ElderCare Support Network
Helping older people live independently at home with dignity
Supporting Independent Living for Over-65s
ElderCare provides practical and social support to help older people (65+) live independently at home across Bristol and surrounding areas. From home care visits to social activities, hot meals to dementia support – we’re here to help. Sliding scale costs based on income. Nobody turned away due to finances.
🏠 Our Services
- Home care visits (personal care, companionship)
- Day centre activities (3 days/week)
- Meals on Wheels (hot lunch delivered)
- Dementia support groups
- Falls prevention program
- Carer respite
- Befriending & telephone support
👴 Who We Support
- Anyone aged 65 or over
- People with dementia & families
- Those recovering from hospital
- Isolated or lonely seniors
- People with mobility issues
- Unpaid family carers (respite)
- Anyone needing extra support
💙 Our Values
- Dignity & respect always
- Independence encouraged
- Person-centered care
- Continuity of carers
- Cultural sensitivity
- Affordable, transparent costs
- Supporting families too
📖 Client Story: How We Helped Margaret Stay in Her Own Home
Margaret, 82, had lived alone since her husband died 5 years ago. After a fall and hip replacement in early 2025, she was struggling. She couldn’t shower safely, couldn’t cook properly, and was terrified of falling again. The hospital said she might need residential care. Margaret was heartbroken – she’d lived in her house for 40 years and desperately wanted to stay.
“After my fall, I couldn’t manage. I was using a shower stool but terrified I’d slip. I was living on toast because I couldn’t stand at the cooker. I was so lonely – my daughter visits once a week but she lives 30 miles away and works full time. The hospital said I might need a care home. I cried for days. Then my daughter found ElderCare. They’ve changed everything. A lovely carer, Sophie, comes every morning – helps me shower safely, makes me breakfast, does a bit of tidying. On Tuesdays I go to the day centre – there’s bingo, quizzes, singing. I’ve made friends! And three times a week I get a hot meal delivered. I’m eating properly again. Best of all, I’m still in my home. I can’t thank them enough.”
Margaret’s support package:
- Morning care visits: 7 days/week, 8:30am-9:30am (1 hour) – help with shower, dressing, breakfast, medication prompting
- Day centre: Every Tuesday 10am-4pm – activities, hot lunch, social interaction
- Meals on Wheels: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – hot lunch delivered at noon
- Falls prevention: 6-week program completed – strength exercises, home safety assessment
- Befriender: Weekly phone call on Thursdays from volunteer
Monthly cost: £520 for morning care, £60 for day centre (4 weeks), £54 for meals (12 meals), £0 for befriending = £634/month total
Margaret’s income: State pension £815/month. After ElderCare costs (£634) she has £181 left for bills/food. ElderCare applied for Attendance Allowance on her behalf – Margaret now receives £290/month extra to help with care costs.
Outcome: Margaret still living independently at home, eating well, socially active, safe, happy. Avoiding residential care (would cost £3,000+/month). Daughter has peace of mind.
Our Services & Costs
All costs are on a sliding scale based on income. We work with you to make care affordable.
🏠 Home Care Visits
What home carers can help with:
- Personal care: Washing, bathing/showering, dressing, toileting, continence care
- Mobility: Help getting in/out of bed, using walking aids, moving around safely
- Medication: Prompting to take medication (we don’t administer unless trained)
- Meals: Preparing breakfast/lunch, making hot drinks, help with eating
- Light housework: Bed making, tidying, washing up, laundry
- Companionship: Conversation, reading together, walks, company
- Shopping: Taking you to shops or shopping for you
Typical visit times:
- 30 minutes: Quick check-in, medication prompt, make tea/snack
- 1 hour: Personal care (shower/dress) + breakfast OR lunch prep + companionship
- 2 hours: Full morning routine + housework + shopping
- 4 hours: Extended companionship, trip out, full support
When visits happen:
- Morning visits (most popular): 8am-11am – help getting up, washed, dressed, breakfast
- Lunchtime visits: 12pm-2pm – lunch prep, medication, companionship
- Evening visits: 5pm-8pm – help with tea, getting ready for bed
- Night visits: Available but less common (usually for personal care)
Our home carers are:
- DBS checked (criminal record check)
- Trained in personal care, dementia, moving & handling
- Matched to you (we try to give you same carer each time)
- Supervised and supported by care coordinators
Home Care Hourly Rates (Sliding Scale)
| Your Weekly Income | Rate Per Hour |
|---|---|
| Under £200/week (state pension only) | £12/hour |
| £200-£300/week | £14/hour |
| £300-£400/week | £16/hour |
| Over £400/week | £18/hour |
🎨 Day Centre
What happens at day centre:
- 10:00am: Arrival, tea/coffee and biscuits, catch up with friends
- 10:30am-12:00pm: Morning activity (varies daily – see below)
- 12:00pm-1:00pm: Hot two-course lunch (starter + main OR main + dessert)
- 1:00pm-2:30pm: Afternoon activity or free time (TV lounge, library, quiet room)
- 2:30pm-3:30pm: Entertainment or social time (music, quizzes, bingo)
- 3:30pm-4:00pm: Afternoon tea and cakes, getting ready for home
Example weekly activities:
- Tuesdays: Arts & crafts morning, bingo afternoon
- Thursdays: Exercise class (seated), film afternoon
- Saturdays: Live music or singer, quiz afternoon
- Monthly: Trips out (seaside, garden centre, cream tea)
Who comes: Mix of ages (65-95), mix of abilities. Some people very independent, others need more help. Staff ratio 1:8 so everyone gets attention.
Example lunch menu:
- Monday: Soup + roast chicken, veg, potatoes + fruit salad
- Tuesday: Lasagne + garlic bread + apple crumble
- Thursday: Fish & chips + peas + ice cream
- Saturday: Sausage & mash + veg + sticky toffee pudding
Dietary needs: Vegetarian, vegan, halal, diabetic, soft food – all catered for
Transport: We can collect you from home and drop you back (Bristol area only) – add £5 per day for transport
Cost: £15/day includes all activities, lunch, and refreshments. Transport £5 extra if needed.
🍽️ Meals on Wheels
What you get:
- Hot two-course lunch delivered to your door
- Main course (meat/fish/vegetarian option)
- Dessert (pudding, fruit, yogurt)
- Delivered between 11:30am-12:30pm
Example meals:
- Beef stew with dumplings + rice pudding
- Chicken curry with rice + fruit salad
- Fish pie with veg + apple crumble
- Vegetable lasagne + ice cream
How it works:
- Choose how many days/week (1-5 days)
- We deliver in insulated containers (stays hot)
- No need to be home – we can leave in safe place
- Volunteers deliver – they’ll have a quick chat, check you’re OK
Cost examples:
- 3 meals/week = £13.50/week = £54/month
- 5 meals/week (Mon-Fri) = £22.50/week = £90/month
Why people use it:
- Can’t cook safely (falls risk, dementia, arthritis)
- Can’t get to shops
- Living on toast/ready meals – need proper nutrition
- Lonely – volunteer visit is social contact
🧠 Dementia Support
Dementia Memory Café:
- When: First and third Wednesday of month, 2-4pm
- Where: ElderCare Bristol Centre
- Who: People with dementia + family carers (come together)
- What: Social time, tea/cake, gentle activities, mutual support
- Cost: FREE
Carers’ Support Group:
- When: Second Thursday of month, 6:30-8pm
- Who: Family carers of people with dementia
- What: Share experiences, get advice, emotional support
- Cost: FREE
Dementia-trained home carers: All our home carers are trained in dementia care. They understand memory problems, confusion, communication difficulties. £12-18/hour (same sliding scale).
Sitting service (respite): Trained sitter stays with person with dementia while family carer takes a break. £14/hour, minimum 2 hours.
🤝 Befriending & Telephone Support
Who it’s for: Lonely or isolated older people who just need someone to talk to.
Telephone befriending:
- Matched with a trained volunteer
- They call you same day/time each week
- Chat for 20-30 minutes about whatever you like
- Completely free
Home visiting befriending:
- Volunteer visits you at home once a week
- Stay for 1-2 hours
- Chat, play games, look at photos, go for walk
- Completely free
Many people say their weekly call/visit is the highlight of their week.
How to Get Started
Get in Touch
Call us on 0117 555 8000, email info@eldercare-bristol.org.uk, or fill in online form. Tell us what help you need (or what you’re struggling with).
Home Assessment
Care coordinator visits you at home (free, no obligation). We’ll chat about your needs, health, what you’d like help with. We’ll explain services and costs.
Start Services
If you’d like to proceed, we’ll create a care plan, arrange your carer(s), and start support. Usually within 1-2 weeks.
Questions from Families
❓ Does my mum/dad have to be 65 to use your services?
Generally yes, we focus on over-65s. However, if someone is 60-64 with significant care needs (dementia, disability, frailty), we’ll consider on a case-by-case basis. Give us a call to discuss.
❓ How much does it cost? Can Mum afford it on state pension?
Our sliding scale means costs are based on income. Someone on state pension only (£815/month) would pay our lowest rates (£12/hour home care, £15/day day centre, £4.50/meal). We can help apply for Attendance Allowance (£290-434/month extra) which covers a lot of the cost. Many clients find it affordable once benefits are sorted.
❓ Will Mum get the same carer each time?
We try our best to provide continuity – usually 1-2 regular carers. Occasionally there’ll be holiday cover or sickness, but we’ll always let you know. Continuity is important for trust and dementia care especially.
❓ What if Dad refuses help? He’s very independent.
This is common! We often suggest starting small – maybe one visit/week “just to help with the heavy shopping” or “make sure the house is safe after your fall”. Once they get to know the carer, people often warm up and accept more help. We’re very sensitive to people wanting to maintain independence.
❓ Can you help with medication? Mum keeps forgetting her tablets.
Yes. Our carers can prompt medication (remind and observe mum taking her tablets). If mum needs help actually administering medication (e.g., insulin injections, complex dosing), we have specialist trained carers who can do this (may cost slightly more).
❓ How quickly can you start? Dad’s coming out of hospital next week.
Usually 1-2 weeks from initial contact to starting care – but for hospital discharge, we can fast-track. Call us as soon as you know Dad’s discharge date and we’ll do our best to have care in place for when he gets home.
❓ What if we need to cancel a visit?
Just call us – we need 24 hours notice if possible. If it’s emergency (e.g., mum’s gone into hospital), just call ASAP and we’ll cancel with no charge. Regular cancellations with less than 24hrs notice may incur a charge.
❓ Is there a minimum commitment? What if we only need help for a few weeks?
No minimum commitment. Some people need short-term help (e.g., after hospital, during family carer’s holiday), others need long-term ongoing support. Both are fine. Just be clear about your needs when we assess.
❓ What if Mum’s dementia gets worse and she needs more help?
We’ll work with you to adjust the care package. Maybe increase visit times or frequency. We review care plans regularly. If mum eventually needs 24-hour care that we can’t provide, we’ll be honest and help you find appropriate residential care.
❓ I live 100 miles away – can I still arrange care for Dad?
Yes! Many of our clients’ families live far away. We can do everything over phone/email. We’ll visit dad, assess, start care, and keep you updated. We can set you up as the billing contact. We’ll call you if any issues arise.
Ask Our Website Assistant
Get instant answers about our services, costs, how to get started, what we can help with, and whether we’re right for your family. Available 24/7.
Try asking these questions:
💬 ElderCare Website Assistant
This is where your ChatBot1 plugin will be integrated. The assistant can answer questions about ElderCare services, costs, eligibility, and how to access support for elderly relatives.
Example questions it can answer:
- What services do you offer?
- How much does home care cost per hour?
- Do you have a day centre?
- Can you support people with dementia?
- What’s included in Meals on Wheels?
- How do I arrange care for my mum?
- What are your opening hours?
- Can Dad afford it on state pension?
ElderCare Support Network is a fictional organization created for demonstration purposes. This page shows how elderly care services can use a Website Assistant to provide 24/7 information about home care, day centres, costs, and how families can access support for elderly relatives.
