Domiciliary care means trained carers visit, or live in, your parent’s own home to help with washing, dressing, meals, medication and company. It costs roughly £20 to £30 an hour in England, or £800 to £1,500 a week for live-in care, and either you, the local authority, or the NHS can pay, depending on your parent’s needs and savings.

What are domiciliary care services?

Domiciliary care is help that comes to your parent, not the other way round. A carer visits their home, or moves in, to support daily life.

It suits people who want to stay in their own home but need some help to do it safely. It’s different from a care home, where your parent would move into a shared building with staff on site all the time.

If you’re weighing up the two options, our week-by-week guide to home care vs care home can help you decide.

What does domiciliary care actually cover?

Carers can help with almost anything your parent struggles with day to day. The exact list depends on their needs and how many hours you book.

Typical tasks include:

• Washing, dressing and getting in and out of bed
• Prompting or giving medication
• Cooking meals and making sure they eat and drink enough
• Light household tasks like laundry and tidying
• Company and conversation, which matters more than people expect
• Help getting to appointments or out for a walk

Visits can last 30 minutes, an hour, or carers can live in full time. Live-in care suits people who need support through the night or who struggle alone for long stretches.

For a fuller rundown of daily tasks, see What Does An In-Home Caregiver Do?

How much does domiciliary care cost?

Prices vary by region and by how much care your parent needs. Here’s a rough guide for England.

Prices in London and the South East tend to sit at the higher end. Ask any provider for a written quote before you agree to anything.

Who pays for domiciliary care?

Most families pay for some or all of the cost themselves. But there are ways to get help.

• Local authority funding: if your parent has savings under £23,250, a local authority adult social care assessment, carried out under the Care Act 2014, checks if they qualify for help towards the cost.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare: this covers people with complex health needs. It’s fully funded by the NHS, but the bar for qualifying is high.
• Attendance Allowance: a weekly, non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. It’s worth applying even if you’re paying for care privately.

Our guide on arranging home care in England covers funding routes in more detail.

How do I arrange domiciliary care this week?

Here’s a clear order of calls to make, starting today.

1. Call your parent’s GP if there are health needs you’re worried about, especially after a hospital stay. See our guide to arranging care after hospital discharge if that’s your situation.
2. Request a local authority adult social care assessment. Call your parent’s council and ask for this. It’s free and decides what funded support they’re entitled to.
3. Book a free assessment with a provider. Rising Star Care Solutions offers a free assessment to work out exactly what hours and tasks your parent needs.
4. Get two or three quotes so you can compare costs and what’s included.
5. Check funding options like Attendance Allowance while you wait for assessments to come back.

Most families can have care in place within one to two weeks of making that first call.

What questions should I ask a care provider?

Use this checklist on any call or visit.

• What is your Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating, and can I see the report?
• Will my parent see the same small team of carers, rather than a different person each time?
• How are staff trained, and what checks do you run before hiring them?
• What happens if a carer is ill or can’t make a visit?
• Is there a manager I can call if something goes wrong?
• How do you review and adjust the care plan over time?

A good provider will answer all of this clearly and without hesitation.

Domiciliary care vs other options

Domiciliary care isn’t the only way to support your parent. It helps to know how it compares.

If you’re not sure which fits, our guide to respite care in England and our home care vs care home guide can help you weigh it up.

Common questions

Is domiciliary care the same as home care?Yes. The two terms mean the same thing: carers helping your parent at home.

Can I get domiciliary care funded by the NHS?Only through NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is for people with complex, ongoing health needs. Most people fund care themselves or get help from the local authority.

How many hours of care does my parent need?This depends on their daily needs. A local authority assessment or a free assessment with a provider can work this out.

What if my parent’s needs change?Good providers review care regularly and adjust hours or tasks as needed.

Can domiciliary care work alongside family help?Yes. Many families mix paid visits with their own support, especially to start with.

Key points

• Domiciliary care brings personal care, meals, medication help and company to your parent’s own home
• Costs typically run £20 to £30 an hour, or £800 to £1,500 a week for live-in care
• A local authority adult social care assessment is free and decides if your parent qualifies for funded help
• Check Attendance Allowance and NHS Continuing Healthcare before assuming you must pay the full cost yourself
• Always check a provider’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating before booking
• Rising Star Care Solutions offers a free assessment to help you work out the right level of care