What is Home Care?

Lucy Henson Clark Adult Social Care Expert

07 September 2026 · 8 min read

Home care services can be a great option for people who need a little extra support to stay independent in their own home.

Home care is when care workers visit clients at home to help with tasks like washing, dressing, taking medication, and even housework.

Whether you’re looking for home care for yourself or a loved one, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by all the options out there. In this guide, we’ll explain what care at home is, how much you should expect to pay, and where you can find home care services.

You also might hear home care called domiciliary care, care at home, or in-home care. Usually, these terms all describe the same concept. We’ll mostly use the term home care in this article.

If you’re looking for care, Find Your Room can help. Using our website or app, you can simply search for your location and find care services who can support you or your loved one.

What is domiciliary care?

Domiciliary care, also known as home care, is when a care worker comes to your home to help you.

Home care is designed to meet your needs. Some people simply need an hour or two of support each week, whereas others need 24-hour care. Your carer or care agency will talk to you about your needs and wishes, and put together a care plan that’s tailored to you.

Home care might include:

Personal care: Depending on your needs, personal care could include help with washing and dressing, assistance with preparing meals and eating, or toileting and continence support. Some people also need help to move around their home, or support when transferring from a bed to a chair and vice versa. Care workers can even help you shave, apply makeup, and style your hair, so that you feel like yourself.

Medical care: Lots of people need reminders to take their medication, or even help administering it. Home carers might also help maintain and change stomas and catheters, support you with diabetic foot care, or provide other assistance as needed.

Companionship care: Many older people feel lonely or isolated. Even if you don’t need personal care, you might benefit from having someone come in to spend time with you a few times a week.

Housekeeping and help around the home: It can be difficult to keep up with all the tasks that need to be done around the house. However, home care workers can help you. They may support you with cleaning, laundry and changing bedding, and even gardening.

Help getting out and about: Some people need support with shopping, going to college or work, or socialising. Carers can help you leave your home safely, and provide a bit of extra help when you’re out so that you feel confident.

Overnight care: Some people want the reassurance of knowing that someone will be there if they wake in the night. Whether you need medication, support with toileting, or just someone to talk to in the night, home carers can help.

For many people, home care is a great alternative to choosing a care home. Lots of people prefer to receive care at home, as it avoids the stress of moving and allows them to stay in a familiar environment.

Short-term home care

Some people have domiciliary care on a long-term basis. Other people might only have it for a short time – perhaps after an injury or hospitalisation, to give their usual carer a break, or because they need extra help towards the end of a terminal illness.

Respite care

If a family member or friend usually supports you, they may need some time away occasionally. Perhaps they’re injured or ill, have other commitments, or simply need a break. Paid care workers can help you while your usual carer is unavailable. This is called respite care.

Some people have respite care on a regular basis, so their usual carer can go to appointments or work. Others only have respite care occasionally, if their carer is ill or on holiday.

Respite care can be arranged in advance, if your carer knows they’ll be unavailable – for example, if they’ve booked a holiday or know they’ll be going for an operation. However, lots of home care services can also offer emergency respite care, if your usual carer is suddenly taken ill.

Short-term care after an illness or injury

If you’re recovering from an illness or injury, you might need care while you recuperate.

Support workers can help with wound management, medication administration, and personal care. They may also support you with housework, like laundry, vacuuming, and changing your bedding.

Before you leave hospital, the discharge team might ask whether you have someone available to help you. If you live alone, or live with someone who can’t help you due to their own health conditions, short-term care at home might be right for you.

You might also hear this type of support called reablement, post-hospital support, or post-operative care.

End of life care at home

If you have a terminal diagnosis, you might not want to leave your home. However, as you come to the end of your life, you may need a lot of extra help. Lots of home care services will support clients with end of life care.

End of life care at home often includes administering medication, delivering personal care, and providing companionship. Carers might also help to support family members.

Live in care

Some people need more than just a few short care visits each week. Live in care can help these people stay safely in their own homes, rather than moving to residential care.

Live in care means that someone will be in the house with you or your loved one throughout the day and night. They can provide companionship, personal care, and support with tasks around the home.

If you need 24-hour care, you will need more than one carer. Live in carers are entitled to breaks. You might need to arrange for a second carer during the days or the nights.

How much does home care cost?

The cost of home care will vary, depending on where you live and how many hours of support you need. For example, care is often more expensive in London and the South East, and cheaper in the North of the country.

The NHS says that home care costs between £15 and £30 per hour – although some care agencies might charge more than this. Depending on your circumstances, your local authority or the NHS might be able to help you with paying for care.

Home care is usually cheaper than moving to a care or nursing home. That’s because you only pay for the hours of care you receive.

There may be some additional costs involved in home care, including:

Adaptations to your home: If you need extra help moving around your home, you might need to install grab rails, stair lifts, or ramps.
Furniture and space for a live in care worker: If you need live in care, your carer will need a bedroom of their own, with a bed, wardrobe, and other furniture.
Visits from multiple carers at the same time: If you have complex health needs or require a lot of support with moving, you may need two carers to help you. Most home care services will charge extra for these visits – although, if you receive funding from your local authority or the NHS, they may cover the additional cost.
Waking night care: Some care agencies charge extra for clients who need support throughout the night.
Cancellation fees: Home care services may still charge clients if they cancel a care visit at short notice.

How do I find home care services?

There are two main options when arranging home care: you could employ a care worker directly, or contact a care agency.

How to find a carer to employ directly:

Ask family and friends for recommendations.
Advertise in your local area – consider local social media pages, community centres, and church newsletters.
Advertise on job sites or talk to care recruiters to advertise the role.
Ask your social worker, hospital discharge co-ordinator, or community nurse for recommendations.

How to find a care agency near you:

Ask for recommendations from family, friends, or local support groups.
Ask your social worker or hospital discharge team for help to find a care agency. If you don’t have a social worker and aren’t currently in hospital, your local authority’s Adult Social Care team may also be able to provide a list of local care agencies.
Look on the CQC website to find CQC-registered care organisations near you. This will give you a mixture of care homes, nursing homes, and home care agencies.
Search on the Find Your Room website or app to find home care services with availability on their books.

Whether you’re looking for home care, supported living, or a care home placement, Find Your Room can help. Our app and website let you look for local care services with availability.

Need support? Start looking for care with Find Your Room today.

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