What is a home carer?
If you are considering home care for yourself or a loved one, a home carer could provide tailored, one-to-one support with everything from personal care to specialist medical care.
What is home care?
Home care allows older people to receive the care they need at home where they feel comfortable, rather than in a care home or another residential facility. Whether they need intensive medical care or just a few hours of companionship and housekeeping help, a home carer can visit their home on a regular basis–or offer a live-in care or shared lives arrangement–to provide:
- Personal care (bathing, getting dressed, and so on)
- Companionship and support attending social events
- Meal preparation
- Housekeeping and home maintenance
- Local transport, shopping and errands
- Medical care and monitoring
- Medication management
- Respite care for families
Specialist care (dementia care, palliative care, and so on)
What does a home carer do?
A home carer’s role will be different in every situation as care is often tailored to an older person’s abilities, health conditions, preferred routines and more. A home carer might provide specialist care such as dementia care, Parkinson’s care, palliative care, catheter care, stoma care, diabetes monitoring and more, for which they are trained and experienced in order to provide the highest quality support.
Alternatively, they might visit an older person’s home to offer regular personal care assistance, mobility support, housekeeping and home maintenance, and general companionship to support their mental health. Home carers may also provide respite care while families take a much-needed break from care duties.
What training do home carers have?
Every home carer has slightly different training and experience, so it is important to check they have the appropriate skills before bringing them on board. At Home Instead:
- Our training is City & Guilds assured and Continual Professional Development certified
- We hold two Princess Royal Training Awards for our dementia training and end-of-life training
- We are partnered with theAlzheimer’s Society and other organisations
As well as our effective training, we select only the best home carers to work with our clients, prioritising qualities like compassion, patience, respect, flexibility and reliability. We take time to match every client with a trusted Care Professional who matches their personality and interests to ensure a great fit.
How can we help?
We've helped thousands of families to stay safe, comfortable and happy at home. Whatever situation you're facing, or whatever the question is, Home Instead is here to help.
Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
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03300 583450
Home Instead have an experienced caring team that far exceeds in quality anything we experienced from other agencies at this point of service.Steve, Client
We have been relying on Home Instead for nearly five years now and they have been wonderfully helpful and flexible throughout. I don’t know what we’d do without them.Carol, Client
Knowing that mum has caring and genuine people to help take care of her gives me peace of mind and mum looks forward to seeing the Care Professionals. Thank you for making such a big difference to both of our lives.Rebecca, Client's Family
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How to find a trained, experienced home carer
There are many ways to find a home carer who fits your needs, but doing this with the help of a professional agency such as Home Instead is one of the easiest ways to find qualified, specially trained, fully vetted home carers that meet your needs.
In addition, home care agencies will also manage the day-to-day administration involved in hiring a home carer, taking on tasks like paying salaries and finding respite care if a regular home carer takes time off. We listen to your unique circumstances, and make it easy to find personalised, attentive support that adapts as your needs change.
FAQs
What is a home carer?
A home carer is someone trained to provide support within a clients own home. Their role is to assist with everyday tasks while promoting independence, comfort, and dignity. Our Care Professionals are a vital part of enabling people to remain in their own homes safely and happily.
What kind of support does a home carer provide?
Support is tailored to the individual and can include:
Personal care such as washing, dressing, and toileting
Help with mobility, such as moving between bed and chair
Meal preparation and assistance with eating
Light housework and laundry
Administering or prompting medication
Friendly conversation and emotional support
Escorting to medical appointments or local activities
Who might benefit from a home carer?
Elderly adults who wish to remain living independently in their own homes can greatly benefit from the support of a Care Professional. This includes those recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, as well as individuals living with age-related conditions such as reduced mobility, frailty, or dementia. Whether ongoing care is needed or short-term support during recovery, a Care Professional can provide the right level of assistance to help older people stay safe, comfortable, and well-supported at home.
Are Care Professionals trained and qualified?
Yes. All Care Professionals are fully trained and often undergo ongoing development to provide the highest standard of care. Many receive specialist training in areas such as dementia support, safe moving and handling and first aid. They will also work closely with families and medical teams to deliver tailored support plans.
How can I organise care from a home carer?
You can typically organise this through local council support or private care providers. Start by contacting your local council for an assessment to identify the right type of care for you, or reach out to us today for a chat, and we can look to arrange support directly based on your preferences and schedule.
Diane WIlliams , Head of Quality & Standards
Before joining Home Instead, I built a comprehensive career in the social care sector, beginning in 1991 as a frontline care worker and advancing to senior leadership roles across both private and voluntary sector businesses.
Throughout my career, I have supported diverse care groups in a variety of settings, including community, residential, nursing, and secure environments. My experience spans working with older adults, including those living with dementia; individuals with physical disabilities and complex, long-term health needs; people with learning disabilities, including autism; individuals with enduring mental health challenges; individuals with current or past substance use and those with forensic backgrounds.
In 2002, I qualified as a social worker and have since maintained my professional registration with Social Work England.