What is Home Care?
Home care simply means getting the right support to keep living in your own home, on your own terms. It's not about taking over—it's about filling the gaps so independence stays intact. This might be someone coming in for an hour a few times a week to help with shopping and housework. Or it could be a live-in carer who's there round the clock but still lets you lead your own life.
Home Care support can include:
- Personal care – help with washing, dressing, and staying comfortable
- Household tasks – cleaning, laundry, meal preparation
- Companionship – someone to chat with, go to appointments, or just be around
- Clinical care – medication management and nursing support when needed
- End-of-life care – ensuring dignity and comfort at home during final days
How Funding for Home Care Works
The good news is there are several ways to access home care:
How Funding for Home Care Works
The good news is there are several ways to access home care:
- NHS Continuing Healthcare provides fully funded care for people with significant health needs. If you qualify, everything's covered.
- Local Authority Support helps with funding based on your financial situation. You might pay some, all, or nothing depending on your income and savings.
- Private funding gives you complete choice and control. You pay directly, but you decide exactly what support you want and when.
Many families use a combination—perhaps some local authority support topped up with private funding for extra hours or specific preferences.
What to Look For in a Home Care Provider
Not all care providers are the same. Here's what really matters:
- Proper regulation and experience: Look for CQC registration and providers who understand complex care needs, not just basic help around the house.
- Real continuity: You want the same faces coming through your door, people who understand your routines and preferences.
- Clinical oversight: For anything beyond basic personal care, ensure there are qualified professionals overseeing the service.
- Transparency about everything: You should know exactly who's coming, what they're trained to do, and what it costs. No surprises.
- Fast response when needed: Sometimes care needs change quickly. Your provider should be able to adapt within hours, not weeks.
Routes Healthcare's Approach to Home Care
We've been providing care in people's homes for nearly 20 years, and we've learned that it's the small things that make the biggest difference. Our carers aren't just trained in the clinical side—they're chosen because they genuinely care about the people they're supporting. We know that having the right person in your home matters more than ticking boxes.
Whether you need a few hours' support each week or round-the-clock care, we work with you to create something that fits your life, not the other way around. We can mobilise care quickly when situations change unexpectedly—often within hours rather than days. Because we know that sometimes you can't wait for a standard appointment system.
Starting Home Care: Taking the First Step
If you're reading this because things have started getting difficult, that's completely normal. Most families wait longer than they need to before reaching out for support.
The best place to start is with an honest conversation about what's actually needed and what's most important to the person receiving care. Sometimes it's practical help, sometimes it's companionship, often it's both. There's no obligation to commit to anything before you're ready. Most good providers, including us, will come and have a proper chat about options before anyone makes decisions.
To talk through your situation:
📞 Call us on 0333 800 1379
✉️ Email privatecare@routeshealthcare.com
We'll listen to what's happening and help you understand what might help.
Home Care That Fits Around Your Life
Whether you need a few hours each week or daily support, we'll listen to what matters most and create a care plan that feels right for you and your family.
Call our friendly team:
0333 800 1379
Email us directly:
privatecare@routeshealthcare.com
