Home care · Gateshead

Home help in Whickham

Help with housework, shopping, meals and errands, often alongside a chat and a cup of tea: that is home help, and it keeps many older people independent for longer. Below are the 104 CQC-registered agencies that cover Whickham; ask each whether it offers this.

CQC register data as of 27 October 2026 · Prices: Usual 2026 prices across England

Written by our editorial team, then checked. Editorial policy and corrections · How we are funded

In short

  • 104 home care agencies registered with CQC have an office within 7 miles of Whickham, and 82 of them hold a Good or Outstanding rating.
  • The CQC register does not say who provides home help: ask the agencies directly.
  • Home help is usually charged by the hour; visiting care here typically costs around £32–£34 an hour, and housework-only help can cost a little less.
  • Gateshead council has to offer a care needs assessment free of charge.

Citation: "Home help in Whickham", The Care Panel analysis of CQC register data, Oct 2026.

Home help: the usual tasks

  • Cleaning, laundry, ironing and changing beds
  • Shopping and collecting prescriptions
  • Preparing meals
  • Post, bills and appointments
  • Company and trips out

Washing, dressing and medication are personal care, which must come from a CQC-registered home care agency.

How people pay for home help

Most people pay privately, by the hour. Gateshead council can fund practical help only where it is part of meeting eligible needs after an assessment, which housework alone rarely is. Many older people use Attendance Allowance to cover it. More: home help for the elderly and the difference between home help and home care.

Who provides home help

Choose a home care agency if personal care may be needed later, because the same carers can take it on. For housework alone, a cleaner or a local help-at-home scheme may cost less, though these are not CQC-regulated. Ask local charities and Gateshead council what low-cost services exist. Requesting an assessment from Gateshead council.

Home care in Whickham by the numbers

The share registered for dementia is 83% in Whickham (86 of 103) and 77% across Gateshead. By specialism, 87 of 103 list physical disabilities, 67 of 103 list learning disabilities and 73 of 103 list mental health conditions. Most recent to register: Tailored Health Care 4 You Limited (August 2026). Compare Whickham's 96% Good or Outstanding with 96% for the rated agencies among the 195 we list in Gateshead. Blaydon has the highest share of listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding nearby (80%); Whickham, at 79%, is 3rd of the 7 towns compared. Oldest rating on the list: Longworth CMS Ltd, August 2018.

Home help prices in Whickham

Usual 2026 prices across England
Visiting carearound £32–£34 an hour
Live-in carearound £1,540–£1,610 a week

What the council pays (Gateshead Council): £22.45 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £888.39 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £949.98 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

Ask every agency for a full list of charges, with weekend and bank holiday rates: hourly rates vary more between agencies than between regions. Homecare Association figure for 2026/27: a sustainable council rate for home care in England starts at £34.42 an hour. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay

Home care agencies in and around Whickham

Ask each agency whether it provides home help. Ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then distance.

  1. St Anthony of Padua Care Services

    5.8 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £32–£39/hr

    OutstandingRated Dec 2023
    View profile (St Anthony of Padua Care Services)

  2. DK Home Support

    1.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (DK Home Support)

  3. My Versatile Healthcare Ltd

    1.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jul 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (My Versatile Healthcare Ltd)

  4. Nurtured Care NE

    2.0 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated May 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (Nurtured Care NE)

  5. Housing 21 - Fountain Court

    2.6 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Aug 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (Housing 21 - Fountain Court)

  6. Nupath Care Gateshead

    2.7 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated May 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (Nupath Care Gateshead)

  7. Coquet Trust

    2.8 miles · Older people, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairments

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Nov 2024Inspected recently
    View profile (Coquet Trust)

  8. Bluebird Care (Gateshead)

    2.8 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £32–£39/hr

    GoodRated Oct 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (Bluebird Care (Gateshead))

  9. KEYFORT North East

    2.8 miles · Physical disabilities, Sensory impairments, Learning disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (KEYFORT North East)

  10. Care Quality Services Newcastle

    2.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Mar 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (Care Quality Services Newcastle)

  11. My Home Care Ltd

    3.2 miles · Dementia, Mental health conditions, Learning disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (My Home Care Ltd)

  12. Domiciliary Care and PRIME Service

    3.3 miles · Older people

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Sep 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (Domiciliary Care and PRIME Service)

  13. Care4u Office

    3.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Apr 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (Care4u Office)

  14. Hales Group Limited - North East

    4.1 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (Hales Group Limited - North East)

  15. Hales Group Limited - Newcastle

    4.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jul 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (Hales Group Limited - Newcastle)

  16. Dale Care - Newcastle (Extra Care/Homecare)

    4.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Nov 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (Dale Care - Newcastle (Extra Care/Homecare))

  17. Living Well North Ltd

    4.6 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Sep 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (Living Well North Ltd)

  18. SureCare Gateshead

    4.7 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Mar 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (SureCare Gateshead)

  19. The Care and Support Group County Durham

    5.0 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jun 2025Inspected recently
    View profile (The Care and Support Group County Durham)

  20. New Beginnings North East Ltd

    5.0 miles · Dementia, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairments

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated May 2026Inspected recently
    View profile (New Beginnings North East Ltd)

Every agency covering Whickham (104) →

Your questions on home help in Whickham

Where can I find home help in Whickham?

104 agencies on the CQC register have an office within 7 miles of Whickham, and 82 hold a Good or Outstanding rating. Which of them provide home help is not recorded by CQC: ask them.

How much is a home help per hour in Whickham?

Home help is usually charged by the hour, at or a little below the local rate for visiting care. Ask each agency for its hourly rate, minimum visit length and any weekend charges in writing.

Does the council pay for home help?

Sometimes, if Gateshead council's care needs assessment finds eligible needs and practical help is part of meeting them. Help with housework alone often does not qualify, so many people use Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested, to pay privately.

Is home help the same as home care?

No. Home help is practical help with housework, shopping and errands. Home care, or personal care, includes help with washing, dressing, eating and medication, and must be provided by an agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Are home care agencies in Whickham well rated?

82 of the 85 rated agencies (96%) are Good or Outstanding; 86 list dementia as a specialism and 25 were inspected or rated in the last two years.

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