Different types of care
Find out what's offered by some of the different types
of care and about the needs of people who use care homes and care
services.
Care services come in many different shapes and sizes. Some will
suit you more than others.
Social care services are not simply split between home care and
residential care.
Many social care providers now offer new schemes, like extra
care housing or sheltered housing, that help you to stay as
independent as possible with care available if and when you need
it.
You may be able to mix and match different types of care,
including regular short breaks, sometimes called respite
care, for a relative or friend who looks after you.
Here are some of the different services
available:
Adult services
What about children's services?
Since April 2007, social care services for children have been
monitored by Ofsted.
Who uses care services?
People use care for many different reasons. How much people rely
on them varies a lot.
Some people only need care for a short time, to get them over a
difficult patch, or just once or twice a week.
Other people need full-time care and may use a range of
services.
People who use social care include those with:
- a sensory impairment
- a physical disability
- a learning disability
- a terminal illness
- a mental illness
- problems connected to ageing
- alcohol dependency
- drug dependency.