What is a personal assistant?

If you’re finding it difficult to care for yourself because of your age, a physical or learning disability, or poor general health, you may want to get some support from a personal assistant.

A personal assistant (sometimes called a PA or a support worker) is someone who’s paid to help people who need social care support to enable them to live as independently as possible.

Many people choose to employ a PA because they need the consistent, ongoing support and familiarity that their own PA can provide.

How a personal assistant can help

PAs can offer you all kinds of support in your own home, including:

• personal care: help with feeding, bathing and toileting
• healthcare: catheter management, giving medication
• help to live independently: meal preparation, cooking, health and safety cleaning, shopping
• help to take part in social and leisure activities: taking you on holiday or to appointments, providing interest and activities.
• helping to look after children