A guide to domiciliary care

What is domiciliary care?

Domiciliary care is a range of services that offers care and assistance to people who require additional support in their day-to-day activities within their own home. The caregiver is well-trained and the support is planned as per the individual’s routines and requirements. It allows the care-receiver to live a quality life.

Regular home visits from a caregiver can be arranged from thirty minutes to several hours in a day. They can help in a wide range of tasks like personal care, household tasks, clinical care, managing medication or moving in and around the house. Care assistants are trained in offering emotional support which benefits the physical and mental health of the care-receiver.

Who needs domiciliary care?

Domiciliary care is for people belonging to any age group, who want to receive treatment in the comfort of their home. It is a great option for people going through long-term illness or for elderly people who need in-home care—nursing, dementia and disability care can be part of the domiciliary support.

It can also be offered to children or adults to meet their temporary or permanent care requirements. The care plans are uniquely tailored to accommodate the existing routines under any circumstances. Domiciliary care is becoming one of the most popular options for individuals who do not want to go to care homes.

Different types of domiciliary care

There are different types of domiciliary care that an individual can select based on their needs.

Personal care: The caregiver offers assistance in routine tasks like bathing, shaving, getting dressed, etc.

Companionship care: The caregiver typically engages in social visits and assists in household chores like cleaning, cooking or shopping.

Housing support: A caregiver will visit to the house a few times on a weekly basis to assist with tasks like paying bills, etc. People with disabilities or similar health issues may opt for this option.

Nursing domiciliary care: For individuals who are in need of any nursing care like dressing, injections, assistance with oxygen, etc.

Live-in care: A caregiver will move into your house to ensure that care, support and assistance is available 24/7.

Examples of domiciliary care

The support offered by domiciliary caregivers is not restricted to nursing care, some examples of domiciliary care are:

• Basic housekeeping
• Assistance in socialising
• Bathing
• Paying bills
• Cooking and eating
• Managing medication
• Clinical care like PEG feeding, catheter or stoma management.

Benefits of domiciliary care

The primary benefit of domiciliary care is that support can be received without hampering the independence of the concerned individual. The extra help that an individual needs can be customised within the comfort of their home.

Generic services may fail to offer the extra care or assistance that one needs. Domiciliary care is tailored to the individual to meet their specific needs.

Disadvantages of domiciliary care

There can be some disadvantages related to domiciliary care services, we have listed some of them to help you select the right caregiver.

• As care is accessible at certain times of the day, you may feel vulnerable outside the care giving hours.
• Trusting complete strangers and allowing them to be around you inside your house can be out of your comfort zone.
• It can be quite challenging to find the right caregiver as you do not get to choose your caregiver when the domiciliary care provider is organised through local authority.
• In domiciliary care only the live-in care option offers 24\7 support and assistance.

How much does domiciliary care cost?

The cost of domiciliary care services varies based on the individual’s care requirements. The first step to opt for domiciliary care is to discuss care needs with the provider so suitable options can be suggested.

NHS offers similar services, but it is limited to people belonging to certain age groups and with specific health conditions. One can opt for the available funding options for domiciliary care, which are listed below:

• Care funded by local authorities (Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment Scheme, Attendance Allowance)
• Care funded privately

What is the difference between a care home and domiciliary care?

People often choose domiciliary care over a care home as it allows them to receive care and assistance within their own house. Both care home and domiciliary care options offer trained and qualified caregivers, but domiciliary caregivers focus solely on the individual’s needs while care homes may not offer the same one-on-one support.

Domiciliary care can be a cost-effective option considering that the care receiver needs help during certain hours of the day. Progressive medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease or dementia demand prolonged care, so having the option to receive domiciliary care instead of permanently moving to a care home can be more convenient.

How to find a domiciliary care agency

Community and online resources will help you identify domiciliary care providers, but know your needs and preferences before contacting an agency. Ensure that the agency is regulated by the regional authority and the caregivers are trained to offer the kind of assistance that you are looking for.

Contact our Domiciliary Care Insurance Team today.

Frequently asked questions