Aurora Community Care · Worthing
Home Care FAQs in Worthing
Home care brings lots of questions. Ask the ones that matter.
If home care is new to you, it can be difficult to know what to ask. Here you’ll find straightforward answers about arranging care, Care Givers, visits, costs, funding and how Aurora works.
Getting started
Starting home care, step by step.
What is home care and how does it work?
Home care means receiving support in your own home rather than moving into residential care. Support might include companionship, meal preparation or help around the house, as well as personal care, medication support, respite or overnight care. Aurora agrees the support with you first and Care Givers then visit at the planned times.
Explore our home care services →How do I know if home care is right for me or my relative?
Home care can be useful when somebody wants to remain living at home but would benefit from some extra help, reassurance or company. That might mean help with everyday routines, personal care, meals, medication, getting out and about or simply having somebody familiar checking in.
You do not need to decide exactly what care is needed before speaking to Aurora.
What happens during a free Care Consultation?
The first conversation is about understanding what is happening at home, what is already working well and what you hope care might make easier. We can talk through routines, preferences, practical needs and the amount of support that may be appropriate. There is no obligation to proceed.
Arrange a free Care Consultation →Do I need to know exactly what type of care I need before I call?
No. Many families contact Aurora because they know something needs to change but are not yet sure what the right arrangement looks like. Tell us what is happening and we can help you think through the options.
How quickly can home care start?
It depends on the support required, the times of the visits and Care Giver availability. In some circumstances care can begin quite quickly, while more involved arrangements may need additional planning.
Call the local team and we’ll tell you what is realistically possible.
Can we start with a little care and change it later?
Yes. Not everybody needs a large package of care. Where appropriate, support can begin with a small number of agreed visits. If circumstances change, we can discuss increasing, reducing or changing the support in the care plan.
What if we try home care and decide it isn’t right for us?
Starting care does not mean losing control over your decisions. If something is not working, talk to us. Sometimes the answer is changing the visits, adjusting the care plan or finding a better Care Giver match. If home care ultimately is not right for you, we can discuss that too.
Costs & funding
Straight answers about the cost of home care.
If price is one of your first questions, ask us. You do not need to book a Care Consultation before we’ll explain our current visit prices.
How much does home care cost per hour in Worthing?
Aurora’s current price for a 60-minute regular home care visit is £32 to £34 , depending on the time of day.
Our night care rate is £28 per hour, with a minimum booking of 10 hours .
The £32 to £34 regular home care prices above are specifically for a full 60-minute visit and should not be used to calculate the price of a visit of a different length.
If you’d like to know which price applies to the care you’re considering, call us on 01903 495 456. We can explain the relevant rate during the initial phone enquiry, before you decide whether you want to arrange a Care Consultation.
What does the home care visit price include?
The visit price covers the agreed Care Giver visit and the support set out in the care plan. We’ll explain the relevant visit price when you first enquire if you would like us to, so you can understand the likely cost before deciding whether to take things any further.
Do older people have to pay for home care?
Some people pay privately for home care, while others receive some or all of their care funding through their local authority depending on their needs and financial circumstances. In West Sussex, adult social care can assess both care needs and eligibility for financial support.
West Sussex guidance on paying for care ↗Can the council help pay for home care?
Possibly. Local-authority support depends on an assessment of care needs and financial circumstances. West Sussex County Council explains the current assessment and funding process.
West Sussex financial assessment information ↗Can I use Direct Payments to pay for Aurora care?
Yes. Aurora can accept Direct Payments. Direct Payments allow eligible people to use an agreed personal budget to arrange their own care rather than having every service arranged directly by the council.
If you receive Direct Payments, talk to us about the care you are looking for and we can explain how the arrangement would work with Aurora.
West Sussex information about personal budgets and Direct Payments ↗Can Attendance Allowance help with the cost of home care?
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for some people of State Pension age or older who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or health condition. It is not specifically a home care payment, but people receiving it can choose how to use the money towards the support they need.
GOV.UK Attendance Allowance guidance ↗How much does home care cost on average in the UK?
Home care prices vary considerably by provider, location, visit length and when the care is provided, so a single UK average is not always a useful way to compare services.
Aurora’s regular 60-minute visit prices and night-care hourly rate are shown above. When comparing providers, it is worth checking the actual visit price and what support is included rather than relying only on a national average.
NHS guidance about home care ↗How does home care compare with the cost of moving into a care home?
Home care and residential care are priced very differently. With home care, the cost depends largely on the visits and support somebody needs at home. Residential care normally involves a weekly fee covering accommodation as well as care.
Which option is more appropriate depends on the person’s needs, circumstances and preferences, not simply the headline price.
NHS guidance about care homes ↗Your Care Givers
Familiar people, thoughtfully matched.
Will I see the same Care Givers regularly?
Aurora plans for familiar Care Givers wherever possible. Having a small, consistent team helps people build trust and means Care Givers get to know routines, preferences and the small details that matter.
Holidays, sickness and availability mean it cannot always be the same person, but continuity is something we actively work towards.
How do you match Care Givers with clients?
Care is personal, so matching is about more than who is available. We consider the support required as well as personality, preferences, interests and the kind of relationship likely to work well.
If a match does not feel right, we want clients and families to tell us.
How are Aurora Care Givers recruited and checked?
Aurora Care Givers go through a structured recruitment process including interviews, identity and right-to-work checks, references and enhanced DBS checks appropriate to the role.
New Care Givers then complete initial training and supported practice before working independently.
What training do Care Givers receive?
New Aurora Care Givers begin with three days of core training followed by supervised practice, ongoing support and competency assessment as they work towards meeting the Care Certificate standards. Training and development continue after somebody begins working independently.
Read the Care Certificate standards at Skills for Care ↗What happens if my regular Care Giver is on holiday or unwell?
Where a regular Care Giver is unavailable, Aurora will arrange another suitable member of the team. We try to provide familiarity and continuity wherever possible rather than introducing unnecessary numbers of different people.
What if I don’t feel a Care Giver is the right match?
Tell us. A Care Giver can be kind and capable and still not be the right personality match for everybody. We would rather know and look at a different arrangement than have somebody quietly feel uncomfortable with their care.
Do Care Givers work alone or have support from Aurora?
Care Givers often provide support one-to-one in somebody’s home, but they remain part of Aurora’s local team. They have access to the office and care team for advice, support and changes to care arrangements.
Meet Aurora’s local team →Types of support
Help shaped around everyday life.
These are broad answers. Follow the links for more detail about a particular type of home care.
What can a home care visit include?
A visit can include personal care, medication support, preparing food and drinks, companionship, wellbeing checks, household tasks and other agreed support that helps somebody live safely and independently at home. The exact visit is based on the person’s care plan.
See all home care services →Can different types of support be combined in one visit?
Yes. Care does not have to fit into artificial categories. An agreed visit might include personal care, preparing breakfast, medication support and a little household help, for example. We plan visits around what the person actually needs.
Can Care Givers help with washing, dressing and personal care?
Yes. Personal care can include support with washing, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and other personal routines, provided in a way that respects dignity, choice and independence.
Learn about Personal Care →Can Care Givers help with medication?
Yes, where medication support has been agreed and included in the care plan. The type of support provided depends on the person’s needs and the agreed medication arrangements.
Learn about Medication Support →Can Care Givers prepare meals and drinks?
Yes. Care Givers can help prepare meals, snacks and drinks as part of an agreed care visit and can support somebody to maintain familiar eating and drinking routines.
Learn about Meal Preparation →Do you provide companionship as well as personal care?
Yes. Some people need practical or personal care, while others mainly benefit from company, conversation, outings, hobbies or having somebody familiar spend time with them. Many care arrangements combine both.
Learn about Companionship →Can Aurora support someone living with dementia?
Yes. Aurora can support people living with dementia in their own homes, with care built around familiar routines, reassurance, independence and the individual’s needs.
Learn about Dementia Care →Do you provide respite care for family carers?
Yes. Respite care can give a family carer time to rest, attend appointments, go out or simply take a break while somebody they trust provides the agreed support at home.
Learn about Respite Care →Can somebody stay overnight?
Yes. Aurora provides overnight care where somebody benefits from having a Care Giver present through the night. Overnight bookings are for a minimum of 10 hours, with the appropriate arrangement depending on how much help is likely to be needed during the night.
Learn about Overnight Care →What’s the difference between sleep-in and waking-night care?
A sleep-in arrangement is generally suitable when the Care Giver can sleep for much of the night and is available if occasional help is needed. Waking-night care is for situations where regular or ongoing support is expected through the night.
Aurora’s overnight care bookings have a minimum duration of 10 hours.
Compare our Overnight Care options →Visits & care plans
Care that fits the person and the routine.
How long does a home care visit last?
Visit length depends on what needs to be achieved safely and without rushing. Aurora agrees the planned visit length before care begins and reviews it if someone’s needs change.
Can visits be arranged around an existing routine?
Yes. This is one of the advantages of care at home. We plan support around the person’s established routines wherever practical rather than expecting somebody to reorganise their life around the care.
Can family members be involved in planning care?
Yes, where the person receiving care wants their family involved. Families often provide useful information about routines, preferences and changes they have noticed, but the wishes and choices of the person receiving care remain central.
What is included in a care plan and how do Care Givers use it?
The care plan records the support somebody has agreed to receive and the information Care Givers need to provide it safely and personally. This can include routines, preferences, medication arrangements, mobility, relevant risks and the things somebody wants to continue doing for themselves.
Care Givers use the plan so the agreed support is provided consistently and in the way the person wants.
How will my family know what has happened during visits?
Care Givers record care visit information digitally. Where the person receiving care has authorised family involvement, family members can use Aurora’s family portal to see care visit notes, activity lists and rotas.
What happens if someone’s care needs change?
Tell Aurora if something changes. Care Givers may also notice changes during visits. The local care team can discuss whether the care plan, visit length, timing or type of support needs to be reviewed.
Call us on 01903 495 456 if you want to discuss an existing care arrangement.
Areas & regulation
Local care with clear standards.
Which areas does Aurora Community Care cover?
Aurora currently provides home care in Worthing, Goring-by-Sea, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing, Littlehampton, Rustington, East Preston, Findon, Steyning and Storrington.
See all areas we serve →What if I live just outside one of Aurora’s listed areas?
Contact us. Whether Aurora can help depends on the location, the care required and Care Giver availability. If you are close to one of our existing areas, it is worth asking rather than assuming you are outside our reach.
Is Aurora Community Care regulated by the CQC?
Yes. Aurora Community Care is registered with the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
You can view Aurora’s current registration details and any published inspection information directly on the CQC website.
View Aurora’s official CQC profile ↗A friendly first conversation
Still have a question?
There will always be things that don’t fit neatly into an FAQ. Call the local Aurora team or arrange a free Care Consultation and ask us directly.