Common questions about
home care in Surrey.

Care begins with a free, no-obligation assessment at home, or in hospital if that is where your relative currently is. We listen, record the routines that matter, and prepare a personalised care plan with a written quote. Book your free assessment or call 01372 386222.

Within 24 to 48 hours of your assessment for most packages, and urgent cases, like hospital discharges, are prioritised. Where support is required sooner, our emergency care service is designed for that situation.

The free assessment establishes this. Most families in Surrey begin with hourly visits and adjust from there; others require night care or full live-in support. If you are unsure whether the time has come, our guide to the signs a loved one needs home care is a useful starting point.

This is common, as very few people ask for help themselves. Starting on a small scale is usually the most effective approach: a weekly companionship visit or some help around the house is accepted more readily than a formal care package. Once trust is established, support can be increased gradually.

No. There are no long-term contracts, no call-out fees and no hidden charges. Visits can be increased, reduced or rescheduled as needs change, and we review your care plan with you regularly.

Hourly care is at £36.95 per hour, 30-minute visits at £29.95, a package of two 30-minute visits a day at £419.30 per week (as an example) and live-in care at £245 per full 24 hours (£1,715 per week). Your exact quote is confirmed after a free assessment at your own home, and the same rates apply 7 days a week, with no weekend premium; Bank Holidays are charged at double the standard rate. See our pricing page for every package.

In many cases, yes. Local authority funding applies where savings are below £23,250, NHS Continuing Healthcare meets the full cost where needs are primarily health-related, and Attendance Allowance, up to £114.60 a week, is not means tested. Our funding & assessments guide explains each route, and we assist with the forms at no charge.

Not for home care. The home someone lives in is not counted in the council’s means test for care in their own home. Only savings and other capital are counted. This is one of the most common misunderstandings in care funding, and our funding page addresses the others.

The quoted rate covers the free assessment, a written care plan, DBS-checked and trained carers, carer matching and introductions, regular reviews and backup cover. The price agreed in writing is the price you pay, with no call-out fees and no hidden extras.

In most cases it is. Care homes typically charge £1,400 to £1,800+ per week per person, while you only pay for the home care hours you actually need, and live-in care, at £245 per full 24 hours (£1,715 per week), is comparable to a single care home place. Our guide to the cost of home care in Surrey compares the options in detail.

Yes. Every one of our 52 carers completes an enhanced DBS check, verified references and full training including first aid, manual handling and medication, before their first visit. Training is refreshed regularly and carers are supervised by our Registered Manager.

Aims Homecare is registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, and rated Good. We are also rated 9.5/10 from 58 verified reviews on homecare.co.uk and named a Top 20 Home Care Provider in South East England.

Yes. You will have the same carer, or a small and consistent team, matched to your relative’s needs and personality and introduced before care begins. If a carer is unwell, a briefed colleague attends in their place, so a visit is not missed.

Yes. Our carers support dementia and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke recovery, palliative care, cancer, physical disabilities and more, with care plans built around the condition and the person.

Notes are written after every visit and the family is kept informed, particularly if anything changes. For additional reassurance, especially if you live some distance away, our health & wellbeing checks monitor blood pressure, pulse, temperature and breathing using an NHS-style early-warning scoring system, with concerns escalated promptly.

A trained carer lives in your loved one’s home, providing one-to-one support around the clock: personal care, medication, cooking, housekeeping, companionship and appointments, all in familiar surroundings. Read more on our live-in care page.

For most people, yes. 97% of people say they would prefer to remain at home rather than move into a care facility, and live-in care is linked to fewer falls than residential settings. The person keeps their home, routines, pets and independence. We compare the two in alternatives to a care home.

Yes. One live-in carer can support one or both partners, each with their own care plan, with one bill for the couple quoted at your free assessment. Compared with a care home charging per person, per room, it usually costs far less and keeps loved ones together. See live-in care for couples.

Yes. Our short-term live-in care runs from a few days to several months. It is suitable for trialling live-in care, supporting recovery after a hospital stay, or covering a family carer’s holiday.

Yes. We arrange complete room fit-outs for care at home, from profiling beds and hoists to grab rails and sensor mats, so the home is safe and ready before care begins. See our room set-up & equipment service for the full picture.

No. We work with preferred suppliers at pre-agreed prices, so that the correct equipment is supplied without you having to research it, and buy-back arrangements mean you are not left with equipment that is no longer needed. Details on our equipment page.

Yes. Our home help & housekeeping service covers cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, pension and post office runs, and light gardening admin. It works on its own or alongside personal care visits.