Care at home

West Lothian Council's Personal Care Service provides both personal and practical care to enable older people to continue to live safely and independently at home.

Examples of help available include: helping you to get up, washed, dressed, catheter management and continence care, help with bathing and showering, assistance with medication, helping you to get ready for bed, or helping you into bed in the evening. Practical assistance includes kitchen/bathroom hygiene, collecting pensions, paying bills and assisting with laundry.

When receiving a Personal Care Service you can expect the provision of a reliable high quality service with fully trained and supported staff. The service will get you settled with a regular Care Worker within four weeks and will work hard to keep long term changes of your care worker to a minimum. All staff wear uniforms, they are professionally trained and carry Identity Cards. Your rights to privacy, dignity, choice and independence will all be respected.

The service operates seven days per week between the hours of 7am to 10pm. All personal care is free. However for those who wish to have certain household tasks undertaken then some charge may apply, but charges will depend very much on the ability of each individual to pay. Service Standards

• You will be treated with dignity and respect at all times
• Your privacy and property will be respected at all times.
• You will be encouraged to be as independent as possible.
• You will be treated with equality and respect and be valued for your ethnic background, culture and faith.
• You will have help to use services and equipment for communication if your first language is not English or you have any other communication needs.
• You will be encouraged to express your views on any aspect of your care needs.

For more information contact a Council Information Service office.