Older people services

Home care services for older people

What are they?

This can be help with practical tasks – for example laundry, shopping, preparing a meal etc. Or it could be for assistance with personal care – bathing, helping you to dress or get in and out of bed.
This is provided by a home carer, who used to be known as a home help.

Who provides it? 

Social Services have contracts with some care agencies to provide home care. These are Housing 21 and Anchor Care in Westminster. Both provide care between 7am and 9pm each day. We also work with other agencies to provide carers if necessary -including agencies that have carers who speak specific languages. All agencies we work with carry out checks on their staff. We will try to make sure that carers arrive at times agreed with you and that the same person visits you where possible. This is so you know who to expect and when.

There is a specialist service provided by Housing 21 care agency who offer intensive support for up to 6 weeks, for example if you have just returned home from hospital following a stroke and need help to build up your strength.

A new service has started through Housing 21, which offers specially trained home carers to work with people living at home with dementia.

There is also a specialist service for one off intensive cleaning in some circumstances, should this be agreed on assessment.

If you prefer to arrange your own care, you may be eligible for Direct Payments -cash payments instead of social services care, to meet your care needs.

As for all services, the level of help available depends on your assessment.

More information on Home Care in Westminster and how to get it

Is there a charge?

You will be assessed to pay for the home care service by the charging team. The amount you will pay is based on your income and savings after all relevant factors have been taken into account.
The charging team will contact you about this. If you wish to discuss anything with them, contact 020 7641-3379