Quality standard

This quality standard covers care and support for older people living in their own homes (known as home care or domiciliary care). It covers people aged over 65 using home care services, and may also cover some people under 65 with complex needs. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

It does not cover intermediate care, short-term reablement, or younger adults and children using home care services.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. 

Endorsing bodies

This quality standard is endorsed by Department of Health and Social Care as required by the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

Supporting organisations

A number of organisations recognise the benefit of this quality standard in improving care. They work with us to promote it to commissioners and service providers: