Getting up, washing, dressing, meals, medicines and getting to bed, from thirty minutes
Home visits and personal care
Visits from thirty minutes to a few hours, once a day or four times, to help with getting up and dressed, washing and bathing, meals and drinks, prompting medicines, and getting ready for bed. The same small team each time.
Personal care is intimate, and most people would rather not need it. We start by asking what the person wants to keep doing for themselves and how they like things done, and we write that down before anyone visits.
A typical day might be an hour in the morning to help with washing, dressing and breakfast; half an hour at lunch for a hot meal and a check that medicines have been taken; and forty-five minutes in the evening to help with supper and getting ready for bed. Some people need one visit a week for a bath; some need four visits a day with two carers. We visit between 7am and 10pm, every day of the year, including Christmas Day.
Carers can prompt and help with medicines from a blister pack or a pharmacy record, record what was taken, and tell the family or the GP surgery if something seems wrong. They cannot give injections or do nursing tasks; district nurses do those, and we work alongside them. Each person has a written care plan in the house that the carers follow and the family can read.
What it includes
- Visits from 30 minutes, 7am to 10pm
- Washing, bathing, dressing, continence care
- Meals, drinks and a tidy kitchen
- Prompting and recording medicines
- A written care plan in the house
- Two carers where a hoist is needed
What it costs
£29.50 an hour on weekdays and £33.50 at weekends, charged by the half-hour. No joining fee. The cost estimator works out a weekly figure, and explains what the council may pay towards.
Questions about home visits and personal care
Can I choose the visit times?
Within reason, yes. Morning visits are the most in demand; if we cannot give you the time you want, we will say so before we start rather than drift.
Will it be the same carer?
A small team of no more than three regular carers, introduced before they start, with one of them as the main carer. Holidays and sickness are covered from the same team where we can.
Talk to Bethan or Tomos about care.
Ring, send the enquiry form or drop into Frogmore Street. We will talk through what is needed, explain the costs and the council's part honestly, and arrange a free first visit at home, usually within a week.