What is domiciliary care?

Written by Zenya Smith • 13/06/24

What does domiciliary mean?

Domiciliary comes from the word domicile – which means home. It’s almost exclusively used in the social care world to describe a broad range of care types that take place in a person’s own home, rather than in a residential care facility.

What is the difference between domiciliary care and home care?

This is where things can get confusing. ‘Domiciliary’ can mean different things to different people – and if you search online for the difference between the two, many home care providers offer conflicting information on what’s classed as ‘home care’ and what’s classed as ‘domiciliary care’.

Commonly, domiciliary care is considered to be ‘visiting care‘ or ‘hourly care’. This is where a care worker visits a person in their own home to provide care in chunks of between 30 minutes and a few hours. Outside of these visits the person receiving care will carry on life independently without professional support.

Meanwhile, home care is often considered to encompass more comprehensive support than domiciliary care – such as personal care and mobility assistance. This is why live-in care – where live-in carers move into a person’s property to provide 24-hour care and support, is often referred to as home care.

Technically speaking, all types of care that take place at home can fall under the domiciliary umbrella.

What is clear, is that all forms of domiciliary care are focused on enabling older people to live independent lives while getting the specialist care they need. It can also ease the pressure on family caregivers who may be struggling to provide the level and frequency of support their loved one needs.

Some family caregivers may feel uncomfortable doing personal care tasks -such as helping their loved one wash or go to the toilet, so may enlist professional care services to help with this.

If you’re looking for support at home, it’s really important to be aware that domiciliary care agencies may have different definitions of what domiciliary care entails, and what’s included in a care package may differ from one provider to the next.

If in doubt always ask for clarification – especially if you’re in need of personal care.

If you’re seeking a self-employed carer it’s equally important to talk in detail about what you need, and if there are any limitations around what they can and can’t do. This’ll help you make an informed decision and ensure all your care requirements are properly met.

Easing pressure on families

Juggling work and family commitments can be a big problem when you’re caring for a loved one. 57% of people have stopped working or reduced their hours to care, while 1.3 million people are caring for an elderly person and their own children at the same time.

What are some common duties of a domiciliary carer?

A domiciliary care worker’s main responsibilities are to improve a person’s quality of life, and make daily tasks easier and safer. They provide non-medical care tailored to a person’s individual circumstances and needs. If you look at care visits – the most common form of domiciliary care, a carer could help with any of the following –

Meal preparation – Meal planning, cooking nutritious meals, providing support at meal times

Personal care tasks – Washing and bathing, haircare and shaving, nail care, toileting and continence

Medication management –Prompting the right medications at the right time, and collecting prescriptions from the pharmacy

Household tasks –Light housekeeping such as vacuuming, doing the laundry and keeping surfaces clean, as well as diary management and admin

Companionship care –Being there to listen and talk to, assisting with hobbies and interests, and getting out and about in the community

Pet care – Feeding, exercising and cleaning up after a dog or cat

Family support – Providing peace of mind to families through regular updates, and raising the alarm if something’s not right

Running errands – Grocery shopping, going to the post office , dropping clothes off at a dry cleaners

What are the benefits of domiciliary care?

If you’re still considering your options for care, there are some good reasons why over 950,000 people are currently receiving domiciliary care in the UK. We’ve covered them below to help you make an informed decision.

Did you know...

61% of people would like to stay in their own home if could no longer live independently
You’re 3 times more likely to experience a hip fracture in a care home, than if you receive care in your own home

Quality of life

People receiving domiciliary care can keep their own routines, enjoy the same activities, and stay in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home.

It avoids the disruption and distress of moving into a care home, which can be especially difficult and confusing to people with dementia. However, it’s worth noting that certain symptom in the later stages of dementia, such as challenging behaviour or wandering may require complex care which cannot be provided safely at home.

100% of live in care providers say the people receiving care can go for a walk whenever they like with their carer, compared to just 30% of residential care homes.

Domiciliary care often provides better continuity of care, especially if you choose a provider that can guarantee you’ll have the same care worker each care visit. This can help the person receiving care to build up a positive, personal relationship with them, and ensure their needs are properly understood and protected.

Flexible and personalised care

It’s often a lot easier and faster to put domiciliary care in place. Many care homes have extensive waiting lists as each home has a limited number of beds. Companies like Elder, for example, can help you find a carer within just 24 hours.

Moving in to a dedicated facility can have a lot of practical and emotional challenges too. Leaving your home behind can be hugely upsetting – you may feel you’re losing grip of your personal independence. Because residential homes have a limited amount of rooms you may need to leave your local area in order to get a place.

Care is one-on-one meaning it can be tailored to your specific needs, preferences, and routine. You can choose the level of care required too – from daily visits each week, to a full-time live-in carer. And, if your needs change over time, so can your level of care.

Emotional support and social interactions

Care at home can help keep older couples together in their own home. It can be really distressing if a spouse needs to move into a care home, leaving their partner at home alone.

Regular visits from a carer or live-in support can make a huge difference in reducing later life loneliness or isolation. More than a million elderly people say they go more than a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. A professional carer can offer regular companionship, and have the skills and understanding to provide emotional support when it’s needed.

Domiciliary care allows people to remain a part of their community – this could mean attending services at their local church, meeting friends at social clubs and day care centres, or something as simple as being able to see their preferred GP.

Financial benefits

With domiciliary care services you often get more one-to-one care for your money than in a care home, where care staff look after multiple residents at the same time.

You can avoid the extra costs associated with living in a care home. These include things like high fees for accommodation, catering, and cleaning, as well as fees for additional on-site services such as hairdressing or laundry, daily activities and days out.

Support with practical daily living

As we age we can lose our strength and balance –making some daily household tasks difficult or dangerous. In fact the Royal Society for the Prevention of Injuries found that more accidents take place at home than anywhere else, with 60% of them happening in the kitchen. Domiciliary care workers can provide light housekeeping assistance or help an older person find a way to do them more safely.

If only one half of an older couple needs care, domiciliary carers can lighten the load for their partner, who may struggle to provide care and keep the home in order alone.

When is domiciliary care suitable?

When you have a progressive health condition

Living with a medical condition that’s getting worse not only makes daily life difficult to manage, but can be an emotional rollercoaster too. A qualified carer has the skills and understanding to provide both practical and emotional assistance to people living with progressive health issues, all while ensuring they stay as independent as possible.

When you can no longer spend long periods alone

Everyday life can be hazardous for older people. Declining physical health, limited mobility, forgetfulness and confusion can mean they’re more likely to hurt themselves or put themselves in danger. Visits from a regular carer, or asking a live-in care professional to move in can help improve their quality of life, keep them safe and ensure a quick emergency response if an accident does happen.

When you need dementia care

Domiciliary care can help support independent living in the early stages to mid stages of dementia by helping people maintain as much familiarity as possible.

When you need a period of respite care

Domiciliary care is a popular option when family caregivers need to take a break from looking after their loved one, or when a person needs some additional support with daily tasks while they recover from an illness and operation. It saves the upheaval of moving temporarily into a residential facility or in with other family members.

When you need palliative care and end of life care

A lot of people living with a terminal or life limiting condition want to pass away in their own home. Domiciliary carers can become part of a palliative care team and work alongside health care professionals to help with daily tasks, support the family, and ensure everyday care is shaped about their personal circumstances and preferences.

How can I arrange domiciliary care?

When considering whether a domiciliary carer is right for you and looking for suitable professionals, it’s important to think about –

The skills of the care worker. Are they well equipped to provide the level of care you need and do they have the right experience?
Are they someone you and your family can get on with? If they're a great personality match but lack certain skills, are they willing to upskill? Or could you benefit from hiring a second carer and building a care team?
How much time can they dedicate to your care each week? Are they willing to stay in an emergency? If you're looking into private care, what happens if they fall ill or can't make it on time?
How will the care worker access the property? If it's difficult for you or a loved one to answer the door, would you be comfortable giving them a key, or setting up a key safety box?
How would you like the carer to communicate with you? how often should they share updates with the wider family for peace of mind?

There are a range of services in the UK that can help you put care in place. From managed care agencies with a large staff of care workers, to introductory agencies and online marketplaces that can connect you to private carers. Which one is right for you will depend on your care requirements and how involved you’d like to be in the process.

Find out more about the different types of care companies here.

Get home care sorted with Elder

Elder is an award-winning marketplace connecting families to self-employed carers, and providing the tools and support they need for a great on-going relationship. Request care online in 10 minutes, and you'll start receiving profiles of the most suitable carers within 24 hours. Use our online platform to chat to carers and our support team, manage your care schedule and keep important information all in one place.

How we work

If you’re ready to find a carer, or are just looking for some professional advice, give our friendly team a call today on 0333 920 3648

Who pays domiciliary care costs?

While social care isn’t free, domiciliary care can be a cost effective option as you’ll get more one-on-one care for your money than in a care home. There’s also a range of funding options that can help you manage the cost of care.

Local authority care funding – Ask your adult social care services for a care needs assessment. If you’re found to have qualifying care needs, they’ll follow this up with a financial assessment to work out how much funding you’re eligible for. If you ask to receive your funding as a direct payment, you’ll be free to spend it on any provider you choose.
Releasing money from your home – A home reversion company, life-time mortgage, or equity release scheme can free up funds for care without the need to sell your home. It’s vital to seek financial advice before taking out one of these products as they’re complex and can have an impact on inheritance.

If you’d like to learn more about the different ways to fund care we’ve created a quick guide to funding options. We’ve also created a free care costs calculator – answer some questions on your financial situation and personal circumstances and you’ll get recommendations on where to apply for financial support.

Find your ideal carer

We have connected over 5,000 families and carers across the UK. Search for yours today.

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FAQs

What can I do to make the home safer?

If your loved one is staying in their own home, you may want to make some changes to the way it’s laid out.

This may include moving furniture around or reducing what’s there altogether, and installing ramps, rails and stairlifts. You might also want to add security features, such as automatic cut-offs for cookers.

We’ve gone into all of these in more depth in our guide to home adaptations.

How do I request domiciliary care with Elder?

Simply create a free MyElder account, complete some online clinical suitability questions and submit a ‘Care Request’. This can often be completed in under 10 minutes, ensures Elder’s platform is right for your needs, and gives us the essential information we need to kick off the carer matching process.

Questions cover basic information such as the name, age and location of the person needing care, their medical conditions, mobility level, hobbies and interests, as well as any discrimination risk.

Once submitted, our ElderMatch technology will use your answers to shortlist suitable self-employed carers. You’ll usually receive the profiles of suitable carers within 24 hours.

Profiles contain details of the carers experience and background, and feedback they’ve received from other families. You’ll also be able to view a short introductory video from the carer to get to know them a little better. You can invite other family members / decision makers to your account to help review potential carers, and can use the chat feature in MyElder to message the carers you’re interested in, and arrange a phone / video call with them. If you’re unsure what to ask potential carers, we have some suggestions here.

Once you’ve found a self-employed carer you’d like to work with, click ‘accept’ on their profile.

For more tips for choosing the right carer for your needs, click here.

Can I make changes to my scheduled care visits once I've made my arrangements?

Yes, you can reach out to the Elder support team via the chat function in your MyElder account or via our specialist helpline. They’ll confirm this with your carer and update your schedule, ensuring these changes are reflected in your next bill.

What if my care needs change?

Before your care starts you’ll answer some questions in your MyElder account to assess whether visiting care is right for you. It’ll also help your carer understand your needs when delivering your care. You can login to MyElder to manage and update the information in your care profile at any time. We recommend doing this at least every month or whenever significant changes to your care needs or personal circumstances occur. If these changes mean you need a new carer with different skills, this’ll make it easier for you to find suitable candidates.

Can I arrange overnight visits?

We don’t currently offer overnight care as part of our visiting care services. We are always looking for ways to better serve our customers so if this is something you would like in the future please let the Elder support team know. You may also find live-in care to be better suited to your overnight needs.

Elder is a Marketplace, how is this different to a care agency?

Elder is an online marketplace connecting families needing care to self-employed carers.

We use technology to match you to the most suitable carers and allow you to choose the carer you feel best fits your needs.

We also give you the simple online tools you need to manage care. And, unlike with a care agency, your care agreement will be between you and your self-employed carer. This gives you complete control over the care experiences, ensuring your loved one is cared for in a way they’re comfortable with – protecting independence, dignity, and routine.

How do you screen the self-employed carers before they join the Elder platform?

We understand that families put a lot of trust in the self-employed carers on our platform, so to join our platform carers must pass the following suitability screening –

Have previous experience providing care either in people’s homes, or in a care home or specialist facility. We don’t accept personal care experience alone.
Have a good understanding of the English language (written and spoken)
Have a valid form of photo I.D – Have the Right to Work in the UK
Have the ability to pass an enhanced DBS check (England and Wales only)
Be able to provide at least 2 verifiable professional references
Complete situational judgement and character screening

Is Elder registered with the Care Inspectorate or Care Quality Commission

At Elder we help families and self-employed carers do three critical things safely: (1) find each other, (2) match with each other and (3) manage their ongoing relationship directly. We enable this through the development of technology and processes that families and carers use. The agreement for care is between the customer and the self-employed carer – therefore Elder is not required to be registered with a regulatory body like the Care Quality Commission or the Care Inspectorate.

However, everything we do at Elder is underpinned by respect, transparency, safety, and integrity. You can read our full safety and trust policy here.