Complex care at home isn’t new, but what counts as manageable outside hospital settings has changed dramatically over the past few years.
Conditions that once meant permanent hospital stays or residential care are now being supported at home with the right care teams in place.
Motor neurone disease, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis – these health conditions need specialist support, but that support doesn’t have to mean leaving home.
Here’s how live-in care and complex care are changing to meet increasingly complex health needs.
What’s Coming For Care in 2026
The next year brings some significant developments that should improve home care options.
The Better Care Fund is focusing more strongly on “home first” goals, with systematic use of neighbourhood-based multi-disciplinary teams to provide integrated care for people with complex needs.
Funding for adult social care is increasing, with an additional £4 billion available by 2028-29 compared to 2025-26. Additionally, the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body will be established through regulations in 2026, leading to the first Fair Pay Agreement coming into force in 2028. This should help with recruitment and retention by improving pay and conditions for care workers.
Training standards are getting more attention, too. The Learning and Development Support Scheme continues to support the care workforce to develop new skills and specialisms. This includes specialist training for disability and autism.
Better Training Makes a Huge Difference
Healthcare assistants working in complex care today have access to much better training than before. Clinical skills are taught by nurses who work directly in care, so the training reflects real situations rather than just theory.
Practical knowledge in managing equipment, identifying key changes, and knowing when to seek clinical input improves outcomes for everyone. Ongoing supervision from experienced nurses helps build confidence over time.
When carers feel properly prepared, they provide better support:
- Clinical competence: Understanding medical equipment and using it safely
- Recognising changes: Knowing what’s normal and what needs attention
- Confidence under pressure: Feeling equipped to handle situations calmly
- Ongoing learning: Keeping skills current as approaches improve
That confidence translates into safer, more effective care for people at home.
Care That Fits Around Life
People receiving care at home increasingly have support built around what matters to them.
Whether that’s maintaining work, keeping up with studies, or simply having care that respects how they want to live their day.
Flexibility makes a huge difference. Someone might need help with complex medical needs, but also wants to travel, see friends, or pursue hobbies. Home care can adapt readily.
Personalised support takes more planning, but it helps people live well alongside their health conditions rather than feeling restricted by them.
Technology Playing a Helpful Role
Remote monitoring and other technologies are becoming more common in complex care.
Someone might have overnight monitoring for breathing patterns, or medication reminders that help manage complex schedules. Communication aids help people with limited mobility call for assistance when needed. These work alongside experienced carers rather than replacing the human side of care.
Technology is most useful when carers understand what they’re seeing and how to respond. It’s one tool among many that helps make home care safer and gives families more peace of mind.
What’s Possible Today
Complex care at home continues to improve as training improves and providers gain more experience. More people can stay home with proper support, rather than face extended hospital stays or residential care.
The sector is adapting to meet growing demand. Training programmes are more comprehensive. Technology is offering genuinely useful tools. Providers are building expertise in supporting specific complex conditions.
The best outcomes transpire when providers invest in their teams, maintain strong clinical oversight, and understand the specific conditions they’re supporting – all key principles here at HASCS.
If you’re exploring care options, it helps to talk with providers who can explain what’s genuinely achievable for your particular situation.
Contact our friendly team at HASCS to discuss your needs and answer any questions you have.
