Support from carers in your own home
You can have trained carers visit you at home and help you with all sorts of tasks.
This type of care is sometimes referred to by different names, for example:
- Support at Home
- Home Support
- Home Care
- Home Help
- Care at home
- Domiciliary Care
Really they are all the same thing.
Carers can help with things like::
- washing, dressing and supervising you when you bath
- assisting you to get up and to go to bed
- continence and toilet care
- basic healthcare needs, e.g. medication prompts
- meal preparation
- shopping
- light cleaning
- dealing with finances, household bills, letters and correspondence
- accessing local community facilities
The council contracts with providers to deliver this care on our behalf. Every few years the we have a legal obligation to review these contracts and sometimes this will mean changing which organisations we use. This helps us make sure the services provided are both good value and high quality. New contracts have been agreed starting from April 2016.
You can find links and list of those providers here.
If you already receive support from one of our homecare providers, you will already have received a letter from us about the new contracts. However if you have any questions or want to talk through any of the points in this letter, you can speak to us by calling: 01296 383204 or email: adultearlyhelpteam@buckscc.gov.uk.
Day services
Day services provide social and other activities to help people stay active and avoid feeling isolated. They can also be used to give family carers a break during the day.
This can include day centres, but there are all sorts of alternatives. It could be help to access other community services, such as:
- Leisure activities, like swimming or going to the library
- Outdoor activities like gardening or walking
- Arts, crafts and music
Day services are sometimes referred to as:
- Day Opportunities
The Council's day opportunities services are centred on modern well-equipped day opportunities centres which are being set up across the county. These are supported by other day services in places where the local day opportunity centre is yet to open.
Meals
You can have meals delivered to your home. There are different organisations that do this, providing hot and frozen food. You can choose to pick a provider yourself, but you can also talk to the council as they can provide a meals delivery service.
Cleaning and gardening services
If you are finding it difficult to keep your home clean, it may be worth considering having a cleaner or a carer to help out. This could be just for tasks that are particularly difficult, or if needed you could get a more complete cleaning service.
There are also volunteers from charities that can help with gardening.
Personal Assistants
A personal assistant (sometimes called a PA or support worker) offers services to individuals who have care and support needs. Personal assistants carry out a wide range of tasks as required including support with things such as washing and getting dressed, cooking, feeding and supporting people to go out and about.
To help give you confidence, if you want support from a personal assistant, Quality Care Approval Scheme (QCAS) approves people offering these services.
This approval process carries out background checks, including criminal records checks on applicants and ensures they are trained in the range of relevant skills needed.
All QCAS approved personal assistants and brokers agree to follow a code of conduct ensuring confidentiality and protection of their customers’ interests.
If you want a personal assistant you can ask an approved support broker to visit you and discuss who would best fulfil your needs.
The number to call is 08453 70 80 90.
You can read more about personal assistants in this document by Skills for Care.
Last reviewed: 18/07/2018