Care and support at home

We provide a range of Care at Home services for people who need support to live independently at home. The services provide support and practical help in your own home.

Care at Home is available from early morning to late evening, every day of the year. In exceptional circumstances, or where people experience a crisis, we can arrange for Home Carers to respond during the night.

Support includes:

We have our own Home Care service, but we can commission services from independent care at home providers. Home Carers work in partnership with family, friends and other agencies to support you at home.

We will assess your care needs and how we can support you. You may be asked to contribute towards the cost of the services you receive. Many people will pay nothing, or will only contribute towards part of the cost. Once the services are in place they are regularly reviewed.

Contact us if you think you, a relative or friend needs help to manage at home.

Home and practical support

Care at Home services can help you with personal care, home support and practical support.

Personal care can include help with:

  • personal hygiene, such as washing, dressing and toileting
  • getting in or out of bed
  • medication
  • eating and drinking
  • preparing special diets

Home support can include:

  • advice and guidance
  • support with budget management
  • help with home security and maintenance
  • help to use domestic appliances
  • help to manage bills and official correspondence

Practical support can include:

  • essential shopping
  • lighting your fire
  • collecting your pension
  • laundry or essential hygiene cleaning

Practical support is provided as part of a combined care package with personal care, to meet essential daily living needs.

Free personal care

Care at Home isn't the same as free personal care.

Free personal care is one element of Care at Home services. It is available to people who are assessed as needing personal care.

More information on free personal and nursing care is available on the Scottish Government's website

Community meals service

A Meals at Home Service can be arranged if you are not able to prepare a hot meal for yourself at home. This service helps you remain as independent as possible and makes sure you have a daily nutritious main meal.

You can order between 10 and 14 frozen meals, delivered fortnightly, for you to cook each day. You can choose from over 100 dishes, providing variety for all tastes. Special diets can be catered for. Each meal consists of soup and a main course, or a main course and a pudding, depending on your preference.

There is a small charge for each meal ordered.

You need a freezer and a microwave to cook the meals. These can be supplied for a small additional rental charge. If you are not able to cook the meals yourself, a Home Carer can help you prepare the two-course meals.

This service is arranged by an Enablement and Support Coordinator or Care Manager. They will visit to discuss your wishes and explain the service.

For more information, or to request an assessment, please contact us

Who is eligible for Care at Home services

People of all ages get care at home. You may be eligible if you:

  • need help with personal care and practical support to live independently
  • have increasing frailty or dementia
  • are ill and living at home
  • have a disability or sensory impairment, mental health problems or substance misuse problems

You, your family or carer can ask a Social Work or Health professional to meet you and discuss your circumstances. This is part of your assessment. Eligibility for Care at Home services is agreed after the assessment and applying the eligibility criteria.

If you would like to find out more please contact us.

Paying for Care at Home services

We operate a charging policy for Care at Home services based on a person's ability to pay. More information is available on our financial help web page.

Self-directed support (SDS) gives you control over the way you choose to arrange your support. Care at Home arranged by us is one of your SDS options.

If you would like to find out more please contact us.

Contact us

Call 03456 08 12 06 or email aberdeenshireHSCP@aberdeenshire.gov.uk for more information, non-urgent care and support enquiries or to make a referral for Care at Home services.