Free consultation
We begin with a free consultation to understand the routine, environment and level of assistance required.
Non-medical home care
Personal care at home
Respectful, hands-on help with the private routines that affect comfort, confidence and independence.
Key points
- Caregivers provide hands-on help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility, and meals.
- Preferences, safe transfer methods, boundaries, and emergency contacts are recorded in writing.
- Caregivers prepare supplies, explain each step, and respect what the person safely manages.
- Nursing procedures, wound treatment, sterile procedures, and medication administration remain out of scope.
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
A calm, predictable approach
Caregivers explain each step, wait for cues and respect the person’s right to do whatever they can safely manage themselves.
How it works with Alcove
Written care plan
The result is a written care plan covering preferences, safe transfer methods, boundaries and emergency contacts.
Caregiver match
We then match the client with a caregiver whose skills and temperament fit.
Ongoing check‑ins
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.
If your family is supporting a stroke at home, learn about stroke recovery support at home.
Not sure what a caregiver may do versus what needs a regulated professional? See what a PSW can and cannot do in Ontario.
The first fortnight of personal care
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The first visits
Early personal-care visits are a period of negotiation as much as assistance. The person learns whether the caregiver arrives at the expected time, explains each step and respects privacy; the caregiver learns which words, sequence and pace make bathing, dressing or toileting feel manageable. The first visits therefore concentrate on one or two routines rather than trying to change everything at once.
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By the second week
By the second week, the household often has better information. Towels may move closer to the shower, a chair may prove more useful than the bathroom counter, clothing may be laid out in a different order, or personal care may move to a quieter part of the day. These small adjustments matter because they protect dignity and reduce rushing. The plan should record what helped, not only what was done.
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Relatives can help
Relatives can help by choosing one bathroom route, keeping supplies stocked and stepping back from private routines when the person prefers that. A short list of familiar words, preferred soap and clothing order can make a substitute visit feel less unfamiliar. If anxiety or refusal continues, the approach, match or schedule can be reviewed rather than forcing the same routine. Read the caregiver first-visit guide and the Ontario PSW scope guide before service begins.
Common questions
Can personal care be limited to bathing and dressing?
Yes, the plan can focus on the routines your family identifies rather than adding tasks the person does not want. If other needs appear, they can be discussed at a check-in. Any new clinical need belongs with an appropriate professional.
How is dignity protected during incontinence support?
The caregiver prepares supplies first, speaks plainly and respectfully, keeps the person covered where possible and works at an unhurried pace. Soiled items are handled discreetly, and privacy preferences are recorded in the plan. The aim is an ordinary routine rather than an embarrassing event.
What should we prepare before a personal care visit?
Set out towels, clean clothing, soap, wipes, pads or other supplies your family uses, and keep the walking route clear. Identify the bathroom or bedroom sequence and any equipment directions supplied by the treating team. Tell the caregiver about preferences for privacy, water temperature and familiar words.
Can personal care change from a shower to a bed bath?
Yes, the approach can be adapted when a shower is difficult, the person prefers a bed bath or the caregiver needs a safer sequence. The change should be recorded and reviewed with the family. Nursing treatment and wound care remain outside this service.
Related: all home care services, overnight care, or bringing a parent home from hospital. Local pages: Toronto · Mississauga · Brampton · Vaughan · Markham · Scarborough · Etobicoke · North York.
Sources
Alcove Home Care
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