Health and medical information - support at home

DOMICILIARY or HOME CARE

Personal care is free of charge to all service users and can be defined as helping someone to look after themselves, e.g;

• Personal hygiene - bathing, showering, hair washing, shaving, oral hygiene, nail care
• Personal assistance - assistance with dressing, surgical appliances, prosthetics, mechanical and manual aids
• Continence management - toileting, catheter care, stoma care, skin care, incontinent laundry, bed changing
• Simple medical treatment - assistance with medication including ear drops, eye drops, application of creams and lotion, simple dressings, oxygen therapy
• Food and diet - help with feeding, assisting with special diets and managing home meals service
• Communication - help to use the phone, reading/writing letters, making appointments etc.
• Care of children - supervision, dressing for school, walking to school, general care of babies and very young children, feeding, assistance to manage bed wetting etc.
• Moving and handling - assistance to get out of bed, move around, get into bed, use of hoists and other manual handling equipment 
  

Domestic Care:

Domestic care may incur a charge. Charges are means tested which ensures that those on low incomes receive help and support free of charge. To determine what charges may apply to you, please contact the relevant social work office (see list below). Domestic Care tasks include the following;

• Snack meal preparation, including breakfast
• Laundry
• Bedmaking/changing bed linen
• Kitchen and bathroom hygiene
• Setting and lighting a coal fire
• Bringing in coal
• Collecting prescriptions, pensions and benefits
• Assistance with financial affairs and paying bills

For more information please contact your nearest social work centre:

Livingston Social Work Centre
Cheviot House
Owen Square
Livingston
EH54 6PW
Tel. 01506 777777

Broxburn Social Work Centre
Strathbrock Partnership Centre
189a West Main Street
Broxburn
EH52 5LH
Tel. 01506 775666

Bathgate Social Work Centre
69 Whitburn Road
Bathgate
EH48 1HE
Tel. 01506 776700