If someone you love is starting to struggle with everyday things, figuring out how to get them the right help can feel really overwhelming. You’re not alone in that — we hear it from families every single day.
The good news is that domiciliary care — that’s just a formal way of saying “care at home” — lets your loved one get professional support without having to leave the place they know and love. And here in Wales, there’s a solid system in place to help you assess needs, sort out funding, and find a registered provider.
We’re going to walk you through the whole process, step by step. Whether you’re in Denbighshire, Conwy, Wrexham, or anywhere else in Wales, this guide has you covered. At Accredilink Community Response Taskforce, we help families through this every day, and we want to make it as clear and stress-free as possible for you.
What Is Domiciliary Care?
Put simply, it’s professional care that comes to you — right in your own home. That might mean help with washing and dressing, reminders to take medication, someone to prepare meals, a bit of companionship, or support getting around the house safely. For lots of people across Wales, it’s what makes the difference between staying independent at home and having to move somewhere unfamiliar.
Unlike residential care, domiciliary care is built entirely around the individual. Visits can be as short as 30 minutes in the morning or as comprehensive as full live-in care — it all depends on what’s needed. And every registered provider is regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW), so there are strict quality and safety standards in place.
Step 1: Recognise the Need
This is often the hardest part. It’s tough to admit that a parent, partner, or someone close to you needs extra help. But spotting the signs early really does make a difference. Here are some things to look out for:
- Difficulty with personal hygiene, washing, or dressing
- Forgetting to take medication or taking it incorrectly
- Struggling to prepare meals or losing weight
- Increasing frequency of falls or near-misses
- Growing isolation and withdrawal from social activities
- The home becoming untidy or unsafe
If any of that sounds familiar, it’s probably worth exploring your options. We’ve got a more detailed guide on the signs that your elderly parent may need care that might help too.
Step 2: Contact Your Local Authority
Your local council is the best place to start when it comes to publicly funded care. Under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, every council has to assess anyone who looks like they might need care and support. You don’t need a GP referral — just pick up the phone and call them directly.
If you’re in the areas we serve, here’s who to contact:
- Denbighshire County Council — Single Point of Access (SPoA)
- Conwy County Borough Council — Single Point of Access (SPoA)
- Wrexham County Borough Council — Adult Social Care team
If your loved one is currently in hospital and about to be discharged, you can also ask a hospital social worker to get things started. Have a look at our article on hospital discharge and home care in Wales for more on that.
Step 3: The Care Needs Assessment
Once you’ve got in touch, the council will arrange a care needs assessment. Don’t worry — it’s really just a conversation. A social worker or assessor will chat with you and your loved one to understand what they can and can’t manage, and what kind of support would help them stay well at home.
They’ll look at things like:
- Physical health and mobility
- Mental health and cognitive function
- The person’s own views and preferences
- The home environment and any risks
- Existing support from family or friends
- What outcomes the person wants to achieve
In Wales, the whole assessment is built around the idea of “what matters” to the person. Their voice should be front and centre. And if your loved one finds it hard to communicate, they can have an advocate to speak up for them.
Here’s the really important bit: the assessment is completely free, and it doesn’t commit you to anything. It’s simply about working out whether there are eligible needs and what kind of help might work best.
Step 4: Financial Assessment and Funding
If the assessment shows your loved one has eligible needs, the next step is a financial assessment (sometimes called a means test). This figures out how much, if anything, they’d need to contribute towards their care costs.
Here’s where Wales really shines. There’s a weekly cap on what you can be charged for non-residential care, which makes domiciliary care here much more affordable than in England. The maximum weekly charge is well below the actual cost of care — the council picks up the rest.
After the financial assessment, your loved one might:
- Receive fully funded care at no personal cost
- Be asked to contribute a set amount per week, up to the Welsh cap
- Choose to top up their care privately for additional hours or services
There are other funding options too, like NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for people with a primary health need, direct payments that let you control how your care budget is spent, and benefits like Attendance Allowance. We go into all of these in our guide to care funding in Wales, and our funding guidance page has even more detail.
Step 5: Choosing a Domiciliary Care Provider
Whether the council is funding your care or you’re arranging it privately, picking the right provider really matters. Here’s what to look for:
Registration and Regulation
Every domiciliary care provider in Wales must be registered with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). You can check any provider’s registration and read their latest inspection report on the CIW website. Please don’t skip this step — never use an unregistered provider.
Local Knowledge
A provider that knows your area well will give you more reliable, consistent care. We’re based in and around Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham, so our care workers genuinely know the communities they work in. That makes a real difference when it comes to timekeeping, continuity, and building trust.
Flexibility and Range of Services
Care needs don’t stay the same forever. Look for a provider that offers a good range of services — from short daily visits to sit-in services, respite care, and even emergency care response. That way, you won’t need to switch providers as things change down the road.
Staff Continuity
Seeing the same familiar faces makes a huge difference, especially for someone living with dementia or anxiety. When you’re speaking to providers, ask how they manage their rotas and whether you can expect regular, consistent care workers.
Communication
A good provider keeps you in the loop. Ask how they stay in touch with families — whether that’s through regular reviews, digital updates, or phone calls. You should always feel like you can pick up the phone and speak to someone if something’s on your mind.
Step 6: What to Expect When Care Begins
Once you’ve chosen a provider and agreed on a care plan, things usually get started within a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on availability and how complex the care is. Here’s what those first few weeks typically look like:
- Introduction visit: A senior member of the care team will pop in to introduce themselves, go through the care plan properly, and answer any questions you’ve got.
- First care calls: The early visits might run a bit longer so the care worker and your loved one can get to know each other.
- Review: Most providers will check in within the first few weeks to make sure the care plan is working well and tweak anything that needs adjusting.
- Ongoing communication: You’ll get regular updates and be invited to reviews, usually every few months or whenever needs change.
It’s completely normal for it to take a little while to settle in. A bit of anxiety at the start is natural — for your loved one and for you. A good care team will understand that and take it gently, building trust and confidence over time.
Can I Arrange Domiciliary Care Privately?
Absolutely. You don’t have to go through the council at all. Lots of families choose to arrange and pay for care privately, which can sometimes mean shorter waiting times and more flexibility with hours and the type of care you get.
If you do go down this route, just make sure the provider is registered with CIW and that they put together a proper care plan. At Accredilink, we work with families who are council-funded and families who self-fund — and the standard of care is exactly the same either way.
How Accredilink Can Help
We’re a CIW-registered domiciliary care provider covering Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham. Our team includes experienced care workers and emergency care responders available on shift around the clock. Whether you need a few visits a week or something more intensive, we’re here for you.
Our services include personal care and daily living support, respite care for family carers, palliative and end-of-life care, social care and companionship, and sit-in services. We also offer care training for organisations and individuals.
If you’re thinking about care for a loved one and aren’t sure where to begin, we’d love to chat. There’s no obligation at all, and we’ll always do our best to point you in the right direction — even if that means suggesting someone else.