Elderly care
What is elderly care?
Elderly care involves the devoted support that covers the mental and physical needs of the elderly. This typically includes respite care and long/short term support.
Led by our nursing specialists, care for the elderly involves dedicated support for an older person who wishes to continue living in their own home. It may involve housekeeping services, cooking meals, personal care, domiciliary care, mobility support, administering medication or simply companionship and support getting out and about.
Elderly care can be offered through regular home visits at any time of the day or night. A carefully selected live-in carer can also be arranged, providing the reassurance that someone is always there to support your elderly relatives.
Here are some of the ways elderly home care can support you:
Housekeeping
A carer for the elderly can help you with housekeeping support by lending a hand with cleaning, laundry and more
Meal preparation
Your carer can prepare meals, snacks and drinks for you, allowing you to eat when and what you like
Personal care
Whether it’s helping you to bathe, get dressed, toilet, or manage a stoma, a carer can offer gentle personal care
Mobility support
Our carers are trained in mobility support, including assisting those living with various types of dementia
Medication assistance
Your carer can help you with medication – from picking it up for you, to helping you administer it
Companionship
Because we only recruit the kindest, most friendly people, Helping Hands carers can be great companions
Running errands
A carer can run errands on your behalf, such as picking up the shopping or handling your mail
Looking after pets
Home care lets you continue to enjoy the company of your pets while your carer helps to look after them
How elderly care at home can help
We firmly believe that home is always the best place to receive care.
When the need for care arises, receiving it in your own home comes with a number of brilliant benefits that you simply don’t get if you choose to move to a residential nursing home. Our exceptional carers are all expertly trained to provide a wide range of care services to people with varying needs. Some of the benefits of opting for home care over residential care include:
Personalised support
Elderly care at home allows you to enjoy a personalised care plan that ensures you’re always getting the right support for your needs and wishes
A holistic approach
Our holistic approach means no stone is left unturned in your care plan, so you’ll get the emotional, practical and physical support you need
Stay in a familiar environment
Many people relish the chance to remain in the comfortable, secure surroundings of home whilst receiving the additional support they need
Spend more time with loved ones
You’ll be able to choose when your family and friends visit, and your carer can assist with hosting duties – including getting your home spick and span
One-to-one care
Care at home gives you the opportunity to receive personal one-to-one support from your own carer, meaning you’ll always have their full attention
Maintain your routines and hobbies
Domiciliary care allows you to continue living life on your own terms, which includes keeping up all your favourite hobbies, routines and activities
An alternative to residential care
Finding the right care provider for your family can take time, but one thing is for certain: if your loved one wants to remain at home, they can. Live-in care from Helping Hands serves as a viable alternative to residential care, and here’s why:
The difference our elderly care can make
We caught up with one of our customers, Dorothy, to find out how the live-in care she receives from her local Helping Hands care team is enabling her to continue living independently, confidently and securely in the home that she loves.
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Services for the care of elderly at home
We offer a number of elderly home care options, all of which are fully tailored to your specific needs and preferences.
Home care services can range from occasional assistance with housekeeping tasks, such as cleaning and laundry, to daily visits for help with personal care, such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. Some providers may also offer specialized medical services, like wound care or medication management. Choosing home care can allow individuals to maintain their independence and stay in the comfort of their own homes, while still receiving the support they need to manage daily tasks and maintain their health and well-being.
If you’d benefit from a bit of extra support throughout the week from a fully-trained carer, our visiting care plans might be ideal for you.
Visits from 30 minutes a week
Personalised support
Condition-led care
Offering a more thorough, round-the-clock support option, live-in care suits those living alone or with a complex condition.
24-hour care
Life on your own terms
Handpicked carer
A short-term care option, ideal for those moments when you unexpectedly find yourself in need of additional support at home.
A break for your carer
Post-hospital care
Help with recovery
Why choose Helping Hands for elderly care?
At Helping Hands, we pride ourselves on providing elderly care of the highest quality.
With over 30 years’ experience in delivering exceptional home care to people up and down the nation, we’re perfectly placed to offer you or your loved one support that is truly transformative and life-changing. With over 150 branches across England and Wales, we’ve always got expert carers local to you – whether you need complex care for a particular condition, respite care at any time of the day, or just some friendly companionship to help you get through the week.
And, for your full peace of mind, we’re fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, so the care for elders that your receive is fully managed.
Nursing-led support
Full range of care services
Fully managed care
Flexible, bespoke support
Home care for seniors
Tackling dehydration in the elderly
Find out more about how we can help to avoid or manage dehydration in elderly loved ones
Managing incontinence in the elderly
Discover how a carer can provide continence support and assist with discreet personal care
Elderly sitting services
Elderly sitting services are a form of respite care for the elderly, and provide your regular carer with the chance to take a break
How to care for the elderly with dementia
Learn more about caring for someone who has recently been diagnosed with dementia
What is elderly care?
Find out more about what elderly care involves, who it’s suitable for, the benefits of receiving elderly care at home, and whether it’s right for you
Staying in your own home
Read about the benefits of staying in your own home for dedicated support and care, rather than moving to a residential nursing home
Support for couples
Discover how we can provide transformative care to a couple living at home, helping them to continue enjoying life in the place that they love
Befriending services
Befriending services can be for anyone who needs a bit of companionship or support at home
Better than a care agency
As a private care provider, we can offer certain guarantees that most care agencies can’t.
Unlike most agencies, we employ our carers directly – which means we handle all of their wages and provide them with job security. Not only is this more beneficial for our carers, it also allows them to devote more time and energy to providing a better standard of care. It also means that you can be confident that every single one of our carers has been recruited, checked and trained by our care experts.
Hear from some of our elderly care customers
Read the stories of two of our wonderful elderly care customers, Robert and Enid, who we’ve been helping to live independently and securely in their own homes.
How do we provide elderly live in care at home?
With dedicated support at all times, live-in care will help you to get what you want out of life.
As with all quality care, a major focus on independence is key when supporting an older person at home. Rather than taking over absolutely everything, your dedicated live in carer will help to enable you in your daily routines and what you want to get out of life.
If you are prone to falls, living with a disability or a condition such as Parkinson’s, or need support with your mobility, your carer will help to reduce any trip hazards around the home. You’ll also have the peace of mind that someone is there to support if there is an accident or sudden emergency.
Exceptional carers, matched to you
We only hire the very best carers to our teams, because you deserve only the very best care.
Your carer will be carefully matched to you. They will be someone who makes you feel comfortable, and with whom you can build up an easy rapport. You may find them to be a good source of emotional support and a trusted companion. Our carers are also trained to use assistive technology, such as personal alarms, hoists and home adaptations.
Fully regulated elderly care
Here at Helping Hands, our elderly care service is fully managed and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
From your very first phone call to our friendly team, every aspect of your home care service is independently monitored and regulated by the CQC and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
Why is it important to be a regulated care provider?
What is a regulated service?
A regulated service is one where every aspect is monitored and assessed by an independent body
Why do we opt for regulation?
We choose to be regulated because we want every customer to be confident in the support they get
Will regulation affect my care?
Regulation will affect your care positively by ensuring we follow industry rules and practices
Support of elderly living at home
Being supported at home by Helping Hands means you get the best of both worlds – the help you need to remain as independent as possible delivered by an exceptional team of care professionals, while continuing to live in the place you love.
You cannot underestimate the positive impact that living at home for your care can have on your emotional and physical wellbeing. By remaining amongst precious people, pets, and possessions, your favourite memories will always be at your fingertips, demonstrating why we are such advocates for supporting people in the comfort and safety of their homes.
In-home senior care
Senior care can be anything from helping you get into bed, to making you a tasty breakfast.
Senior care also extends to more thorough support, such as help with showering and washing, getting dressed or spotting trip hazards in order to prevent falls.
Senior care visits can be repeated throughout the day to ensure that the individual has everything they need to feel comfortable in their own home, safe in the knowledge that there is always someone they can rely on.
How to arrange elderly care
Speak to our team
Call our team of experts on 0330 037 6958 to talk through your options and any questions you may have
Free home care assessment
Your local Helping Hands manager will visit you to discuss your requirements and learn about the type of carer you’re after
Find your carer
We’ll help to match you with a carer that meets your preferences and has the right skills and experience for your needs
Elderly care FAQs
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What are the types of elderly care?
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There are many different types of home care for the elderly that all focus on helping people who can no longer carry out all the normal activities of daily living by themselves. These include respite care, live-in care, nursing care and overnight care.
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What does care of the elderly mean?
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Elderly care, also referred to as senior care, is a specialised care service that is designed to meet the needs and requirements of senior citizens at various stages. Because of this, elderly care is an umbrella term that encompasses everything from assisted living and nursing care to home care and live-in care.
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At what age is someone considered elderly?
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The term ‘elderly’ often refers to an individual with a chronological age of 65 years old or older.
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Why is elderly care important?
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As the body ages, it becomes more vulnerable to medical conditions and it is more difficult to do things we once used to. Ageing cannot be prevented, but we can better manage health conditions for our loved ones. Common health concerns for the elderly include memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, amongst others.
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How much does elderly live-in care cost?
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Our comprehensive prices for support from an expert live-in carer start from £1,650 per week for a single person and £1,650 per week for a couple.
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How are elderly carers assigned?
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When you arrange elderly care, we will get to know your hobbies and interests. In knowing you personally, we will match you with a compatible carer that is likely to become a close friend over time.
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How can I adapt my home for elderly care?
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There are many adaptations you can make to your home to make it more suitable for you as you get older. These include fitting a stairlift or bannister, widening doorways, lowering worktops, installing outdoor ramps, and having a walk-in shower.
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How can I arrange elderly care?
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To arrange elderly care today, call our friendly customer support team today. They’re available seven days a week, and will always be happy to help with any queries you might have. Alternatively, you can contact us via our website if you’d prefer to arrange a callback at your convenience.
Page reviewed by Carole Kerton-Church, Regional Clinical Lead, on July 25, 2024.
How we wrote this page
This page has been produced referencing key insights and data from external experts, trusted medical sources and our team of in-house specialists. We have worked hard to ensure that all information is as accurate as possible and reflects current consensus at the time of writing and reviewing.