Thinking about home care services for a parent or partner is rarely a quick decision. For most families it begins with a simple desire to make daily life easier for someone they love, but it also comes with plenty of questions about what help is actually available.
In simple terms, home care services provide professional, one-to-one support in a person’s own home, from help with washing, dressing and meals to companionship and specialist dementia support.
This guide walks families in Surrey and Kingston Upon Thames through what home care involves, what it costs, and how to arrange it, at whatever pace suits you.
What do home care services actually involve? In summary
- Home care services provide professional, one-to-one support in a person’s own home, helping them stay independent in familiar surroundings.
- Day-to-day support can include personal care, medication reminders, meals, mobility assistance, light housework, and companionship, all tailored to the individual.
- Options in Surrey and Kingston Upon Thames range from hourly visiting care to live-in, night, respite and specialist dementia care.
- All home care agencies in England are regulated by the Care Quality Commission, so you can check any provider’s rating before choosing.
- SereneCare offers a free, no-obligation care assessment to help families find the right level of support, at their own pace.
What is home care?
Home care, also called domiciliary care, is professional support delivered in someone’s own home rather than in a residential setting.
A trained care expert visits at agreed times to help with daily living, so the person you love can stay in familiar surroundings, keep their routines, and hold on to the independence that matters so much to them.
According to the Centre for Ageing Better, 80% of older people say they want to stay in their own home as they age. For many families, home care is the reassuring middle ground between doing everything yourselves and a move into residential care.
What do home care services include day to day?
Home care services cover practical, personal and emotional support. Most visits combine several small tasks that together keep someone safe, comfortable, and connected.
No two care plans look the same because no two people or families do. A thoughtful plan from a provider like SereneCare can include:
- Personal care: Sensitive help with washing, bathing, dressing and continence support, always delivered with dignity and patience.
- Medication support: Gentle reminders and prompts so prescriptions are taken correctly and on time.
- Meals and nutrition: Preparing favourite meals, encouraging hydration and sharing mealtimes so no one eats alone.
- Mobility assistance: Reassuring support moving around the home and reducing the risk of falls.
- Household tasks: Light cleaning, laundry and keeping the home tidy, safe and feeling like theirs.
- Companionship: Conversation, shared hobbies and trips out, because loneliness can be as hard as any physical need.
Types of home care in Surrey and Kingston Upon Thames
Home care is not one single service, and you do not have to know exactly what you need before you ask. It is also far more common than many families realise.
According to the Department of Health and Social Care, over half a million people in England were receiving regulated home care as of February 2026.
Support ranges from short weekly visits to full-time live-in care, and the right option depends on your loved one’s needs, your family’s situation, and how things may change over time.
Hourly visiting home care
Visiting home care means a care expert calls at set times, from one hour a week to several visits a day. It suits people who manage well overall but need reliable, friendly help at specific times of day, such as morning routines or evening meals. For many families, it is a gentle first step.
Live-in and night care
Live-in care places a dedicated care expert in the home full time, offering continuous reassurance for people with higher needs and real peace of mind for relatives who cannot always be there.
Night care covers the hours when many families worry most, supporting safe trips to the bathroom and settled, restful sleep.
Specialist and respite support
Some situations call for specialist skills and extra patience. For instance, SereneCare provides dementia care and Alzheimer’s support built on familiar routines, calm consistency and genuine understanding, alongside mental health support and companionship.
Respite care gives family carers a proper, guilt-free break while their loved one continues to receive kind, professional support.
‘Supporting my own family through dementia taught me what good care really is. It doesn’t take over someone’s life; it protects the parts they treasure most.’
– Humzha Memon, Founder and Director, SereneCare
How much does home-based care cost?
Money is one of the most stressful parts of arranging care, so it helps to know what to expect. Cost depends on the number of hours, the level of need, and where you live, and you may not have to cover it all yourself.
A caring, reputable agency should always give you a clear price list before care begins, with no pressure and no surprises. SereneCare offers clear pricing openly, so families in Surrey can plan with confidence.
How to arrange home care services for a loved one
Arranging care is more straightforward than most families fear, and there is support at every step if you want it. Here, we’ll go over each stage so you know what to expect.- 1. Request a care needs assessment
- 2. Check regulation
- 3. Book a care assessment with your chosen provider
- 4. Start small and adapt
Answering your domiciliary care questions
What is the difference between home care and a care home?
Home care provides support in the person’s own home, while a care home requires moving into a residential setting. Home care preserves familiar surroundings, routines and community ties, which is why many families explore it first.
What are the red flags in a care home?
A few checks can go a long way. Be careful of a poor or outdated CQC rating, frequently changing staff, or vague answers about fees and care plans.
Reading the latest inspection report and visiting in person will usually tell you a great deal, and a good provider will always welcome your questions.
Can home care be temporary?
Yes. Home care can run for a few weeks while someone recovers from illness or a hospital stay, or as respite while a family carer takes a well-earned break, before either ending or continuing longer term.
Do home carers do housework?
Yes, within reason. Carers can help with light housekeeping such as cleaning, laundry, washing up and keeping the home tidy and safe. Heavy-duty tasks like deep cleaning or gardening usually sit outside a standard home care service.
Who regulates home care providers in England?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all home care agencies in England. Every registered provider is inspected and rated, and reports are publicly available on the CQC website, so families can check before they choose.
Will the council pay for home care in Surrey?
Possibly. After a free care needs assessment, the council carries out a financial assessment (means test) based on income and savings, and may contribute to some or all of the cost.
Is home care suitable for someone living with dementia?
Often, yes. Familiar surroundings and consistent routines can reduce confusion and distress, and specialist dementia home care is designed around exactly that comfort and stability.
When you are ready, we are here to listen
At its heart, home care is about helping someone you love keep living well in the place they know best. From an hour of friendly help each week to full live-in support, it flexes around their needs, with clear costs, possible council funding and CQC regulation offering reassurance along the way.
You do not need to have it all figured out before you get in touch. If you are wondering whether care at home could help someone you love, book a free, no-pressure care assessment with SereneCare.
We offer tailored home care services in Surrey and Kingston Upon Thames. You can trust our team to always listen first, then build a plan around the person you love, in the home they love.
