Community access support helps someone get out of the house and stay part of the world — appointments, shops, groups, places that matter to them. It’s one of the least understood home care services and one of the most immediately transformative.
Why getting out matters
Giving up driving is one of the most underestimated events in later life. In one step it can end the club, the church, the shop, the friend two villages over and the weekly trip to see a grave. People rarely say “I’m isolated” — they say “I don’t go out much now.”
What follows is predictable: less movement means less strength, which means less confidence, which means less going out. Isolation worsens mood and cognition. And the person who used to be seen weekly by a dozen people is now seen by none, so early warning signs go unnoticed.
Getting someone out once or twice a week interrupts all of that at once.
What community access support covers
- Medical appointments — GP, dentist, optician, hospital clinics at Worthing or Southlands, or Brighton for specialist care. The carer can go in, take notes and relay afterwards what was actually said, which is frequently the most valuable part
- Shopping — going along rather than going instead, so the person chooses
- Groups and activities — lunch clubs, memory cafés, church, bowls, library sessions, U3A
- Getting back into a group after a break — going along the first few times until confidence returns
- Personal errands — bank, post office, hairdresser, chiropodist
- Visits — family, friends, a grave, a garden centre, the seafront
- Days out — a longer trip somewhere that matters
- Support at the destination — walking, toileting, managing a wheelchair, staying nearby
It’s not a taxi service. The point is the support at both ends and in the middle.
Free and low-cost transport options first
Before paying for carer hours, check these:
- Older Person’s Bus Pass — free off-peak travel across England from State Pension age. Apply through West Sussex County Council
- Disabled Person’s Bus Pass for eligible people under pension age
- Blue Badge — parking concessions, via West Sussex County Council. Now available for some non-visible disabilities too, including dementia, which many people don’t realise
- Community transport and dial-a-ride schemes operating across Worthing and Adur — accessible minibuses and volunteer car schemes, usually needing booking in advance
- Volunteer driver schemes through Age UK and local voluntary organisations, often for medical appointments
- Non-emergency patient transport — NHS funded, for people with a medical need for transport to NHS appointments. Ask the clinic; eligibility is assessed
- Motability, if they receive the higher rate mobility component of PIP
- Disabled Persons Railcard — a third off rail fares
These cover a lot. Paid support earns its place where the person needs help at the destination, not just the journey — or where reliability matters and volunteer schemes can’t guarantee it.
Practicalities to check with any provider
- Insurance. If the carer drives their own car, they need business use cover. Confirm it.
- Whose car? Some carers drive the person’s own vehicle — agree this in writing and check the insurance allows it.
- Mileage. Usually charged on top of the hourly rate. Ask the rate.
- Wheelchair access. Not every carer’s car takes a wheelchair. Say so at the assessment.
- Time. Book realistically — a hospital appointment is rarely under three hours door to door.
- Money. Receipts for everything; no access to cards or PINs.
Cost
Charged at standard hourly rates, typically £28–£38 an hour in West Sussex in 2026, plus mileage. Most people book two to four hours. Attendance Allowance (£76.70 or £114.60 a week, not means-tested) can be spent on it. Council funding may cover it where accessing the community is an assessed eligible need — this does sometimes qualify, so mention it at the needs assessment. See the funding guide.
Find care near you
Tell us your postcode and what you need help with. We pass your details to one vetted CQC-registered agency in your area — you are told who they are, and that they pay us a fee, before anything is sent.
Frequently asked questions
What is community access support?
Home care that helps someone get out and stay connected — appointments, shopping, groups, visits and days out — with support at the destination as well as the journey. It’s not a taxi service; the help at both ends is the point.
Can a carer drive my relative to appointments?
Yes, where the carer holds business use insurance and the provider permits it. Some carers drive the person’s own car instead, which needs to be agreed in writing with the insurance checked. Mileage is usually charged on top of the hourly rate.
Is there free transport for older people in West Sussex?
Yes. The Older Person’s Bus Pass gives free off-peak travel from State Pension age. There are also community transport and dial-a-ride schemes, volunteer driver schemes through Age UK, NHS non-emergency patient transport for those with a medical need, and Blue Badge parking concessions.
Can someone with dementia get a Blue Badge?
Possibly. Eligibility now extends to some non-visible disabilities, including conditions that make journeys difficult or cause significant distress. Apply through West Sussex County Council — many families don’t realise this is an option.
Will the council pay for community access support?
It can, where accessing the community is identified as an eligible need in a care needs assessment. Maintaining relationships and accessing the community are both listed outcomes under the Care Act, so raise it explicitly at the assessment.
The Care Panel is an independent publication. We are not a care provider and are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, because we do not deliver care. Always check a provider’s own CQC registration and inspection report before you commit.
Written and fact-checked by The Care Panel. Last updated September 2026. Local scheme availability changes — check current provision with West Sussex County Council or Age UK West Sussex.