Complex
care at home

Specialist support for higher needs from a home care team rated Outstanding by the CQC.

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What is complex care?

Complex care is for people whose needs go beyond everyday home care. That might mean a parent whose dementia has progressed, someone coming home from hospital with a catheter or stoma, or a loved one who needs comfort and dignity in their final months.

At Forest Homecare, complex care is delivered by trained care workers, not agency strangers. We have a small, consistent team who get to know your loved one and work hand in hand with district nurses, GPs and hospices. We’ve been caring for families across Essex and Suffolk since 1994, and the Care Quality Commission has rated our service Outstanding.

Whatever has brought you to this page, you don’t have to work it all out alone. We’re happy to talk it through.

Who is complex care for?

Advanced dementia: When dementia progresses, familiar routines matter more than ever. Our care workers provide calm, consistent support with personal care, mealtimes, safety around the home and the moments of confusion or distress that families find hardest. Staying at home, surrounded by the familiar, can make a real difference. For more on how we support every stage, see our dementia care at home page.

Frailty and older-age decline: Sometimes it isn’t one condition but several small things adding up less steady on their feet, meals skipped, medication muddled. Complex care brings it all together in one plan: gentle help that keeps your loved one safe and independent at home, with carers who notice changes early and act on them.

PEG feeding support: Our care workers are trained to support people who are fed via a PEG tube managing feeds to the agreed routine, keeping the site clean and comfortable, and preserving the dignity and sociability of mealtimes. We work to the plan set by your loved one’s healthcare team and flag any concerns to them promptly.

Stoma care: Living with a stoma takes adjustment, and the right support makes it routine rather than daunting. Our carers help with day-to-day stoma management discreetly and respectfully, helping your loved one feel clean, comfortable and confident at home and out in the community.

Catheter care: We support daily catheter routines with care and good hygiene, helping to prevent problems and spotting the early signs of anything that needs a nurse’s attention. We liaise directly with district nurses so small issues are caught before they become hospital visits.

Palliative and end of life care: When time is precious, most people want to be at home. Our care workers provide gentle, unhurried support focused on comfort and dignity for your loved one, and for the family around them. We work alongside hospices, GPs and community nurses as one team. Read more about our end of life care at home.

We also support people living with other long-term conditions, including Parkinson’s disease – talk to us about your loved one’s situation, and we’ll shape the care around them.

What's included in our complex care?

At Forest Homecare, we’re committed to delivering consistent, high-quality care and understand how important it is to have someone you trust. Our staff are not only highly trained and experienced—they’re also seen by many clients as both a key support and a friend. We provide personalised complex care, including a range of clinical interventions such as:

PEG Care (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy)
Catheter Care
Stoma Care
Palliative Care or End-of-Life Care

Personal care

Respectful help with washing, dressing, continence and grooming, always at your loved one’s pace and always with kindness.

Medication and health monitoring

We help manage medication safely, keep an eye on health day to day, and share anything that changes with family and health professionals.

Clinical task support

Trained, insured care workers supporting PEG feeding, stoma and catheter routines to the plan agreed with your loved one’s healthcare team.

Emotional support and companionship

A listening ear, a familiar face and genuine company, for your loved one and for the family carrying so much alongside them.

Coming home from hospital

Leaving hospital is a relief but the first weeks at home can be the hardest, especially if your loved one has come back with new needs like a catheter, a stoma or reduced mobility. Our team works with hospital discharge teams to put support in place quickly, help your loved one regain confidence and routine, and reduce the risk of ending up back in hospital. Care can often begin within days. If a discharge date is looming, call us; we’ll help you plan for it.

Has your loved one just returned from the hospital? They may need complex care to get back on their feet!

What is not a part of complex care?

Complex care does not include services that require advanced medical qualifications, such as:

Medical
treatments

Complex care does not involve surgeries, injections, or any procedures requiring healthcare professionals.

Advanced
therapy

Physical therapy, speech therapy, and other therapeutic services are not part of complex care.

Emergency
care

Complex care does not cover urgent or hospital-level care needs that require immediate medical attention.

Frequently asked questions

How is complex care different from general home care?

General home care covers everyday support like personal care, meals and companionship. Complex care adds trained support for higher needs like clinical routines such as PEG, stoma and catheter care, advanced dementia support, and palliative care delivered in closer partnership with health professionals.

Who is complex care suitable for, and who isn’t it suitable for?

Complex care is perfect for those with chronic conditions, recovering from surgery, or living with disabilities that need more than general home care. It’s not for those who only need minimal assistance or who require full-time medical care.

What is included in your complex care services?

Our service doesn’t include nursing procedures such as injections or wound care, therapies like physiotherapy or speech therapy, or emergency and hospital-level care. We also don’t currently provide specialist packages for spinal injury or brain injury. Where a need sits outside our service, we’ll say so plainly and help point you toward the right support.

What is not included in our complex care services?

At present, our complex care services do not include the following. Spinal injury and brain injury care. Care needs after major emergencies, such as strokes, and care needs after major diagnoses, such as organ failure or advanced cancer.

Can care workers manage a PEG, stoma or catheter, or does that need a nurse?

Day-to-day routines including feeds, changes, hygiene and monitoring can be carried out by our trained and insured care workers, following the plan set by your loved one’s healthcare team. Clinical procedures and assessments remain with nurses, and we liaise with them directly whenever something needs their attention.

How do you support someone with advanced dementia at home?

With consistency above all: small teams, familiar faces and routines built around the person. Carers are trained to support communication, reduce distress and keep your loved one safe, and we work closely with families as needs change. Our dementia care at home page covers this in more detail.

Is complex care an alternative to a nursing home?

For many families, yes. With the right package, people with significant needs can stay safely in their own home often the strong preference of the person themselves. We’ll always be honest with you about what home care can and can’t safely provide in your loved one’s situation.

How quickly can care start after hospital discharge?

Often within days. We carry out an assessment, agree a care plan with you and, where relevant, coordinate with the hospital discharge team so support is ready when your loved one gets home.

How do we get started?

Just call your nearest office or send us a message. We’ll listen, arrange a home assessment, and build a personalised care plan together with no pressure and no obligation.

How complex care can help

Care rated Outstanding

Forest Homecare is rated Outstanding overall by the Care Quality Commission i.e. a rating held by only a small minority of home care providers.

Trained, trusted care workers

Our carers are trained and insured for the clinical tasks we support, including PEG, stoma and catheter care, with ongoing training and supervision.

A consistent, familiar team

Small teams and careful matching mean your loved one sees familiar faces vital for anyone living with dementia or higher needs.

Care that adapts as needs change

We review care plans regularly and adjust support sensitively as your loved one’s condition progresses, so the right help is always in place.

Peace of mind for the whole family

Regular updates, honest communication and a team you can call so you can be a son, daughter or partner again, not just a carer.

Why should you trust our team?

Adaptability

As needs change, we’re here to adapt. Our care plans are flexible, ensuring we’re always aligned with what’s best for your loved one, no matter how things change.

Matched to you

We carefully match care workers to your loved one’s unique needs, ensuring they feel supported and at ease with someone they can trust.

Experience

All our care team bring experience and compassion, providing the specialised support you can trust, tailored to your loved one’s needs.

Get specialised care to meet unique needs

Does your loved one need complex care? With our specialised, tailored support, your loved one can ensure their needs are met and feel more confident living at home. Reach out to our team today to discuss your loved one’s unique situation and what care is best for them.