Visiting care at home

How visiting care works

With visiting care (sometimes called live-out care), a caregiver or nurse comes to the home for visits that are agreed in the care plan. A visit might cover:

• getting up, washing and dressing in the morning;
• a lunchtime visit to prepare a meal and check medicines have been taken;
• a nurse's visit to change a dressing or give an injection;
• an evening visit to help someone get ready for bed;
• a longer daytime shift for company, outings and household tasks.

Between visits, the person is on their own or with family. That is why the assessment looks carefully at what happens between visits, not only during them.

Who visiting care suits

Visiting care is often a good fit when:

• the person is fairly safe on their own for parts of the day;
• family members live nearby or in the house and share the care;
• the help needed happens at predictable times, such as mornings and evenings;
• the person needs a nursing task done regularly, but not continuous support.

It may not be enough on its own if the person is often confused at night, has fallen several times, or needs help at unpredictable times. In those situations we'll talk to you honestly about live-in care or about combining visits with family support.

Planning the visits

At the assessment we agree:

1. What happens at each visit, written as a simple list the caregiver follows and you can check.
2. When visits happen, and how much flexibility there is in timing.
3. Who does what: which tasks need a nurse and which a caregiver.
4. What happens between visits: who the person can call, and who checks on them.
5. How you'll be kept informed, and who is authorised to receive updates.

Cost

The cost of visiting care depends mainly on the number and length of visits, whether a nurse is needed, and travel to the area. We give you a written quote after the assessment and before care starts. Our guide to what affects the cost of care at home explains the factors in more detail.