Social Care
Adult social care covers a wide range of activities that help people who are older or living with disability or physical or mental illness to live independently and stay well and safe. It can include ‘personal care’, such as support for washing, dressing and getting out of bed in the morning, as well as wider support to help people stay active and engaged in their communities. Social care includes support in people’s own homes (home care or domiciliary care); support in day centres; care provided by residential homes and nursing homes (care homes); reablement services to help people regain independence; the provision of aids and adaptations for people’s homes; information and advice; and support for family carers.
Social care is often broken down into two broad categories of ‘short-term care’ and ‘long-term care’. Short-term care refers to a care package that is time limited, usually with the intention of maximising the independence of the individual using the care service and eliminating their need for ongoing support. Long-term services are provided on an ongoing basis and range from high-intensity services such as nursing care to lower-intensity community support. Both long-term and short-term care are arranged by a local authority and could be described as ‘formal’ care.