Care and support to help you live at home
We want to support people to help them live their lives as independently as possible. We can provide advice and information and tell you how to find facilities and community services that can support you.
You can find information to help you remain living safely and independently at home on our Connect Somerset website and on our Equipment to help you page.
If you would like to find out more about what help is available, you may find it useful to visit a Talking café near you.
Support for carers
If you have someone who cares for you, for example a family member or neighbour, they are also entitled to a carers assessment and may qualify for support. You will be asked about this when we talk with you.
Home care
Home care is when a care worker comes to your home to help you. They can help you with personal care and some practical household tasks. This helps you to stay independent. Often, you only need this help for a short time until you can do things on your own again. At other times, you might need help for longer.
You can get help with things like:
- getting washed and using the toilet
- getting out of bed and dressing
- undressing and going to bed
You can arrange and pay for home care yourself. If you buy help privately you can choose the type of help you receive and the amount that you want. If you would like more information about care providers in your area there is lots of information available on the Connect Somerset website and in the Somerset Care Services Directory.
You can also find out about organisations that provide home care on the Care Quality Commission website.
If you are eligible, following a care and support assessment and a financial assessment, you can have a personal budget and we can help you arrange the services you need. Or, you can have a Direct Payment so that you can make your own arrangements.
Home care providers
Home care is provided by private organisations registered with the Care Quality Commission.
Registered care staff are trained to help people at home. They will help you do things you used to do for yourself. And, if possible, they will help you to do these things for yourself again so that you can be as independent as possible.
Senior care staff will talk to you about what you need. They will start by giving you care and support, then make changes to make sure it is right for you.
Once they are sure you are getting the right help, they will arrange for a regular group of care workers to help you. These care workers will get to know you and provide most of your care and support.
If you have a personal budget, we will talk to you regularly to see how you are managing. The care and support you get will change as your needs change and will stop when you no longer need help.
