Personal and nursing care

Overview How to get personal and nursing care Private personal and nursing care Costs Further information

Overview

Personal and nursing care may be an option if you need support to live comfortably and safely at home.

Personal care means anything done for you that’s of a personal nature. This may include:

• personal hygiene – bathing, showering, hair washing, shaving, oral hygiene and nail care
• continence management – toileting, catheter/stoma care, skin care, incontinence laundry and bed changing
• food and diet – help with eating, special diets and food preparation
• immobility problems – dealing with being immobile or substantially immobile
• counselling and support – behaviour management, psychological support and reminding devices
• simple treatments – assistance with medication (like eye drops), application of creams and lotions, simple dressings and oxygen therapy
• personal assistance – help with dressing, surgical appliances, prostheses, mechanical and manual aids, help getting in and out of bed and using hoists

Nursing care involves the knowledge and skills of a qualified nurse. It might include care like administering injections or managing pressure sores.