Home Care in Devon: A Practical Guide for Families
For many families, the most important thing is helping an older loved one stay safe and well at home, in the place they know best. UK guidance describes homecare (also called domiciliary care) as support that helps people manage everyday tasks and personal care so they can remain independent for longer.
In Devon, home care can be arranged through the local council, purchased privately, or organised using a mix of both. This guide brings together trusted national and local information so you can understand the options and feel more confident about your next steps.
If you’d like to talk through your own situation, our team can explain how home care in Devon might work for your family.
Speak to Our Home Care TeamWhat is home care?
Age UK explains that homecare services are designed to help you look after yourself and your home so you can stay independent in familiar surroundings. In practice, that can include:
- Help with personal care – such as getting in and out of bed, washing, dressing and going to the toilet
- Support with household tasks – like cleaning, doing laundry and preparing meals
- Help using equipment or adaptations at home, for example handrails or stairlifts, when assessed as needed
- Support with getting out to a day centre or local activities, where appropriate
Devon County Council also distinguishes between:
- Enabling support – unregulated help with day-to-day tasks such as shopping, housework, paperwork and meal preparation, aimed at making everyday life easier.
- Personal care – regulated support with intimate tasks such as washing, dressing and eating, delivered by paid carers and overseen by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Together, these services form the backbone of home care: practical support that fits around the person, rather than forcing them to fit around a service.
When might you consider home care?
Age UK suggests that home care may help if someone is struggling with day-to-day tasks, even after trying simple aids or support from family and friends. You might notice:
- Personal care is becoming difficult – getting washed, dressed or to the toilet safely
- Household jobs are being left – the house is not as clean as usual, or meals are skipped
- There are falls or near-misses, or worries about moving around safely
- Medication is missed or taken at the wrong time
- The person is more isolated or anxious, especially if they live alone
- You or other family carers feel overstretched or exhausted
Home care doesn’t have to be permanent or intensive. National guidance recognises that it can be used on a short-term basis (for example, after a stay in hospital), or as a longer-term way of supporting someone to live at home for as long as possible.
Types of home care support you might use
Drawing on examples from Age UK, Devon County Council and leading home care providers in East Devon, families typically come across the following types of support:
Personal care at home
Personal care usually includes:
- Help with washing, bathing or showering
- Assistance with dressing and undressing
- Support with getting in and out of bed
- Help with continence and going to the toilet
- Preparing simple meals and drinks
In Devon, personal care provided in the home is a regulated activity and must be delivered by services registered with the CQC.
Enabling and domestic support
Enabling services focus on the practical side of day-to-day life, such as:
- Help with light housework and laundry
- Support with shopping and errands
- Ensuring there is a hot, nutritious meal available
- Help to manage bills, correspondence and appointments
These services are often unregulated, but Devon County Council signposts to reputable providers and provides advice on how to choose them.
Companionship and social support
Some people mainly need company, reassurance and routine. Bluebird Care’s guide to home care in East Devon, for example, describes companionship visits that focus on conversation, shared activities and emotional support for those who may be lonely or isolated.
Specialist home care (e.g. dementia, complex needs)
Specialist home care is designed for people with particular conditions such as dementia or other long-term illnesses. Age UK and Devon County Council highlight that providers delivering personal care must be registered with the CQC, and families can consult inspection reports to understand how services support people with specific needs.
Respite care at home
Family carers are entitled to support too. Age UK explains that there are options for respite care, where a paid carer provides temporary support so unpaid carers can rest or attend to other responsibilities. This respite can be arranged through the council or privately, depending on circumstances.
Live-in and residential care alongside home care
While this guide focuses on home care, most families also want to understand how live-in care and residential care homes fit into the picture. Age UK and Devon County Council both note that:
- Home care can often support people to stay at home for longer.
- Live-in care may be considered where someone needs continuous support but wishes to remain at home.
- Residential care may be appropriate if 24-hour supervision is needed, or if the home environment is no longer safe.
Classic Carers, for example, provides domiciliary care across Devon as well as live-in and residential care options through its associated care homes, giving families a continuum of support within one organisation.
Getting help from Devon County Council
Care needs assessment
Age UK is clear that the first step if you want help from your local council is to ask for a care needs assessment. This assessment:
- Should be free of charge
- Is available regardless of your income or savings
- Looks at what support you need and whether your needs meet national eligibility criteria
Devon County Council has a similar process. If you have explored other options but still feel you need more support to live safely at home, you can request a care needs assessment through their Adult Social Care services or use their online self-help tool.
If your needs are not considered “eligible”, the council should still offer information and advice about other ways of getting support, including local voluntary services, community groups and equipment.
Financial assessment and paying towards care
If the local authority agrees that you need care services, they will usually carry out a financial assessment to work out whether you need to pay towards your care at home and, if so, how much. Age UK and Devon County Council explain that:
- Most people will contribute something to the cost of care, depending on their income and savings.
- The council must leave you with a minimum income for day-to-day living (known as the “Minimum Income Guarantee”) and allow for housing-related costs.
- Devon provides detailed information about paying for community care services and how contributions are calculated.
If you are eligible, you may choose to:
- Let the council commission care on your behalf and pay your assessed contribution to them, or
- Receive direct payments so you can arrange your own support, with guidance on how to use them lawfully and safely.
Arranging and funding home care yourself
Many people in Devon choose to arrange their own home care, either because they do not qualify for council-funded support, or because they prefer greater control.
Devon County Council’s guidance suggests several options if you want to organise your own care:
- Employ a personal assistant (PA) directly, using your own funds or direct payments
- Use a home care agency that provides regulated personal care and can manage rotas and cover
- Arrange help with domestic tasks from vetted cleaners or companions for non-personal-care support
To help you make informed choices, Devon signposts to:
- Independent consumer advice from organisations such as Which?, which has tools to help you choose and buy home care
- National charities including Age UK and Independent Age, which publish free guides and run telephone advice lines about buying equipment and home care services
- The Care Quality Commission (CQC) website, where you can check that a home care service is registered and read inspection reports where available.
For example, Classic Carers is listed by the CQC as a registered home care (domiciliary) service operating in Exminster, within Devon local authority. Families can check this kind of registration status for any provider they are considering.
Planning day-to-day support at home
Devon County Council describes how home care visits are often grouped into broad time bands across the day (for example, morning, lunchtime, late afternoon and evening), and emphasises that some flexibility may be needed because of workforce pressures and demand across the county.
When planning support, it can help to think about:
- Key times when help is essential – getting up, bathing, preparing main meals, settling at night
- Safety-critical tasks – taking medication correctly, moving safely, using the toilet
- Wellbeing and social contact – avoiding long periods alone, especially in more rural areas
- Transport and appointments – getting to GP, clinic or social activities
According to Devon County Council, care arrangements should be reviewed regularly to ensure they still meet your needs, and you should be informed and consulted about any significant changes to visit times or support.
Choosing a home care provider in Devon
Age UK and Devon County Council recommend taking a structured approach when comparing home care providers. Key points include:
Check CQC registration
Any service providing personal care at home must be registered with the CQC.
You can look up providers by name, see their registration status and read inspection reports where available.
Look at the range of care offered
Some providers focus on personal care only, while others offer dementia support, respite care and live-in or residential options.
Directories such as Autumna list the types of care each provider can deliver (for example, personal care, dementia care and respite).
Ask about staff training and supervision
Reputable providers describe induction and ongoing training in areas like personal care, infection control, medication and safeguarding – similar to the training outlined in Bluebird Care’s guidance for East Devon.
Consider how care is planned and reviewed
There should be a written care plan, drawn up with you, describing what support is provided and when.
Providers should review care with you and adjust visits if your needs change.
Think about reliability and communication
Councils and charities stress the importance of clear communication when visits are delayed or need to change, and of knowing how to raise concerns if something is not right.
Classic Carers, for example, positions itself as a personalised home care service operating across Devon, alongside residential homes in Teignmouth and Exminster, which can provide continuity if home is no longer the safest option. Families may find it helpful to look at this kind of continuum when weighing up providers.
Questions to ask when you speak to providers
Based on the checklists suggested by Age UK, Devon County Council and consumer organisations, examples of questions you might consider include:
- Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission, and can you direct me to your profile?
- What areas of Devon do you cover, and do you support my specific location (for example, Exeter, Teignmouth, Dawlish Warren or Exminster)?
- What types of care do you provide – personal care, dementia support, respite care, live-in care, end-of-life care?
- How do you recruit, train and supervise your care staff?
- Will my loved one see a small, consistent team of carers, as far as possible?
- How will you involve us in creating and reviewing the care plan?
- What happens if a visit is delayed or a carer is off sick?
- If I am arranging care using direct payments or self-funding, how are fees structured and reviewed?
Using this kind of checklist helps you compare providers fairly and make an informed choice.
Support for carers and families
Age UK and Devon County Council both emphasise that unpaid carers are entitled to support in their own right. This can include:
- A carer’s assessment from the local authority to look at your needs and what would help you continue caring
- Information about respite care, breaks and local support groups
- Advice about benefits such as Carer’s Allowance and other financial help
National charities (Age UK, Independent Age) and local organisations in Devon can also provide emotional support, helplines and practical guidance for carers.
Where to find further help and information
For reliable, up-to-date information about home care in Devon and across the UK, you can use:
- Devon County Council Adult Social Care – information on support at home, care at home services, care needs assessments, and paying for care in Devon.
- Age UK – national guidance on homecare, paying for care, care needs assessments and carers’ rights, plus downloadable information guides.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) – to check that home care and residential care services are registered and to read inspection reports.
- Independent consumer advice such as Which?, and charities like Independent Age, for neutral guides on choosing and buying home care.
- Local providers in Devon, including Classic Carers, which offer domiciliary, live-in and residential care options and can talk you through what support might be appropriate in your area.
