Domiciliary care is the provision of social care services to people who live in their own homes or other settings such as residential care Homes. It is also known as homecare.
Domiciliary care services can be provided by a local authority, NHS Trust, voluntary organisation or private company. Services are typically delivered by workers who visit service users in their own homes. These visits can be scheduled at regular intervals or on an ad-hoc basis, depending on the needs of the service user.
The type and level of domiciliary care services that are provided will vary according to individual need but may include personal care (assistance with washing, dressing, eating etc.), domestic tasks (housework, laundry, shopping), respite support for informal caregivers and companionship. Some domiciliary care providers also offer specialist services such as palliative care or dementia support.
Domiciliary care can play an important role in enabling older people and adults with disabilities to maintain their independence and quality of life by enabling them to remain living in their own homes rather than having to move into institutionalised settings such as nursing homes. It can also reduce pressure on formal caring relationships and provide much needed respite for informally caregivers such as family members or friends.