Also known as domiciliary care, home care is a range of care services you can receive in your own home, to help you cope with disability or illness, and to become or remain independent for as long as possible.
Bromley Council promotes independence and individuality at all stages of the process. For people living with a physical or mental health condition home care can be an ideal solution to meet your needs whether you source this privately or through an arranged package of care through Bromley Council.
During your care needs assessment, your care manager will be discussing what you want to achieve and how you could achieve this yourself, with the current support you have or through a care provider, direct payment or residential placement.
The aim of home care is to
- help you keep your independence and remain living at home
- prevent you having to go into a long-term care home or hospital
- reduce physical or emotional stress to you and your carer
If we have identified eligible care and support needs and home (domiciliary) care is the recommended solution to help you achieve these daily tasks:
- personal care tasks, such as washing, dressing and using the toilet
- getting up or preparing for bed
- preparing food or hot drinks
If you are assessed as needing personal care, your service will be provided by personal carers from private agencies, who work under contract to us. You could consider taking a direct payment which may offer flexibility and control over the care you wish to receive.
If you do not meet the criteria for needing personal care from the social care service, a list of care agencies is available in the Adult Care and Support services directory.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates home care services and copies of their inspection reports are available on their website.
Paying for your home care
Following a financial assessment and depending on your financial circumstances, you may have to pay part of the cost of your home care services.
Under our direct payments scheme, people with long term care needs can make their own arrangements to employ carers and home support workers, instead of social care arranging the care package. How to access direct payments will be discussed with you by the care manager following your assessment.
You can also make your own private arrangements with a home care agency of your choice, if you do not wish to be assessed by social services.