Areas we cover

Do you cover my area?

We provide daily visiting home care in Norwich and live-in care across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. Not sure if that includes you? Just call us on 01603 407707 and we’ll let you know.

Costs & Funding

How much does home care cost?

Daily visits typically start from £31 per hour. Live-in care costs are confirmed after assessment. What we can tell you now: daily home care visits have a minimum visit length of one hour, and live-in care has a minimum booking period of one week (see below). Beyond that, cost depends on the support your care plan sets out, so the fairest way to get an accurate figure is a free, no-obligation assessment.

What factors can increase the cost of live-in care?

The main factors are:

• High personal care needs
• Regular night waking – live-in carers need a proper night’s sleep, so frequent night support may need extra cover
• Complex clinical tasks
• Needs that require two carers
• Specialist dementia or behavioural support
• A carer who can drive

We’ll explain anything that affects your price during the assessment.

Can I get financial help or funding towards the cost of care?

Some people are eligible for funding support through their local council following a needs assessment, and others fund their care privately. We’d always recommend speaking to the council or an independent financial adviser directly about your specific entitlement.

Getting Started, Waiting Times & Short-Term Care

How do I arrange care with Purely Care?

Simply call us on 01603 407707 and speak to Elaine or Raffy. Tell us what support is needed at home and we’ll talk through the person’s daily routine, care needs, and the level of help needed overnight and during the day. We’re accepting new private clients now. We’ll arrange a free home visit to assess your needs and create a personalised care plan around you.

How quickly can care be arranged?

We can often arrange care at short notice — depending on staff availability, we can sometimes start the same day. Call us to discuss your situation and we’ll do our best to help as quickly as possible. Out of hours or at weekends, reach us on 07557 389430.

Can we book short-term or temporary care?

Absolutely. We can arrange short-term care — please send a message or call us to get things moving.

Can you help with care after a hospital discharge?

Of course. We offer either live-in care or hourly care to support you after leaving hospital, helping you get home safely and settle in with the support you need straight away. This can include getting comfortable, meals, personal care, medication prompts, and keeping an eye on how you’re coping. Visits can start from a minimum of one hour, or longer if needed.

What time at night can home carers visit, and what about overnight or waking night support?

Our latest evening “pop-in” visit — for example to help someone get ready for bed — runs from 9.30pm to 10pm; due to lone-worker safety, we don’t have staff travelling around later than that. For more involved overnight needs, we provide night care shifts where the carer remains awake in your home throughout the night, typically starting at 9pm or 10pm and running through to 7am.

Live-In Care Explained

What’s the difference between live-in care and daily home care support?

Live-in care means one of our DBS-checked carers stays in the home to give support through the day and night. Daily home care is shorter visits, with a minimum visit of one hour, for help with personal care, meals, medication prompts, or companionship. We’ll talk through what fits best for your situation.

How long can I book the live-in care service for?

As long as you like. Our minimum period for live-in care assignments is normally four weeks, although this can be adapted to suit your needs — from a few weeks of post-operative recovery to a long-term, permanent placement. We also provide regular respite care for some families, where a carer visits for a few days or a week at a time to give the family carer a break.

What does the family need to provide for the live-in carer?

• A private, furnished bedroom
• Access to a bathroom and the kitchen
• Food or a weekly food allowance of £50
• Utilities and Wi-Fi
• A daily break of 2 hours for the carer (or 14 hours break over the week). Arrangements for cover during breaks will be discussed with you.

When do you recommend two carers instead of one live-in carer?

We may recommend two carers when:

• Moving and handling needs two people, for example hoist transfers
• Frequent night care means one carer can’t get adequate rest
• Dependency is very high throughout the day and night

Options include a live-in carer supported by visiting carers, or two live-in carers. We’ll discuss what’s safest at assessment.

Won’t we get fed up with each other’s company?

If a live-in care package wasn’t properly managed, there’d be a chance of that. That’s why we always build in time off for the live-in carer every day, and why we ask for a private bedroom for them. It’s vital that, while the care needs are paramount, our clients don’t feel they’re being watched 24 hours a day — which is why we agree the plan in advance, and then deliver it.

Can I cancel if I don’t like the arrangement?

Yes, of course. We understand that sometimes personality clashes mean two people don’t get on, and if you’re not happy with your live-in carer we’ll do our best to change the carer. Because live-in care takes time to set up and is the carer’s livelihood, we do require a four-week notice period — but this works both ways, so we guarantee your care will always be arranged at least four weeks in advance. Everything else is subject to review, to make sure you get exactly the care you want and need.

What happens if my relative goes into hospital?

We’ll talk the options through with the family. Your live-in carer can continue working, spending the day at the hospital to support your relative, or the care package can be suspended until they’re ready to come home. 

What is the legal position with live-in carers?

Some live-in care providers don’t actually employ their carers — instead they act as an agent on your behalf. Purely Care is a direct employer. References, interviews, training and insurance, along with all the responsibilities of being an employer, are included in our charges. Your contract is with Purely Care, and we fully accept the responsibilities that brings.

What Carers Do & How Care Plans Work

What tasks can I expect my carer to carry out?

Almost anything involved in daily living. This can include shopping, cooking and cleaning, as well as personal care tasks such as bathing, help with dressing, and help getting to bed. The important thing is that we agree a care plan in advance, so everyone’s clear on what is (and isn’t) required. This plan is written down and reviewed on a regular basis, so as your needs change, the care plan is adapted with you.

Can I change my care plan if my needs change?

Yes. Your care plan is reviewed on a regular basis and can be updated any time your needs change, whether that means more support, less, or moving from daily visits to live-in care. Just call our office and we’ll arrange a review.

What if I’m not happy with my carer?

Tell us straight away. We want to know if something isn’t right, whether that’s about compatibility, routine, or anything else, and we’ll work with you to resolve it including arranging a different carer where that’s the right solution.

Who Are The Carers

Who are these carers, and are they vetted and trained?

Care workers come from all walks of life, and it’s our job to match carers and clients as successfully as possible, that’s why we visit you to discuss your needs and expectations before allocating a care worker. Many of our staff have been with us for considerable periods and are experienced in care provision. We check references, and all applicants require an enhanced-level DBS (criminal records) check before starting work, along with comprehensive training before any placement is made.

Dementia & Specialist Care

Are your carers trained in dementia care?

Yes. Our carers receive dementia awareness and support training, covering practical approaches to communication, reducing anxiety, maintaining routine, and recognising changes in wellbeing. 

How do you help someone with dementia settle with a new carer?

As with all our carer matching, we introduce new carers gradually wherever possible, with a handover visit alongside family so the person we’re supporting sees a familiar face involved in the introduction. We build routines around what’s familiar and comforting, and keep communication calm, simple and consistent.

Can you support other specific conditions, such as Parkinson’s or stroke recovery?

Yes, our carers support a range of conditions including Parkinson’s, stroke recovery, sensory impairment and other age-related or long-term conditions. We match carers with relevant experience to your needs, and your care plan sets out the specific support required.

Trust & Regulation

What is Purely Care’s CQC rating?

Purely Care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last inspection was more then 5 years ago and rated us as Requires Improvement. We completed a full action plan addressing every point raised at the time. We’re open about this because we believe families deserve a straight answer rather than a page that avoids the subject — and we’re happy to talk through exactly what changed if you’d like more detail. 

What happens now if I want to get started?

Call Purely Care on 01603 407707. We’ll visit you to talk about your specific needs and requirements, then come back to the office and our care co-ordination team will create your care plan and locate the right carer(s) for you. We’ll contact you to make sure you’re happy with who we’ve selected, then arrange a start day. On that day, our Care Supervisor will “see in” the new carer, making sure everyone is clear about what’s to be done — and the Care Supervisor remains your named contact for anything arising afterwards.