What helpers do, and what they never do
Wellknown is for practical help around and outside the house. It is not care, and we are firm about that because it protects your parent.
What helpers do
Gardening
Lawns, weeding, hedges, leaves and keeping paths clear.
Small jobs and repairs
Shelves, curtain rails, bulbs, smoke alarm batteries, sticking doors. No gas work.
Gutters and windows
Clearing gutters and downpipes, window cleaning.
Cleaning and housework
Hoovering, dusting, kitchens, bathrooms, changing beds, ironing.
Not yet in Scotland, Northern Ireland or outside the UK (except France).
Dog walking and pet care
Walks, feeding and a bit of fuss for the dog or cat.
Tech help
Phones, tablets, the TV, video calls and online shopping set up.
Company and conversation
A cuppa, a chat, a game of cards, a walk to the shops together.
England and Wales only for now.
Shopping and errands
Doing the shop, collecting prescriptions, posting parcels.
England and Wales only, and only helpers with an enhanced check including the adults' barred list. Doing someone's shopping for them because of their age is regulated activity under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
What helpers never do
- Washing, bathing or showering someone
- Helping someone dress or undress
- Help with the toilet or continence
- Help with eating or drinking
- Giving, prompting or handling medication
- Reminding someone to eat, drink, wash or take medicine
- Cutting nails or other personal grooming
- Handling cash, bank cards, PINs or online banking
- Accepting gifts, loans or being named in a will or power of attorney
- Driving anyone anywhere
- Gas work of any kind
Why we draw the line here
Washing, dressing, help with the toilet, eating and drinking, and medication are "personal care". In England that can only be provided by a care provider registered with the Care Quality Commission, and the other UK nations have their own regulators. In Scotland and Wales even reminders to eat or wash count. Those rules exist to protect people, and we would rather send you to a registered provider than blur them.
We also keep helpers away from money. No cash, cards, PINs, online banking, gifts, loans or wills. Errands are paid for by the family, not from your parent's purse.
We don't offer lifts. Driving people for payment needs a private hire licence, and taking someone to medical appointments is regulated activity.
If your parent needs care
If you are finding that they need help with personal care, that is the moment to talk to their GP and ask the council for a free needs assessment. In England, contact the adult social care team at your parent's council. You can also search the CQC for registered home care providers. A gardener and a carer can work side by side: Wellknown is just the gardener part.