Special People Senior Care

What is Senior Care?

Special People provides personalised home and community support for older adults who want to remain living safely and independently in their own homes.

Our service is built around the individual—their routines, preferences, culture, health needs, relationships and personal goals. Support may range from occasional visits to regular daily care, overnight assistance or live-in support, depending on the person’s assessed needs and availability.

We can also support adults under 65 who have early-onset age-related conditions or similar care needs.

Who is Senior Care for?

Our Senior Care service may be suitable for older adults living with:

• Dementia or cognitive decline

• Parkinson’s disease or another neurological condition

• The effects of a stroke or acquired brain injury

• Physical frailty or reduced mobility

• A risk of falls

• Chronic pain or reduced physical function

• COPD, diabetes, heart conditions or other long-term health needs

• Depression, anxiety or emotional difficulties in later life

• Visual or hearing impairments

• Continence or catheter-care needs

• Dysphagia or specialist dietary requirements

• Palliative or end-of-life care needs

• Changing needs following illness, surgery or hospital discharge

We also support older adults with long-standing learning disabilities, autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions whose care needs are changing as they age.

Suitability is confirmed through an individual assessment.

Personal care and daily living

Our support workers provide personal care with dignity, sensitivity and respect for each person’s privacy and choices.

Support may include:

• Washing, bathing or showering

• Dressing and grooming

• Oral care and personal hygiene

• Continence support

• Catheter care

• Assistance with getting in and out of bed

• Support with mobility and transfers

• Use of hoists, walking aids and other agreed equipment

• Repositioning and pressure-area care

• Help maintaining a safe and comfortable home

• Assistance with correspondence and everyday household tasks

The person is encouraged to do as much as they can independently, with support provided only where it is needed.

Medication support

Medication support is provided according to the person’s care plan and prescriber instructions.

This may include:

• Reminding or prompting the person to take medication

• Assisting with or administering prescribed medication

• Recording medication accurately

• Supporting the use of blister packs or dosette boxes

• Monitoring for concerns or changes in wellbeing

• Reporting medication concerns to the appropriate professional

• Helping to arrange prescription collections or deliveries

Medication is administered only by staff who have completed the necessary training and competency checks.

Meals, nutrition and hydration

Our support workers can help individuals maintain a balanced diet and adequate fluid intake.

Support may include:

• Planning and preparing meals and drinks

• Respecting cultural, religious and personal food preferences

• Supporting specialist or medically advised diets

• Monitoring food and fluid intake where required

• Encouraging regular hydration

• Shopping with the individual or completing agreed shopping tasks

• Providing mealtime assistance

• Supporting people with modified-texture diets in accordance with professional guidance

Changes in appetite, swallowing or hydration are recorded and escalated in accordance with the care plan.

Mobility and falls support

We can assist people who have reduced mobility or are at risk of falling.

Support may include:

• Safe movement around the home

• Assistance with transfers

• Using mobility aids correctly

• Following agreed moving-and-handling plans

• Supporting exercises recommended by physiotherapists

• Encouraging safe and appropriate activity

• Identifying and reporting changes in mobility

• Supporting attendance at rehabilitation appointments

Any equipment used must be suitable, properly maintained and included within the individual’s care plan and risk assessment.

Dementia and cognitive support

We provide consistent, reassuring support for people living with dementia or cognitive decline.

Depending on the person’s needs, this may include:

• Help maintaining familiar routines

• Orientation and reassurance

• Support with communication and decision-making

• Assistance with meals, medication and personal care

• Meaningful activities based on the person’s interests and life history

• Support with anxiety, confusion or distressed behaviour

• Monitoring changes in presentation or wellbeing

• Maintaining communication with family members and professionals

We aim to support the person’s identity, choices and remaining abilities rather than focusing only on what they can no longer do.

Community access and social connection

Senior care is not limited to tasks inside the home. Our support workers can help older adults remain involved in their community and maintain important relationships.

Support may include accompanying the person to:

• GP, hospital, dental or therapy appointments

• Day centres and community groups

• Faith and cultural activities

• Exercise, gardening or leisure groups

• Shops, cafés and local services

• Social visits with friends and relatives

• Theatre trips, events and other chosen activities

We provide communication, mobility and practical support so that the person can participate safely and confidently.

Companionship and emotional support

Companionship can be an important part of maintaining emotional wellbeing and reducing isolation.

A support worker may spend time:

• Talking and listening

• Sharing a meal or cup of tea

• Supporting hobbies and interests

• Reading, playing games or listening to music

• Going for a walk or spending time outdoors

• Helping the person stay in contact with family and friends

• Noticing and reporting changes in mood, memory or behaviour

Where possible, workers are matched thoughtfully according to the person’s personality, communication style, background and interests.

Hospital discharge and recovery

We can provide temporary or ongoing support following an illness, operation or hospital stay.

This may include:

• Support with personal care and mobility

• Meal preparation and hydration

• Medication support

• Assistance attending follow-up appointments

• Help following rehabilitation plans

• Monitoring and reporting changes in wellbeing

• Overnight support where assessed as necessary

• Gradually adjusting the level of care as recovery progresses

We can work alongside family members, hospital discharge teams, community nurses, therapists and other professionals involved in the person’s care.

Palliative and end-of-life support

Where appropriate and following assessment, we may support people who wish to remain at home during the final stages of life.

Support may include:

• Personal care and comfort

• Repositioning and pressure-area care

• Assistance with meals, drinks and prescribed medication

• Emotional support for the person and their family

• Overnight care

• Working alongside community nurses, GPs, hospices and palliative-care teams

The exact responsibilities of Special People and the involved clinical professionals will be agreed clearly before support begins.

Flexible care arrangements

Senior Care can be arranged as:

• Regular homecare visits

• Morning, afternoon or evening support

• Weekend care

• Overnight waking or sleeping-night support

• Live-in or continuous care

• Temporary support after hospital discharge

• Respite for family carers

• Long-term ongoing care

Care packages are reviewed regularly and can be adjusted as the person’s needs and circumstances change.

Urgent requests may be considered, but support remains subject to assessment, suitable staffing and availability.

Assessment and care planning

Before care begins, our team completes an assessment with the individual and, where appropriate, their family or representative.

The assessment considers:

• The person’s strengths, needs and desired outcomes

• Daily routines and personal preferences

• Communication and accessibility needs

• Health conditions and medical history

• Medication arrangements

• Nutrition and hydration needs

• Mobility, moving-and-handling and falls risks

• Skin integrity and pressure-care needs

• Emotional wellbeing and social connections

• Risks within the home environment

• Emergency and escalation procedures

• Family involvement and other professional support

This information is used to create a person-centred care and support plan. The plan is reviewed when the person’s needs or circumstances change.

Referrals

We welcome referrals and enquiries from:

• Older adults and their families

• Local authorities and social workers

• NHS Continuing Healthcare teams

• Hospital discharge teams

• GPs and other health professionals

• People who are self-funding

• People using a Personal Health Budget

Following a referral, we will assess the person’s needs and confirm whether Special People can provide suitable and safe support.