Private Care at Home in New Forest
Private care at home gives your loved one the option to stay in the place that feels most like them, their own home, while receiving support that fits around their usual routines. Instead of the upheaval of a move, care visits bring help, company and reassurance into their familiar surroundings.
Home Instead New Forest provides private, flexible care at home for older adults and their families in New Forest and nearby communities. We also support people in Lymington, New Milton and Lyndhurst, tailoring visits to what feels most useful and comfortable for each person.
Thinking about care can feel like a big step. It is very common to feel unsure, overwhelmed or even a bit guilty for asking for help. Many families tell us they are not sure where to start, which is exactly what we can talk through with you.
What Private Care at Home is and Who It Helps
Private care at home simply means you arrange care visits directly with Home Instead, rather than through the local authority. Support is shaped around your circumstances, so you stay in control of how often visits happen, what they include and how things change over time.
It can help if your loved one:
- Is starting to feel less steady on their feet and needs a bit of support to move safely.
- Feels lonely or isolated, perhaps after losing a partner or giving up driving.
- Is living with memory loss or dementia and feels more settled in familiar surroundings.
- Has been unwell or in hospital and now needs extra help to get back into a routine.
- Has family who provide a lot of care already and need some regular time to rest.
Visits can include Companionship Care, such as conversation, shared hobbies or a short walk, so your loved one has regular company and something to look forward to. Home Help can keep everyday tasks manageable, with support for things like light housework, laundry and shopping. Personal Care is available for sensitive help with washing, dressing and other private tasks, always in a respectful and unhurried way. For those living with dementia, Dementia Care at home can make daily life feel calmer and more predictable. All of this sits within our Care at Home approach, where support is delivered through regular, planned visits.
How Support Works Day to Day
When you get in touch, we start with a straightforward conversation about your situation. If you wish to explore things further, a member of the team will visit you and your loved one at home to understand what is going well, what feels difficult at the moment and what kind of support would make the most difference.
From there, we create a personalised care plan that sets out the visits you would like, what should happen during each one and any particular preferences or routines that matter to your loved one. We then carefully match a small, consistent team of Care Professionals, so your loved one sees familiar faces rather than a stream of different people.
On a typical day, a Care Professional might:
- Visit in the morning to help with getting up, washing, dressing and breakfast.
- Prepare a simple, nutritious meal at lunchtime and offer medication prompts if needed.
- Support with light housework, laundry or changing the bed so the home feels comfortable and safe.
- Spend time on Companionship Care, perhaps chatting over a cup of tea, going through photo albums or encouraging a favourite pastime.
- Offer Dementia Care, with gentle reminders and reassurance if your loved one becomes confused or worried.
- Call in the evening to help your loved one get ready for bed and settle comfortably for the night.
Support can be as small as one regular visit a week or more frequent visits across the day. It can increase or reduce over time as needs change, without losing the familiar relationships that make care feel personal rather than clinical.
The Role of Care Professionals
Care Professionals are at the heart of private care at home with Home Instead New Forest. We look for people who are patient, dependable and genuinely interested in others, then provide training and ongoing guidance so they can give safe, thoughtful care
They take time to get to know the person they support, not just their care needs. This might include understanding how they like their tea, which football team they follow, or how they prefer to spend a quiet afternoon. By noticing these details, Care Professionals can offer support that feels natural and respectful.
Protecting dignity and independence is a priority. A Care Professional will encourage your loved one to do as much as they feel able to do, stepping in only where help is really needed. This might mean offering a steady arm rather than taking over completely, or prompting with a task rather than rushing to do it for them.
Families are part of the picture too. The office team and Care Professionals stay in regular contact with relatives, sharing updates where appropriate and listening to what is working well, or what might need to change. Home Instead New Forest is regulated by the Care Quality Commission and is currently rated Good, which reflects the standards expected of the service.
Day-to-Day Examples of Care
Every person and family is different, but these short examples show how private care at home can work in everyday life.
Keeping everyday life going for someone living alone
Mrs Taylor is in her eighties and lives alone. Her family worry about her managing the stairs and cooking safely. A Care Professional now visits several times a week to help her get up, prepare meals, put the washing on and keep on top of light cleaning. They also sit together to read the newspaper and chat about the day. Mrs Taylor remains in her own home, with steady support and regular company.
Support for someone living with dementia and their spouse
Mr Ahmed lives with dementia and can become anxious in the late afternoon. His wife has been finding it hard to manage on her own. Regular Dementia Care visits give Mr Ahmed a familiar face to talk to, gentle prompts around the home and help with Personal Care. His wife uses this time to rest, see friends or attend appointments, knowing someone trained and consistent is with her husband.
Short term help after a hospital stay
After a short hospital stay, Mr Jones returns home feeling weaker than before. For a period of time, Care Professionals visit daily to help with washing, dressing, safe movement around the home and nutritious meals. As his strength improves, visits reduce and focus more on Companionship Care and getting back to his usual activities, until he feels confident again.
Private Care FAQs
How do you find out what support is needed?
We start by listening. When you contact us, we will talk through your situation and what you are concerned about. If you want to go further, we arrange a home visit so we can meet your loved one, understand their usual routines and discuss what they feel comfortable with. From this, we build a tailored care plan that can be adjusted over time.
Will the same Care Professionals visit each time?
We know how important it is to see familiar faces. We match a small, consistent team of Care Professionals to each person, so your loved one can build trusting relationships over time. This helps visits feel more relaxed and natural, and it also means Care Professionals notice small changes and can share these with you and the office when needed.
What happens if our needs change over time?
Care needs are rarely fixed. If things change, we review the care plan with you and your loved one and agree any adjustments together. This might mean adding extra visits, changing what happens during a call, or introducing more specialised support such as Dementia Care or additional Personal Care. The aim is to respond calmly and flexibly, so support continues to feel right for your family.
How to get started and contact the team
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. When you contact Home Instead New Forest, we will have an informal conversation about your situation, answer your questions in plain language and explain what private care at home could look like for your loved one. You can call us on 01590 637 250 to talk things through with someone who understands care.
If you prefer not to call straight away, you are welcome to send an enquiry through the contact form on this page. We can then arrange a time to speak that suits you.
For independent inspection information, you can visit the Care Quality Commission website for Home Instead New Forest, where you will find details of our current Good rating. To see reviews and directions, you can look at our Google business listing using the online map link. For further feedback from families, you can also visit our profile on homecare.co.uk.
Home Instead New Forest is based at 5 Rashley Mews, High St, Lymington SO41 9AR, UK, supporting older adults who wish to remain in their own homes across the New Forest area with private care that fits around everyday life.
How can we help?
We've helped thousands of families to stay safe, comfortable and happy at home. Whatever situation you're facing, or whatever the question is, Home Instead is here to help.
Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
03300 583450Other non-care-related enquiries