Home Care in Hither Green and the Corbett Estate

Yes, we provide home care in Hither Green. It is one of the nearest neighbourhoods to our office on Lewisham High Street, one stop away by train. Carers come in to help with washing, dressing, meals, medication and company, and live-in care is available where there is a spare bedroom. As everywhere, visiting times depend on carer availability. We start with a free assessment in your home.

The Corbett Estate staircase

Most of the housing east and south of the station is the Corbett Estate. The Scottish MP Archibald Cameron Corbett built thousands of terraced houses here on land from North Park Farm in the late 19th century. He gave the streets Scottish names and, following his Quaker wishes, the estate still has no pub. The houses are two-storey terraces in long, regular rows, and many are still single family homes.

That regularity helps with care. Most of these houses have a single straight staircase, and a stairlift is usually simpler to fit on a straight stair than on a curved one. The bathroom is usually upstairs, so washing and dressing are the hardest part of the day for someone who is unsteady. A typical plan starts with a carer arriving in the morning to help with the stairs and the shower, then adds visits as needs change.

East side, west side

The railway divides Hither Green. The east side centres on Staplehurst Road and the station's Fernbrook Road exit; the west side on Springbank Road and Hither Green Lane. The station has Southeastern trains towards London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross, and out to Sidcup, Dartford and Orpington, and the 225 bus terminates on Springbank Road by the station. A major upgrade to make the station step-free is under way, with a new footbridge and lifts. Check whether the lifts are open before you rely on them.

Parking depends on which side you live on. The council's zone timetable lists Hither Green West and Mountsfield Park as weekday zones from 9am to 7pm, while Hither Green East runs from 10am to 12 noon only. In the all-day zones, a free carers' permit lets a visiting carer park for up to four hours a day.

Does the council pay for home care in Hither Green?

It may. Lewisham Council decides through a needs assessment and then a financial assessment. Start with the council's online wellbeing check, phone Adult Social Care on 020 8314 7777, or read the assessment page. If a GP or ward thinks someone's needs are mainly health needs, ask about NHS Continuing Healthcare. If you pay privately, we give a written quote after our assessment. The Lewisham borough page covers discharge from University Hospital Lewisham and direct payments.

Mental health and memory

South London and Maudsley runs a complex mental health rehabilitation service at Heather Close in Hither Green. For people living at home with long-term mental illness, our carers can help with daily routines and medication prompts alongside the person's community mental health team. For dementia, the council runs the Ladywell Dementia Day Service nearby, and our dementia care at home can cover the days in between.

Live-in care and respite

A three-bedroom Corbett house usually has room for a live-in carer, and that can work better for couples than visits. For a family member doing most of the caring, respite care can be booked for an afternoon a week or for a holiday.

What we can help with in Hither Green

• Personal care, washing and dressing
• Medication prompting and support
• Meals, laundry and home help
• Companionship and getting out
• Dementia care at home
• Support after a hospital stay
• Short breaks for family carers
• Live-in care when needs grow