Your care options: an introduction

Helping you understand the care and support options available for adults, and where to look next.

Ways to find and arrange care

If you need care and support, you might:

arrange and pay for your own care without any input from the council
have a care needs assessment from the council and, if eligible, get support from us (if you're not eligible for support from us, we can still help you find your own care and support)
in certain cases, get support from the NHS

If you are caring for someone, see our support for carers pages. These pages explain how we can support you as a carer.

Arranging care yourself

You can arrange your own care without help from the council. You can find services and care providers in the Icon for pdf Berkshire Care Directory [3MB] and on our West Berkshire Directory. We also have information, advice and links on our webpages. See the 'types of care' section below to see what options you might want to consider.

You can still ask us for a care and support needs assessment, even if you aren't eligible for support from us or you want to arrange your own care. We can help you find care and support options, and provide information and advice.

Getting support from the council

We want to give you the advice and information you need to help you stay in your own home and be as independent as possible.

Regardless of whether you are eligible for support from us, we can:

provide you with information and advice
complete a care needs assessment to see whether we can arrange support

See our care needs assessment and eligibility page to find out what to expect from a care needs assessment.

If you are eligible for support from us, we will:

work together to create a care and support plan and help you arrange your care
complete a financial assessment, so we can work out how much you would need to pay for your care

See our paying for care pages to find out more about charges, financial assessments, self-funding and getting help from us.

The video below explains some of the types of care that may be available to you from Adult Social Care:

Our Icon for pdf working with you to understand your needs leaflet [1MB] also provides a summary of ways that we can assist you.

Getting support from the NHS

Usually, the NHS does not help with social care.

However, if you have complex long-term health needs, you may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare. This would mean your social care would be arranged and funded or part funded by the NHS. You can find out more, including eligibility and assessments, for NHS Continuing Healthcare here.

If you live in a nursing home, you may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

The difference between health care and social care:

Health care is provided by the NHS (as well as private health care). It is usually provided by medical professionals in hospitals, clinics or the doctors. This includes getting diagnosis and treatment for medical conditions, and preventative measures. Health care also includes physiotherapy.

Social care includes a wide range of services that support people with their needs. This can include personal care, mobility, social needs and emotional wellbeing. Social care includes occupational therapy.

Types of care and support

Individual services, activities, equipment or adaptations

There are lots of different services, groups, tools and equipment that might help you stay well and independent in your own home or community.

This could include:

mobility aids, scooters, wheelchairs or community transport
equipment, like grab rails, to help you move round your home
technology to help you, like alarms and sensors, or a smart speaker that can give you reminders
help with preparing meals, having meals delivered or lunch clubs
help with home repairs, cleaning or laundry

See our staying healthy and independent pages, for information about all of the topics above and more. These pages also explain if and how the council can help.

Care at home

If you need more support, or personal care, you may want to consider getting care in your own home. This could include paying a carer to help you with daily tasks, such as washing, getting dressed or taking medication. Carer's may provide day time care, live in care, or night time care.

This may also be referred to as 'home care' or 'domicilliary care'.

See our support at home and in the community pages for information about:

home care, care agencies and personal assistants
our Shared Lives scheme
help when you get home after being in hospital or recovering from an illness

Community centres and groups

You may not need a carer to visit you at home, but would benefit from activities and support in the community.

Day centres are for people who need some help with personal or practical care and are unable to get out and about by themselves. They offer a range of activities, a chance to socialise and a hot meal. This will be different depending on the day centre you attend.

Find out about our West Berkshire Council day centres here.

Care homes and supported housing/living

In Adult Social Care, we always try and help people to keep independent and live well in their own home. However, if living in your own home is no longer the best option for you, there are a range of options.

You might want to consider:

owning or renting a house or flat with arranged support - look at supported living, sheltered housing or extra care housing
living with a carer in their home - see our Shared Lives scheme
what care could be provided in a care home

See our housing options and care homes for more information.

If you have a specific disability or health condition

Visit our support for a disability or health condition pages. This includes services and advice relating to autism, sight and hearing loss (sensory needs), learning disabilities, physical disabilities and dementia.

We also have advice and information relating to mental health. This includes who to contact as well as local and national services.

You can use our find information, advice and services form for more help knowing where to look next.