Domiciliary care is a range of care services put in place to support someone in their home.

Within the care industry there are a few different types of care, from residential to domiciliary. Here we’re going to be exploring what exactly is domiciliary care, what’s involved in it and how it differs from residential care amongst other things.

What is domiciliary care?

Domiciliary care is a range of care services put in place to support someone in their home. This type of care is provided by a trained specialist who can help support someone with all types of activities in their home from general household duties such as washing up, laundry to tending to their medication. Domiciliary care is usually chosen when a person does not wish to leave their home permanently to receive the care they need.

Visits from a domiciliary care professional can vary from daily visits to full time live-in care and can help the person receiving care to maintain their quality of life and independence.

What are the benefits of domiciliary care?

Where possible, domiciliary care has many benefits which attract individuals to choose this type of care.

Promotes independence

One of the main reasons it is chosen is that it promotes the continued independence of the individual, allowing them to maintain their quality of life from the comfort of their own home. This highly individualised support provides a more bespoke experience and can be adapted to the need of the individual.

Helps maintain social connections

Domiciliary care can help to maintain social connections with family and friends, promoting active engagement within the community and enabling continues hobbies, routines and activities for the individual. This also helps to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.

Cost effective care

Depending on the nature of the care needed, domiciliary care can be a cost effective alternative. Having professional care for a few hours a week can be much easier to digest than a full time care option, and thus reducing the financial burden whilst still receiving the support and care needed.

What are the disadvantages of domiciliary care?

But it can also have its drawbacks, particularly when intensive medical care is needed.

Limited medical care

If a person required extensive medical care such as complex procedures and round-the-clock medical attention, they may require specialised facilities. In such cases. A professional care facility or medical services may be necessary.

Professional care availability

Depending on the type of care needed, a professional carer’s availability may not be able accommodate the individual causing challenges in continuous and consistent care. For example, there could be scheduling conflicts or emergencies which could impact the availability of care for an individual. This means this type of care requires back up plans and strong communication to ensure the continued delivery of care.

Home safety concerns

The individual receiving care may find that their home isn’t a suitable environment for the necessary care required. There may be hazards within the home or the home’s conditions may be inadequate and pose a risk to the individuals safety.

Social isolation

Many find that service users can become isolated from friends, and communities. This can be due to limited interactions with others for an extended period of time and can have a negative impact on a person’s mental health and wellbeing.

What does a domiciliary care worker do?

A domiciliary carer, can also be known as a home carer or private carer, are care professionals who support those in their care to live independently in their own homes, either through daily visits or via live-in care. Their responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Personal care
• Cooking and preparing food
• Medication support
• Household tasks
• Running errands
• Companionship
• Arranging and traveling to appointments
• Administrative work
• Building relationships with the persons family

What’s the difference between residential care and domiciliary care?

Whilst domiciliary care is care that is provided in an individuals home, residential care is provided in a care setting such as a care home. Residential care offers individuals a more communal living experience, which includes 24 hour support from care staff, and can be a more suitable option for those with highly complex care needs.

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