Choosing the Right Home Help in Gloucestershire: A Practical Guide for Families
Looking for home help in Cheltenham or Gloucestershire? This practical guide outlines what to consider, what questions to ask, and where to find reliable support.
When someone close to you starts to need more help with day-to-day tasks, it can be hard to know where to start. Maybe you’ve noticed your mum is struggling to keep on top of housework. Maybe a neighbour mentions they’ve not been out in weeks. Or perhaps you're looking ahead and want to put some gentle support in place early.
Home help can be a way to stay independent while getting a bit of extra support with everyday life, things like cleaning, shopping, or simply having someone to talk to. But not all services are the same. In Gloucestershire, there are a wide range of options, from national care agencies to small local teams. The right fit depends on your situation.
This article walks through the key things to consider when choosing home help in Cheltenham or the surrounding area, including questions to ask, types of support available, and links to further guidance.
What is home help, and how is it different from home care?
Home help usually means non-clinical support. Things like housework, meal preparation, shopping, errands, and company. It’s different from home care, which involves personal or medical care and is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). If your loved one doesn’t need help with things like medication or bathing, home help is often more appropriate.
For a useful overview, the NHS guide to help at home explains the difference. Age UK also offers advice on finding help for older people who want to remain independent at home.
1. Think about what’s needed right now
Before you start contacting services, try to make a simple list of what your relative or friend might need help with. That could include:
Keeping the house clean and tidy
Preparing meals
Doing the shopping
Attending local appointments
Getting out for a walk or cup of tea
Having someone to talk to
Support doesn’t need to be intensive to be worthwhile. For many people, just a few hours of help each week can make a noticeable difference. In places like Cheltenham and Stroud, where many older people live independently, home help is often arranged before personal care is needed and helps to prevent isolation or more serious issues later on.
2. Choose someone local if possible
Local providers often offer greater consistency and flexibility. A team based in Gloucestershire is more likely to know the local area, understand travel times and offer familiar faces from visit to visit.
At Ellia, for example, support is provided by named helpers who visit regularly and we focus on areas we know well — including Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, and the surrounding villages.
You can also check with Gloucestershire County Council to see what local support options are available in your area, especially if you’re unsure whether to choose a private provider or go through the council.
3. Ask about the details that matter
Every service is different, and it's worth asking a few practical questions before you decide:
Will the same person visit each time?
Can support increase or change over time?
How are helpers vetted and trained?
Do families get updates after visits?
What’s included in the price, and what’s extra?
You’ll want to feel confident that whoever is supporting your loved one is trustworthy, consistent, and understands their role. At Ellia, for instance, all helpers are DBS checked, trained and supported as part of a close-knit team. The same person visits each time unless illness or holiday cover is required, in which case we’ll let you know who’s coming and when.
You can also see what Carers UK recommends when it comes to choosing support, including tips on vetting providers and ensuring continuity of care.
4. Make sure it’s not just about tasks
The best home help isn’t just about ticking off chores, it’s about building a relationship. Many older adults benefit just as much from regular company and routine as they do from practical support. So it’s worth asking how a provider matches clients and helpers. Will your dad get on with the person who’s supporting him? Will your aunt feel listened to and comfortable?
Some services match based on availability alone. Others, like Ellia, take the time to understand the person being supported, their routines, their personality, and the kind of support that feels right to them.
5. Ask about cost and flexibility
Home help is usually paid for privately, unless the local authority has agreed to fund support following an assessment. It’s important to understand how pricing works:
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Are visits flexible?
Do prices include travel, materials or admin fees?
Most providers charge by the hour, though some offer weekly or monthly packages. At Ellia, we offer simple plans with no hidden fees and the option to adjust support as things change.
If affordability is a concern, check out MoneyHelper’s guide to paying for care, or explore community-based initiatives. Ellia also runs the Good Neighbour Fund, which provides free support for people in Gloucestershire who would benefit from help but can’t afford to pay privately.
6. Plan for what might change
Even if someone only needs a little help now, things might change in the future. It’s worth asking how providers handle that:
Can more support be added?
What happens if your usual helper is on leave?
Are there limits to the kind of support they can give?
Planning ahead doesn’t mean rushing into lots of services at once, but having a flexible arrangement in place can save time and stress later on.
Frequently asked questions
Is home help regulated?
Only services providing personal care (like washing or giving medication) need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Home help providers offering non-medical support are not regulated, but they should still follow good practice when it comes to recruitment, safety and record keeping. You can search the CQC website to check if a provider is registered for personal care.
Can home help include going out?
Yes, many services include support with going out, whether that’s to the shops, to a café or simply for a walk. At Ellia, outings and errands are part of many clients’ regular visits.
What’s the difference between a cleaner and a home helper?
A cleaner may only focus on the housework. A home helper supports with a wider range of tasks and often offers companionship and conversation. They might stay for a cup of tea, help with a birthday card or assist with weekly planning.
Final thoughts
Arranging home help isn’t just a task to tick off, it’s part of supporting someone to live how they want to live. Whether you’re in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stroud or further afield, there are kind, reliable people offering this sort of support every day.
The key is to choose someone who listens and genuinely cares about the person they’re supporting. With the right approach, a couple of hours of help each week can make a big difference.
To learn more about how Ellia works, or to explore whether our support might be the right fit for someone you know, you can get in touch here or browse our services.
