If you’re helping to care for an ageing parent or relative, it’s natural to feel a little daunted. You may be wondering: what happens in an emergency? Can we get more help at home? What about care homes if things change?
The truth is, the elderly care system in the UK can feel like a maze when you first step into it. Different organisations – the NHS, local councils, private providers and charities – all play a part. The right path often depends on a mix of health needs and finances.
This guide is designed to walk you through the main routes into care, sharing what to expect at each stage so you can feel more confident about where to begin.
Elderly care services are available from a number of sources – click on the links below to skip to further information on each:
Start at the GP surgery
For most people, the GP surgery is the gateway into elderly care. It’s often the place where needs first get spotted and referrals are made. You can look up GP surgeries by postcode on the NHS website.
Depending on circumstances, support might include:
- Home visits from a district nurse or community care team.
- Referrals to specialist clinics such as memory, falls or continence services.
- Appointments with physiotherapists or occupational therapists.
- Many GP practices now also offer social prescribing. This means your parent could be signposted to activities that support their wellbeing – things like exercise groups, art classes or community get-togethers that help reduce isolation.
To talk directly to the GP about your parent’s care, you’ll usually need their consent.
Register with your own GP as a carer. This allows your surgery to support your health and wellbeing while you provide care, offering benefits like free annual health checks, priority access to flu jabs, flexible appointment booking ("double" appointments for you and the person you care for), and signposting to other services like respite care and financial assessments for benefits.
Local authority adult social care
The other main access route to support is through your local council’s adult social care team. This is where formal assessments are arranged, which are crucial if your parent needs ongoing help.
There are usually two parts:
- A care needs assessment – to work out what type of help is needed (personal care, home support, adaptations, or more intensive care).
- A financial assessment – to see whether the council will contribute towards the cost.
- We’ve written a complete guide to care assessments to provide detailed guidance on getting an assessment, including what it entails, how to prepare for it and what to expect.
The financial rules in brief:
In England and Wales, if your parent has savings and assets (excluding the home they live in) above £23,250, they’ll usually be expected to pay for their own care. It’s a bit different in Scotland, as personal care is free to anyone over 65. Health and social care authorities are also more joined up than in England and Wales, so the experience will be different for anyone living there.
However, not all services in England and Wales depend on finances. For example, the state funds some care through specific benefits such as:
- NHS Continuing Care – full funding for complex medical needs.
- NHS Nursing Care – a payment from the NHS to a care home to help cover the cost of care provided by a registered nurse for eligible individuals. If someone lives in a nursing home and has been assessed as needing nursing care from a registered nurse, but don’t qualify for fully funded NHS Continuing Healthcare, the NHS pays a flat rate directly to the care home towards these nursing services.
- Attendance Allowance – a non-means-tested benefit for people of State Pension age or older who need daily support.
- Disability living allowance/Personal Independent Payments – benefits for those with long-term health conditions
Even if you think your parent will pay privately, it’s still worth arranging an assessment. Some support may be free.
Waiting lists for an assessment stretch up to three months, though private assessments are an option in some areas.
NHS and community care hubs
In some places, the NHS and local authorities have joined forces to create community care hubs. These hubs are meant to bring health and social care together in one place, though the setup differs widely across the country.
If you’re unsure whether such a hub exists in your area, the GP is usually the best starting point.
Mum went downhill really fast at home. Emma, the community nurse, co-ordinated all her additional help including commodes, a riser chair and other home modifications; visits by the GP, social services and other community services. When she decided that Mum was no longer safe at home, she found a bed for her in the nearby hospital late on a friday afternoon. Throughout she was always so kind and reassuring to Dad.
Private elderly care providers
If council support isn’t available or doesn’t cover everything you need, private care can fill the gaps.
Options range from:
- Domiciliary care – daily visits at home for tasks like washing, dressing, cooking
- Live-in care – carers staying in the home to provide round-the-clock support
- Specialist dementia care – either at home or in specialist homes
All providers that provide care are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, the Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) for healthcare services and the Care Inspectorate for social care services in Scotland and The Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) for health services and the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) for social care services in Wales. Always check their inspection ratings and, if you can, ask neighbours or friends for personal recommendations.
Check out our guide to home care services.
Care homes: residential and nursing
Sometimes living at home simply isn’t practical or safe anymore. When that moment comes, there are two main types of care homes:
- Residential homes – offering daily living support but no on-site nursing
- Nursing homes – with qualified nurses providing 24-hour care
As with home care, inspection reports from the CQC are important when making your choice. Read our guide to Finding a care home.
Charities and other organisations
Beyond the NHS, councils and private providers, charities play a vital role. They can make a huge difference, whether through specialist nursing, home adaptations, or simply providing companionship.
You can also access our dedicated Age Space local hubs, which have directories of resources available locally.
Some key organisations include:
In conclusion: take it one step at a time
Finding the right care for a parent or relative can feel overwhelming. But once you know where to start – usually with the GP or adult social care – the path becomes clearer. From there, you can explore private and charitable options to build the right mix of support.
Every journey is different, but with the right information and some forward planning, you’ll be able to make thoughtful choices that give your loved one the care and dignity they deserve.
Next stop: visit our Prepare to Care hub for a comprehensive guide to care of the elderly.
Do you speak “care”? Check out our introduction to the language of elderly care
