Decision guide
Signs a Parent May Need More Support at Home
One difficult day does not always mean a parent needs formal care.
Read the guideDignified daily-living support
Personal care shaped around dignity, ability and the person’s own routine.
Personal care offers respectful help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility and other daily routines. The goal is to support your loved one without taking over what they can and want to do for themselves.
Care needed soon? Call to ask about current availability.
Home SupportPersonal Care & Daily Living Support
Could this help your family?
This care may be worth considering when…
- A person finding bathing, dressing or grooming more difficult
- Someone who needs mobility, transfer or positioning assistance
- A family concerned about daily routines, falls or skin integrity
- A person living with a disability or an ongoing health condition
What support can look like
Care shaped around the person’s day.
- Bathing, grooming, dressing and oral-care routines
- Toileting and continence support
- Mobility, transfers, positioning and fall-aware assistance
- Daily-living support within the person’s abilities and care plan
- Notice and report changes that may affect the person’s safety or support
How the nurse-led approach supports this care
A nursing perspective when needs are changing or unclear.
A nurse may help the family understand changing health or safety needs and whether the care approach needs to be adjusted. The family should always know which support can be provided by a caregiver and which care requires a nurse or another health professional.
Clear expectations
What your family should know before deciding.
- Mobility, transfers and equipment should be discussed for the individual person and home. They should not be treated as a one-size-fits-all routine.
- Some hygiene, bowel or skin-care needs require additional training or a qualified nurse.
- A sudden or serious health change needs appropriate medical or emergency help, not only a personal-care visit.
A simple way to begin
Your family should know what happens next.
Tell us what is happening
Share what the person wants, what feels harder and when help may be needed.
Talk through the options
We will explain which kinds of support may be worth considering.
Know who will do what
Your family will know what a caregiver, nurse or other professional would provide.
Stay in touch as needs change
Let us know when something changes so the support can be looked at again.
Clear answers
Questions about personal care
How is the right level of personal care decided?
Start with what the person can do independently, where help is becoming difficult and what would help them feel safe and respected. From there, the family can understand what a caregiver may provide and whether a nurse or another health professional should be involved.
Can support change over time?
Yes. If daily routines become harder, mobility changes or a new concern appears, let the care team know. The family should understand who will review the change and what the next step may be.
Is personal care the same as nursing care?
No. Personal care helps with daily routines such as bathing, dressing and mobility. Nursing care includes health assessments and clinical treatments that must be provided by a qualified nurse.
Learn before deciding
Related decision guides
These guides explain what to ask, what to plan for and how to make care decisions with clearer expectations.
Decision guide
Home Safety Checklist for Older Adults and Families
A home safety review looks at how the person actually moves through daily routines: entrances, lighting, stairs, bathroom access, transfers, kitchen use, medications, emergency contacts and mobility equipment.
Read the guide
Decision guide
What to Expect From a Home-Care Assessment
A home-care assessment should help the person, family and provider understand goals, routines, current support, abilities, safety concerns, health needs, schedule and who will be responsible for each part of care.
Read the guideA practical first step
Talk with a nurse about personal care.
Start with what is happening at home, who is already helping and what would make the biggest difference. We can explain the options and confirm current availability for your location and timing.