What Is Complex Care?

Are you wondering what complex care is and whether you or your loved one might need it? Complex care is a highly specialised form of support for people who have ongoing health conditions and require help that goes far beyond typical day-to-day assistance. It can include everything from assistance with PEG feeding or tracheostomy care to support with severe mobility difficulties or late-stage dementia.

Recent statistics in the UK show that, by 2035, there could be 446,000 adults aged 85 and over who need 24-hour care—a figure almost twice what it is today. These figures show that more families are searching for the right type of support. This post will help you discover exactly what complex care is, what this care involves and when it might be relevant to your family member’s situation. By the end, you should have a clearer idea of whether complex care applies to you or if simpler home care services are more suited to your needs.

Understanding what complex care is

Complex care is all about providing thorough, person-centred support for people whose health conditions require a combination of specialist oversight and daily living assistance. This support goes far beyond what is typically offered by standard home visits.

Complex care also involves ongoing collaboration with your GP or specialist consultant for advice, along with other professionals who help with daily living activities. If your loved one has a tracheostomy, a feeding tube, or advanced stages of dementia, they may already receive medical instructions or special routines set out by doctors. The aim of complex care is to assist with those routines at home, so people remain as comfortable and safe as possible.

Some people believe they have complex care needs when their condition is chronic. In reality, serious complexity means advanced difficulties in communication, swallowing, breathing, or other vital functions. If daily life were impossible without a dedicated care plan, or if doctors have clearly advised 24/7 care, that’s when complex care becomes essential.

1. High-Level Assistance: Complex care often involves very specific tasks, such as helping with ventilators or administering oxygen therapy. Carers may follow routines outlined by a GP or specialised clinicians, making it possible for a person to remain in the comfort of their own home.
2. Flexible Approach: No two people have the exact same set of needs. Complex care is tailored to each person, helping them manage day-to-day life in a way that suits their abilities, preferences, and clinical requirements.
3. Long-Term or Short-Term: Sometimes this support is needed for life. Other times, it might only be needed for several weeks or months—perhaps to recover after a serious accident or hospital stay.
4. Life-Enriching Support: It isn’t just about helping with medical routines. Many people with complex care needs also appreciate companionship, outings when feasible, and help managing social or mental health challenges.

Who needs complex care?

People facing chronic or progressive health conditions often require complex care. This includes individuals with spinal injuries, late-stage dementia, severe brain injuries, or neurological disorders like advanced Parkinson’s disease. In many of these situations, even the simplest tasks—like eating or moving from a bed to a chair—can be extremely challenging.

• Severe learning disabilities: Some people have profound learning disabilities that make self-care, communication, or mobility very difficult. They may need round-the-clock help, especially if they depend on equipment such as feeding tubes or respiratory aids.
• Neurological conditions: Late-stage dementia, certain stroke after-effects, or advanced brain injuries fall under this banner. Complex care here might include help with speech therapy exercises outlined by a speech therapist or ongoing monitoring of swallowing difficulties.
• Physical disabilities: When a person’s mobility is drastically limited, such as those with severe multiple sclerosis or a high-level spinal cord injury, they may need continuous support to handle personal care and maintain any recommended physiotherapy routines from medical professionals.
• End-of-life care: In the final stages of an illness, the demands can be intensive. Complex care ensures that the person receives consistent support to address pain relief (under the guidance of a GP), comfort, and emotional reassurance for both them and their family.

If you’re unsure whether your loved one meets this description, an important sign is that they’re already under the direct supervision of multiple specialists. Perhaps they have frequent hospital stays or rely on a range of medical professionals who coordinate their care. Those who need complex care typically find everyday life requires continuous support from a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals.

What are examples of complex care needs?

Complex care needs can vary widely. Below are some typical examples that help clarify who might benefit from this type of long-term support:

1. Respiratory support
   
   • People requiring ventilators or who have tracheostomies.
   • Regular checks to ensure breathing equipment is safe and functional.
2. Feeding tubes and nutritional assistance
   
   • PEG feeding or nasal gastric feeds that demand exact schedules and strict cleanliness.
   • Input from dietitians or nutritionists to create meal plans that the care team follows.
3. Severe neurological conditions
   
   • People with late-stage dementia who no longer speak or move independently.
   • Progressive disorders like advanced Motor Neurone Disease (MND) requiring continuous oversight.
4. Profound learning disabilities
   
   • Conditions that require round-the-clock supervision for tasks like personal care, meal preparation, and mobility.
   • Often involves ensuring consistent emotional and communication support.
5. Spinal or brain injuries
   
   • People who need complex care for movement, personal hygiene, and preventing pressure sores.
   • Ongoing collaboration with physiotherapists or occupational therapists to follow recommended exercises.
6. Bowel or stoma care and catheter care
   
   • While these may not always be classified as complex, some people need extensive help with these routines.
   • In many cases, support from nurses or advanced care workers is arranged for safe handling.

Often, these health needs cannot be met by occasional drop-in support alone. They call for structured, continuous care—sometimes 24 hours a day—to ensure the person remains safe, secure, and comfortable. The main difference between complex care and simpler home care is the intensity, frequency, and sometimes life-critical nature of the tasks being performed. 

What types of support does Tiggo Care offer for people with complex care needs?

At Tiggo Care, we appreciate that every person is unique. If your loved one’s condition demands a high level of daily or hourly supervision, our aim is to help them enjoy a better quality of life in their own home. Our approach involves listening to your family’s concerns and collaborating with doctors, physiotherapists, or occupational therapists to make sure we understand and follow their instructions.

Below, you’ll find some of the key ways Tiggo Care can support someone with complex needs:

1. Personalised support plans
   
   • We don’t provide medical advice, but we do follow the guidance of your loved one’s GP and other relevant medical professionals.
   • We build personalised routines around your family member’s daily habits, ensuring that the help they receive fits seamlessly into their life.
   • Our goal is to make day-to-day living with a comprehensive care plan as comfortable as possible, whether that’s prompting them to take the correct medication or offering gentle assistance around the house.
2. 24/7 assistance
   
   • For people who cannot be left alone safely, we can arrange round-the-clock live-in care.
   • Our carers stay vigilant, monitoring changes and helping ensure any risks are managed proactively.
   • Working in tandem with medical professionals, we remain alert to your loved one’s condition, so you can rest easier at night.
3. Support with personal care and hygiene
   
   • Getting in and out of bed, washing, dressing, and other personal tasks can become daunting for someone with complex needs.
   • Tiggo Care can provide a consistent carer who knows your loved one’s preferences and handles tasks like personal care respectfully.
   • We focus on dignity and comfort, always following any specific care instructions provided by a nurse or doctor.
4. Meal preparation
   
   • If your family member has been advised by a dietitian about their nutritional needs, our carers can help them adhere to that guidance.
   • We assist with meal planning, grocery shopping, and safe cooking practices to support any specific feeding routines.
   • For those who use feeding tubes or require thickened liquids, we liaise with relevant health professionals to ensure everything is done correctly.
5. Medication reminders and routines
   
   • Remembering medication schedules can be stressful for both the person with complex needs and their family.
   • Our carers are there to remind them about dosage times and can also assist in requesting prescription refills.
   • We cannot prescribe or make changes to medication—only a doctor can do that—but we offer practical support so everything stays on track.
6. Help with physiotherapy routines
   
   • Many people with complex needs also have exercise programmes outlined by a physiotherapist.
   • Our professional carers can provide gentle help with stretches, mobility exercises, or repositioning to prevent bedsores.
   • By keeping to the professional’s recommendations, your family member can stay as mobile and pain-free as possible.
7. Domestic tasks and social outings
   
   • We appreciate that life isn’t just about medical appointments and treatments.
   • Our services include light household chores like tidying, laundry, or washing the dishes, so your loved one’s home remains a welcoming environment.
   • For those who can get out and about, we offer help attending social events, family gatherings, and community activities.
8. Attending medical appointments
   
   • Whether it’s a routine check-up or a follow-up with a specialist, transport and mobility issues can be challenging.
   • We can accompany your loved one, taking note of any instructions given by the doctor, and help them return home safely.
   • This way, nothing important falls through the cracks, and consistent support is maintained.
9. Respite for family members
   
   • Caring for someone with complex needs can be physically and emotionally demanding.
   • Tiggo Care can organise respite care, letting you step away for a few hours or days to rest and recharge.
   • During respite care, your loved one continues to receive the same quality of help and attention.

By focusing on these areas, we strive to help your loved one keep their life running smoothly in the comfort of their own home. We collaborate with healthcare experts, but we do not attempt to replace their medical expertise. Instead, we follow their instructions and make day-to-day routines simpler, safer, and kinder for the person receiving care.

Conclusion

Complex care isn’t something most people will ever need, because it is genuinely intensive, specialised, and focused on medical and everyday demands. If you’re here and thinking, “This might actually be for us,” then you probably have serious concerns about whether daily life is sustainable without constant support. That’s exactly what complex care addresses. It allows people to remain in their own environment while following doctors’ instructions to stay as comfortable and healthy as possible. Even so, if you have any lingering doubts, speaking with their GP for advice can help determine if advanced support is necessary.

Tiggo Care prides itself on offering a person-centred care approach that focuses on daily comfort. We believe everyone deserves the chance to experience life with as much ease and dignity as possible, no matter how serious their health situation may be. If you think it’s time to organise care at home for your loved one—care that truly respects their needs—then we invite you to contact us today. By taking these next steps, you can help ensure that practical, respectful, and compassionate assistance is always available when it counts the most.