Many modern care and support services are designed to help people live independently in their own homes. This glossary explains some of the most common terms you may come across.
If you have any questions, speak to your social worker, occupational therapist, or contact the Hartlepool Support Hub.
Assistive Technology
The name used to describe services as home call, Telecare and Telehealth, where sensors or alarms are placed in a person’s home to help ensure their safety.
Domiciliary Care / Home Care
Home Care is sometimes called domiciliary care and refers to personal care in your home.
Home Call
Sometimes called warden call, home call consists of an alarm and intercom in your home. If you wish to call for help, you can push or pull a cord to raise the alarm. A member of staff will contact you by telephone or through the intercom or visit your home if necessary.
Home help
Help with domestic tasks, such as cleaning and washing clothes.
Personal Care
This is to help with talking care of yourself rather than looking after your home. Training staff will visit you to help you with bathing, using the toilet, preparing and eating meals, taking medicines and getting in to and out of bed. This could be physical help or simply a prompt or reminder to do things yourself. Staff can also help you to get out and about and will accompany you to the shops, library or other places in the community.
Residential Care
This refers to care homes registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in which people live and are cared for by the home’s owners and/or employees. Residents usually have their own bedroom and eat meals in a communal dining area. Homes tend to have communal lounges and sometimes a communal garden too. Some residential homes offer registered nursing care. These residential care homes are sometimes called nursing homes. Some homes provide specialist care for people with certain conditions, such as dementia.
Sheltered Housing
Sheltered housing complexes are groups of houses and/or flats. They are often, though not always, lived in by older people. Sheltered housing complexes usually employ a warden who will check in on residents every day. Some wardens live in the complex as well as working there.
Special Needs Housing
Special Needs Housing are homes which have been purpose-built or adapted to help people with disabilities live more independently. Features may include wheelchair-accessible, showers or lowered worktops in the kitchen.
Specialist Domiciliary Care
Specialist Domiciliary Care is like home care but offers specialised support to people with specific conditions of illnesses.
Telecare
Similar to home call, Telecare is a system of alarms connected to a call centre. Like home call, the most basic Telecare sensors raise an alarm if you push a button. Many other Telecare sensors, however, are activated automatically if the need arises.
There are various types of Telecare alarms designed to suit different people’s needs. Examples include smoke and flood detectors, bed and chair occupancy sensors and fall detectors.
Telehealth
A range of Telecare equipment designed to help you reduce the number of visits you make to your doctor. Examples include equipment to help you measure your blood pressure or glucose levels.