Non-medical home care
Personal care at home
Personal care provides respectful, hands-on help with the private routines that affect comfort, confidence and independence — always at a pace that suits the person receiving care.
Support is delivered by personal support workers or caregivers trained for the tasks in the written care plan. Before care starts, we learn how the person prefers to be helped, which words they use for personal care, and where they want more privacy. That detail matters: a shower, transfer or toileting visit can feel safe and ordinary when the approach is calm, consistent and unhurried.
What’s included
- Bathing, showering and washing, with warmth, privacy and dignity prioritised
- Dressing and undressing, including clothing laid out in a familiar order
- Grooming support for hair, oral care, shaving and nail comfort
- Toileting, incontinence care and discreet changes of clothing or pads
- Mobility support and safe transfers between bed, chair, toilet, bath and walker
- Non-medical medication reminders, documentation and family updates
- Meal support, including preparation, encouragement, serving and clean-up
- Skin and comfort care within personal support worker scope, such as applying unscented lotion or checking that clothing and bedding are clean and dry
Who it’s for
- Older adults who need steady help with bathing or dressing but want to remain at home
- People recovering strength after hospital discharge when non-clinical support is appropriate
- Adults living with arthritis, limited mobility, fatigue or vision changes
- Families concerned about falls in the bathroom or strain during transfers
- Anyone whose current care hours do not cover all personal routines
Scope and boundaries
Alcove provides non-medical personal care. Caregivers do not administer medications, manage sterile procedures, provide wound treatment or perform nursing procedures. Those services are out of scope and are referred to a regulated health professional or appropriate provider. If needs change, we will tell you clearly when a clinical assessment or nursing service is required.
A calm, predictable approach
Good personal care depends on preparation. We plan the route to the bathroom, gather supplies first, check water temperature and keep towels or clothing within reach before moving begins. Caregivers explain each step, wait for cues and respect the person’s right to do whatever they can safely manage themselves. If a morning is difficult, the plan can be changed: more time, a different sequence, a bed bath instead of a shower, or extra support at a quieter part of the day.
How it works with Alcove
We begin with a free consultation to understand the routine, environment and level of assistance required. The result is a written care plan covering preferences, safe transfer methods, boundaries and emergency contacts. We then match the client with a caregiver whose skills and temperament fit, and we keep in touch through ongoing check-ins so the plan can be adjusted as needs change.
How to start
Tell us which routines are becoming difficult and what matters most to your family. We will suggest realistic support hours and explain whether personal care alone is enough.
Related: all home care services, overnight care, or bringing a parent home from hospital.