
When is visiting care at home the right choice?
Visiting care at home can be a good option if the person is safe to remain in their own home between visits and would benefit from personalised, one-to-one support.
It allows people to:
- Stay in familiar surroundings
- Maintain independence and routines
- Receive tailored care and companionship
- Provide reassurance to family through regular wellbeing checks
What does visiting care at home involve?
Visiting care at home is flexible and can be arranged around individual needs. Support can include:
- Visits from 30 minutes through to full-day support
- One-off visits or regular, ongoing care
- Visits daily, weekly, monthly, or several times a day
Care may include:
- Welfare checks and companionship
- Help with everyday tasks such as cleaning and shopping
- Personal care and medication support
- Specialist support for conditions such as dementia or end-of-life care
Care plans are always tailored to the individual, so support can change as needs change.
Why choose Care South?
High-quality care at home should always be:
- Person-centred, based on a detailed care plan shaped around individual needs, wishes and preferences
- Delivered by trained professionals, who are caring, respectful and take time to listen
- Empowering, supporting people to remain as independent as possible
- Reliable and respectful, with carers who arrive on time and treat your home, loved ones and even pets with care
- Consistent, as building trusted relationships with regular carers makes a real difference
Choosing the right care provider
When comparing care providers, it can help to ask yourself:
- What matters most to me or my loved one?
- Is the provider trusted and well regarded?
- Are they regulated by the Care Quality Commission?
Useful tips when exploring providers include reading reviews on independent sites such as homecare.co.uk, and asking clear questions such as:
- Are carers DBS checked?
- Are they trained, insured and supported?
- What happens if a regular carer is unwell or on holiday?
- Is there a clear feedback or complaints process?
CQC-regulated providers must meet strict standards for safety, care and leadership. Inspection reports and ratings can be viewed at cqc.org.uk.
Why choose Care South?
Care South is a not-for-profit care provider with over 30 years of experience supporting people across Dorset and Somerset. We are proud to be part of the communities we serve, offering compassionate, high-quality care and free, friendly advice to help people make informed decisions.
We understand that choosing care is a personal decision. Our team is here to listen, answer your questions and help you explore your options, with no pressure and no obligation.
