Types of homecare services

The types of homecare services provided include: personal care, companionship care, dementia care, live-in care, 24-hour care and nursing domiciliary care. You can read about the different types of services below. 

Personal care helps you or your loved one complete day-to-day tasks with dignity and comfort.

Personal care may include:

• Personal hygiene, like bathing
• Dressing
• Getting ready for bed
• Administering medication
• Applying lotions or cream
• Changing and maintaining a stoma or catheter

Companionship care focuses on offering emotional support, social interaction, and assistance with daily activities to maintain quality of life. 

According to Age UK, there are reportedly 1.4 million elderly people chronically lonely in the UK. Many go long periods of time without having a conversation with someone, which is why companions for the elderly are so important.

Companion services aim to prevent feelings of loneliness, it can make a great difference to quality of life and is unique to each individual. 

Companionship care can also include:

• Sharing your favourite hobbies and activities with someone
• Social events and trips out
• Running errands – such as shopping or going to appointments
• Managing household tasks

In the early stages of dementia, many people can enjoy life as they did before. But as symptoms get worse, the person may feel anxious, stressed and scared because they can't remember things or follow conversations. 

Receiving care at home helps to keep some continuity as other things change. You can remain in an environment you know, where you are able to feel comfortable and safe.

Dementia care may also include:

• Allowing you to live independently in your own home
• Help with domestic and daily-living tasks
• Cooking and encouraging healthy eating
• Bathroom assistance and helping with incontinence
• Continuity of care and reassurance
• Managing distressing behaviour, such as pacing, shouting or aggression

Live-in care means having a fully trained carer living with you in your own home so that care is available when needed. Your live-in carer will support you with your specific needs to keep you comfortable and independent at home.

This type of care is ideal for people who need help with daily activities but prefer to stay in a familiar environment rather than moving to a care facility. 

Live-in carers help with a wide range of tasks including:

• Personal care
• Medication management 
• Meal preparation 
• Housekeeping 
• Mobility support 
• Companionship
• Errands and appointments 

24-hour care provides continuous support day and night. If you wake up more than twice a night, 24-hour care is a better option than live-in care. A live-in carer will sleep when you sleep, while 24-hour 24-hour care ensures a carer is always awake and available to assist you whenever you need help during the night. 

Nursing domiciliary care, also known as home nursing care, provides medical and personal care to people in their own homes. This is delivered by qualified healthcare professionals.

Nursing domiciliary care can support with:

• Injections 
• Changing or applying dressings
• Assisting with oxygen
• Managing chronic conditions 
• Post-surgical care

Some care agencies can offer specialty nursing care support.