Day care

Day care offers personal care during the day for those who are assessed as needing it. It's usually provided in a day care centre run by trained staff or volunteers for those with complex physical and social care needs.

Specially trained staff there can help you learn or re-learn skills as part of a rehabilitation programme (for example, following a stroke) or help you learn to cope with a new disability.

Some day care centres are specially designed for people with dementia, or with visual or hearing impairment.

Attendance at day care is usually once or twice a week. Transport to and from the day care centre can usually be provided if you need it.

What day care can provide

Day care can provide you with:

personal care to meet your individual needs
skills to promote your independence
the chance to meet other people
activities you can get involved in if you want

Meals or sandwiches are also provided in the day care centre, sometimes for a small charge, and special dietary needs can be catered for.

How to get day care

Ask your social care department for an assessment of your care needs. You can also ask your GP, district nurse or health visitor to arrange an assessment of your care needs for you.

If you're assessed as needing day care services, the social care department will organise that with you.

The assessment of your care needs will mean you have a care plan, describing what you'll be able to do at the day care centre and what you should get out of it. This plan will be regularly reviewed with you to make sure it still meets your needs.

If you'd rather arrange and pay for your own day care, contact a day care provider.

What day care costs

Most local councils charge for day care services. If there are any charges, these will be set out in the council's charging policy. If you're assessed as needing day care, and there's a charge, a financial assessment will be carried out by your social care department to find out if you're entitled to help with the cost.

You must be told what the service will include and how much it'll cost before the service begins.