Searching for care can feel confusing and intimidating. These plain-English guides walk you through every step — and where an official source explains it best, we link you straight to it.
Visiting care (from 30 minutes a day), live-in care, 24-hour care, respite for family carers, or specialist support for dementia, learning disabilities and mental health — the right answer depends on daily routines, safety and what "a good day" looks like. Our free assessment helps you decide without obligation, and sometimes the honest answer is that you don't need us yet.
Everyone is entitled to a free care needs assessment from their local council — it's the gateway to council-funded support. If you look after someone, you're separately entitled to a carer's assessment in your own right, which can unlock respite and practical help for you.
Apply for a needs assessment on GOV.UK →There are three main routes: paying privately with a clear written price; council funding if savings are below the means-test threshold (currently £23,250 in England), often via a direct payment so you still choose your provider; and NHS funding for those with significant health needs. We'll point you to the right route in one phone call — even if you don't choose us.
NHS guide to care and support funding →People whose needs are primarily health-related may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare — a package arranged and fully funded by the NHS, with no means test. Assessment starts with a checklist completed by a nurse, GP or social worker. If you think this may apply to your family, ask us and we'll explain how the process works.
NHS Continuing Healthcare explained →First a conversation, then a free home assessment, then a written care plan with transparent pricing — agreed with you and refined until it's exactly right. Carers are matched for skill and chemistry and introduced properly before care begins, with 24/7 on-call support and regular reviews from day one.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets someone you trust make decisions about your health, welfare or finances if you lose the ability to make them yourself. Setting one up early — while capacity is not in question — spares families enormous difficulty later. It's one of the kindest pieces of planning any family can do.
Set up an LPA on GOV.UK →Behind most care arrangements is a husband, wife, daughter or son quietly carrying the load. Respite care — from a few hours a week to a full break — protects the carer's own health, and a carer's assessment can unlock further support. Asking for help isn't giving up; it's how caring is sustained.
Carers UK help and advice →Leaving hospital without the right support at home is one of the main reasons people are readmitted. We work directly with hospital discharge teams — including urgent and discharge-to-assess pathways — to have care in place from the day your loved one comes home, then adjust it as they recover.
A free, unhurried assessment at home — no obligation, no pressure, honest advice.