Adults

Community care is about providing the right kind of care and support to people who have difficulty managing on their own, such as:

• older people who are infirm;
• people with a physical disability;
• people with a sensory disability, i.e. a sight or hearing problem;
• people with a learning disability;
• people with a mental health problem;
• people with a drug or alcohol problem;
• people with HIV/AIDS.

The aims of community care are to:

• enable people to live as normal a life as possible in their own homes or in a homely environment in the local community;
• provide the right amount of care and support to help people achieve maximum possible independence and in undertaking basic living skills, help them to achieve their full potential;
• give individuals a greater say in how they live their lives and the services they need to help them to do so.

Community care services can include:

• day care, i.e. social and personal care, rehabilitation and/or recreation in a day centre;
• home care, i.e. personal and practical care and assistance in the home;
• equipment and adaptations to help with daily living;
• short-term (respite) care in a residential or nursing home, i.e. a break for carers;
• residential care in a residential or nursing home;
• welfare benefits advice.

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