Hi Sheila, could you confirm that helping an older person to put on an outer coat and helping them by the arm to get to a taxi would not be described as personal care. Having seen a previous answer of yours, these simple actions do not appear to be intimate.

Answered by Sheila Scott

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your question.

This is my opinion. Helping someone put on an overcoat or assisting them to get into a taxi is not personal care.

This is the Department of Health’s definition of personal care:

“Personal Care includes: assistance with dressing, feeding, washing and toileting, as well as advice, encouragement and emotional and psychological support. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) defines this as attention required in connection with bodily functions.”

I think that this answers your question.

Best wishes.

Sheila