Guidance for families navigating care
Expert articles answering the most common questions about home care in London.
Getting Started
What Is Home Care and What Does It Include?
A clear guide to what home care covers — from personal care like washing and dressing, to meal preparation, medication support, shopping, and household tasks.
How Do I Arrange Home Care for Myself or a Family Member?
Learn the step-by-step process of arranging home care — from initial assessments and contacting agencies to council involvement and self-arranging care.
How Is the Care Plan Created and Reviewed?
Discover how initial care assessments work, what a personalised care plan includes, and how often plans are reviewed and updated.
What Types of Care Are Available?
Explore the different types of home care available — including live-in care, respite care, specialist dementia care, and palliative care support.
How Quickly Can Care Be Set Up?
Find out how long it takes to arrange home care — from the initial assessment to the first carer visit — and options for urgent or emergency care.
Costs & Funding
How Much Does Home Care Cost in London?
Understand the pricing models for home care in London — including hourly rates, live-in care costs, travel fees, and weekend or holiday surcharges.
What Options Exist for Funding Support or NHS Help?
Understand your options for funding home care — including local authority financial assessments, council contributions, NHS Continuing Healthcare, and self-funding.
Quality & Safety
Are Carers Trained, Vetted, and DBS-Checked?
Find out how home care agencies ensure carers are qualified, background-checked, and regularly trained to deliver safe, high-quality care.
Will I Have Consistent Carers?
Understand why carer continuity matters — especially for people with dementia or anxiety — and how agencies ensure you see the same carer each visit.
Is the Care Provider Regulated by the CQC?
Learn why CQC registration matters, what inspection ratings mean, and how to verify that a home care provider is properly regulated.
How Are Carers Matched with the Client?
Learn how home care agencies consider personal preferences, language, cultural needs, and personality when matching carers to clients.
Your Rights
What Happens If I'm Not Happy with a Carer?
Find out how flexible home care agencies are when it comes to changing carers and addressing concerns about care quality.
How Are Emergencies Handled Out of Hours?
Learn how home care agencies manage emergencies, out-of-hours support, and sudden changes to care schedules including weekends and evenings.
Have a specific question?
If you couldn't find what you were looking for, or if you'd simply prefer to talk things through, our care team is here to help.
