If you or someone close to you is living with cancer, you may be wondering whether it’s possible to manage care at home safely.
For many people, it can be. The right support can make it possible to stay in familiar surroundings, maintain everyday routines and have help close by when it’s needed.
What that support looks like will depend on the person, their treatment and how their needs change over time. A good care plan also brings the right people together, so professional carers can work alongside the person’s family and healthcare team.
Here, we look at what cancer care at home can involve, how carers can support someone day to day, and what to consider if their needs change.
When can cancer care at home work well?
The right approach to cancer care will depend on individual circumstances. Some people may need support for a short period while they recover from treatment or surgery, while others may need more regular help with everyday life.
Care at home may be suitable when:
- The person’s needs can be supported at home: This could include help with personal care, mobility, meals, medication routines and everyday activities.
- The right healthcare support is in place: GPs, community nurses, hospital teams and other healthcare professionals can continue to provide clinical care where needed.
- The home works for the person: Simple changes or equipment may make moving around easier and help them feel more comfortable.
- There is support for the family, too: Professional care can give relatives reassurance and practical help, particularly when they can’t always be there themselves.
The most important thing is that the care reflects the individual. Their needs and preferences should be discussed with them wherever possible, alongside their healthcare team and the people supporting them.
It’s also worth remembering that care arrangements can evolve. What works well at one point may need to be reviewed if someone’s treatment, mobility or symptoms change.
Who can be involved in cancer care at home?
Cancer care at home often involves several people, with each bringing a different type of support.
The person’s healthcare team remains responsible for their clinical care. Depending on their needs, this could include their GP, hospital cancer team, district or community nurses, palliative care specialists, occupational therapists or physiotherapists.
A professional carer has a different role. They can provide practical and personal support, spend time getting to know the person and help them maintain their usual routines.
Good communication between everyone involved matters. A carer may notice that someone seems different from usual, for example, or that they’re finding an everyday activity more difficult. They can share these concerns with the appropriate person rather than making clinical decisions themselves.
This means the person can have support around them without their carer taking the place of their nurse or doctor.
Macmillan’s guide to being cared for at home also explains the different types of support that may be available for someone with advanced cancer. The services available can vary depending on where you live, so it’s worth speaking to your GP or healthcare team about what can be arranged locally.
How can a carer support someone with cancer at home?
Having a familiar carer around can make everyday life feel more manageable, particularly when someone is dealing with the physical and emotional impact of cancer or its treatment.
Depending on the person’s care plan, a carer may help with:
- Washing, dressing and getting ready for the day
- Using the bathroom and maintaining personal care
- Getting around the home safely
- Preparing meals and drinks
- Medication routines, such as prompting or recording medication, where this has been agreed as part of the care plan
- Keeping on top of everyday household tasks
- Providing company and emotional support
- Maintaining familiar routines and helping the person continue doing the things they enjoy.
A carer’s role is different from that of a registered nurse. They don’t diagnose conditions, make treatment decisions or change prescriptions. Some healthcare tasks can be delegated to a suitably trained carer, but this needs to be properly assessed, supported and agreed.
The care plan should make clear who is responsible for what, so everyone understands how the support will work.
If nursing care is needed, this can be arranged alongside care at home. Our guide to private nursing care at home explains more about how the two types of support can work together.
What about overnight care?
If you’re considering live-in care, it’s important to understand how the arrangement works overnight.
A live-in carer lives in the person’s home and provides support throughout the day, but they also need regular breaks and overnight rest. They may be able to respond to occasional needs during the night, depending on the care plan, but live-in care doesn’t provide continuous waking care.
If someone needs a carer who remains awake throughout the night, a different care arrangement may be more appropriate. You can find out more about 24-hour care at home and how it differs from live-in care.
Making home more comfortable
Living with cancer can change how someone uses their home. They may become more tired, less mobile or find everyday tasks harder than they did before.
Small changes can make a difference. Keeping walkways clear, improving lighting and making sure frequently used items are easy to reach can all help someone feel more comfortable and independent.
Depending on their needs, they may also benefit from equipment such as a shower seat, grab rails, a different type of bed or equipment to help them move around.
It’s best to ask a healthcare professional, such as an occupational therapist or community nurse, for advice before buying equipment or making adaptations. They can help identify what would actually be useful for the person rather than making changes that aren’t needed.
Most importantly, involve the person in those decisions. It’s their home, and changes should help them feel more comfortable and in control rather than making the home feel like a clinical environment.
Supporting symptoms at home
Cancer and its treatment can affect people in different ways. Someone may experience tiredness, pain, nausea or changes in their mobility, for example.
The person’s healthcare team should advise on managing these symptoms and when to ask for further help.
A carer can support the person with the practical side of their routine. They may prepare meals when appetite is low, help someone move around the home, provide medication prompts where appropriate or simply notice that they don’t seem quite themselves.
If something changes or a carer has a concern, they can raise it with the appropriate healthcare professional. They should never be expected to diagnose the problem or decide how it should be treated.
If someone is receiving cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, their cancer team should explain what symptoms to look out for and who to contact if they become unwell. Keep their contact details somewhere easy to find and follow the advice they have been given.
If there is a medical emergency, call 999.
What are the benefits of cancer care at home?
For someone who wants to remain at home, having the right support around them can offer more than practical help.
Familiar surroundings
Home is where many of us feel most comfortable. Staying there can mean being close to family, friends, pets and the things that are familiar.
Support that fits around everyday life
Care can be built around the person’s existing routines and preferences, from when they like to get up and eat to how they spend their afternoons.
One-to-one support
A regular carer can get to know the person properly. Over time, they can understand their preferences, what they enjoy and the little things that make a difficult day easier.
Reassurance for family
Cancer can be difficult for relatives as well as the person receiving care. Having professional support at home can give family members reassurance that someone is there to help when they can’t be.
Home care won’t be right for everyone, and someone’s needs can change. Sometimes additional healthcare support or a different care setting is needed. That doesn’t mean care at home has failed. It simply means the support needs to change with the person.
Cancer care at home with Trinity Homecare
At Trinity Homecare, we understand that arranging care for someone with cancer can feel like a big decision.
Our role is to understand the person first, then look at what kind of support would make everyday life easier for them.
We provide cancer care at home through both visiting care and live-in care. Support can include personal care, help around the home, companionship and assistance with everyday routines.
For live-in care, we take time to understand the person’s personality, interests, lifestyle and care needs when matching them with a carer. You can also see a carer’s profile before deciding whether they feel like the right fit.
Our care managers remain involved throughout the arrangement, coordinating support and reviewing care as circumstances change. Our clinical team can provide additional oversight where more complex care needs are involved.
With the person’s permission, family members can also use TrinityConnect to stay updated on their loved one’s care when they can’t be there themselves.
We work alongside the person’s existing healthcare professionals. We don’t replace their GP, cancer team, nurses or other clinical specialists.
Trinity Homecare is rated Outstanding overall by the Care Quality Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe for someone with cancer to be cared for at home?
For many people, care at home can work well when the right support is in place. It depends on their health, treatment, care needs, home environment and the support available from family and professionals.
It’s important to discuss the arrangements with the person’s healthcare team and review them if their needs change.
What support is available for cancer care at home in the UK?
Support can come from a number of places, including the GP, district or community nurses, hospital cancer teams and specialist palliative care services.
Professional carers can provide additional help with personal care, meals, mobility,
companionship and everyday routines. The services available through the NHS and local services vary, so the person’s healthcare team can advise on what is available in their area.
Can a live-in carer help someone with cancer?
Yes. Depending on their care plan, a live-in carer can provide personal care, practical help, companionship and support with everyday routines. They can also help with agreed medication routines and raise concerns with the appropriate healthcare professional if they notice a change.
A live-in carer doesn’t replace a nurse or doctor and cannot make clinical decisions or change treatment.
Can someone receive nursing care and care at home at the same time?
Yes. Professional care and nursing care can work alongside one another. A registered nurse may provide clinical care that requires their professional expertise, while a carer can provide the personal and practical support that helps someone manage day-to-day at home.
What happens if someone’s needs change?
Care should be reviewed when someone’s circumstances change. This might be because their treatment has changed, they have become less mobile or they need more support than they did previously.
The aim is to make sure the care continues to reflect what the person needs and wants. Their healthcare team, care provider and family can all have a role in reviewing the arrangements.
Does the NHS provide support for cancer care at home?
The NHS provides a range of healthcare services that may support someone living with cancer at home, including GP and community nursing services. Other support, including hospice and social care, may also be available depending on the person’s circumstances and where they live.
In England, some people may also be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare following an assessment of their needs.
If you’re unsure what support is available, speak to the person’s GP, nurse or cancer team. They can explain what may be available locally and whether an assessment is appropriate.
Talk to us about cancer care at home
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you talk to someone about care.
If you’re considering care for yourself or someone close to you, our care experts can listen to what’s happening, talk through the options and explain how visiting or live-in care could fit alongside the support already in place.
Call 0207 183 4884 for a free, no-obligation conversation. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturday, 10am to 4pm. You can also make an online enquiry and we’ll be in touch.
