Home care in Dorking, Surrey
Care at home in Dorking from a carer you choose, whether that is hourly visits, overnight help or a carer who lives in.
About Dorking
Dorking is a town in Surrey; its postcode district is RH4. The centre of Dorking is in the Dorking South ward and the Dorking and Horley parliamentary constituency. Adult social care in Dorking is arranged by Surrey County Council.
LCH Care is an introductory agency with no local office: we match families in Dorking with checked, self-employed carers, and you speak to carers by phone or video call before you choose.
Dorking key facts
| Council | Surrey County Council |
|---|---|
| Integrated care board | NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board |
| Postcode district | RH4 |
| Ward at the centre | Dorking South |
| Parliamentary constituency | Dorking and Horley |
Ward and constituency (2024 boundaries): ONS Postcode Directory via postcodes.io. Integrated care board: ONS lookup, April 2026.
Dorking in the 2021 Census
The 2021 Census counted 17,433 residents in the Dorking built-up area; 3,640 of them (20.9%) were aged 65 or over, above the England average of 18.4%.
| Census 2021 | Dorking | Surrey | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or over | 20.9% (3,640) | 18.9% | 18.4% |
| Aged 85 or over | 3.6% (633) | 3.0% | 2.4% |
| Households of one person aged 66 or over | 15.6% (1,197) | 13.1% | 12.8% |
| Give unpaid care (aged 5 or over) | 8.4% (1,398) | 8.0% | 8.8% |
| Give 50 or more hours of unpaid care a week | 2.0% (330) | 2.1% | 2.6% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act | 15.4% (2,694) | 13.8% | 17.3% |
| In bad or very bad health | 3.7% (643) | 3.4% | 5.2% |
Census 2021, ONS. Dorking figures are for the Dorking built-up area.
Care at home in Dorking
- Hourly care in Dorking: visits of 2 hours or more, at times that suit you, from £25 an hour
- Live-in care in Dorking: a carer living in the home for daily support, £1,100 a week
- Overnight care in Dorking: sleeping or waking nights, so nights are safe
- Respite care in Dorking: cover while a family carer takes a break
- 24-hour care in Dorking: two carers sharing the day and the night
- Companionship care in Dorking: company, outings and help with daily routines
- Dementia care in Dorking: a familiar carer and a steady routine at home
In Dorking, families also ask about care for dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, cancer and end of life care; see all conditions.
Health and care services near Dorking
NHS services for Dorking are planned by NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board, which also assesses NHS Continuing Healthcare. There are 2 GP practices within 2 miles of the centre of Dorking; the nearest is Medwyn Surgery, less than half a mile away (NHS ODS, October 2026). When it is not an emergency but you need help quickly, call NHS 111 or use 111.nhs.uk.
Nearest NHS hospitals to Dorking:
- Dorking Community Hospital, about 1 mile away
- Epsom General Hospital, about 7 miles away
Care services near Dorking
Within 5 miles of Dorking, the CQC care directory (30 September 2026) lists 18 homecare agencies, 17 care homes without nursing and 17 nursing homes. The nearest adult hospice is Princess Alice Hospice, about 9 miles away. LCH Care is not one of these services: it is an introductory agency, and the CQC does not require introductory agencies to register because they have no ongoing role in the personal care that carers provide (introductory or managed care).
Arranging care in Dorking
If you live in Dorking, ask Surrey County Council for a free needs assessment (apply on GOV.UK).
More on paying for care near Dorking, and on hospitals across Surrey, is on the Surrey page.
Council help in Dorking
For people in Dorking, GOV.UK links straight to the council's page for each of these:
- Apply for equipment for your home if you're disabled
- Blue Badge scheme: information from your council
- Get meals at home (meals on wheels)
In two-tier county areas, Disabled Facilities Grants and Council Tax Reduction are run by the district councils; use GOV.UK's postcode finder for Disabled Facilities Grants and Council Tax Reduction.
Unpaid carers and local support in Dorking
1,398 people in Dorking were unpaid carers at the 2021 Census, 8.4% of residents aged 5 or over (close to the England average of 8.8%); 330 gave 50 hours or more a week.
Unpaid carers in Dorking can ask Surrey County Council for a free carer's assessment (carer assessments on the NHS website). Carer's Allowance is £86.45 a week for people caring at least 35 hours a week for someone who gets a qualifying benefit (GOV.UK; see Carer's Allowance explained).
Planned breaks matter: respite care at home gives a family carer in Dorking time off while a checked carer steps in.
Charities that help families near Dorking:
- Age UK: local Age UK services
- Carers UK: advice for carers
- Alzheimer's Society: dementia support near you
- Hospice UK: find hospice care near you
Why families in Dorking choose LCH Care
- You choose the carer. We send profiles of carers who can reach Dorking, and you speak to them by phone or video call before deciding.
- Checks before any introduction: identity, right to work in the UK, Enhanced DBS, two references, work history and relevant training or qualifications.
- One clear price: £25 an hour with at least 2 hours a visit, or £1,100 a week for live-in care, confirmed in a written quote.
- One weekly invoice. You pay LCH Care each week, and LCH Care pays your self-employed carer.
See how it works, step by step.
Work as a carer in Dorking
If you are an experienced carer near Dorking, LCH Care can introduce you to families looking for hourly or live-in care. You choose which introductions to accept, are paid weekly by bank transfer, and pay no fee to join. See work as a self-employed carer and questions from carers.
Nearby towns and districts
- Stonebridge
- Great Bookham
- Great Bookham and Fetcham
- Leatherhead
- East Horsley
Questions
Do you arrange carers in Dorking?
Yes. Families in Dorking can be matched with checked, self-employed carers. Whether a carer is free depends on who is available near Dorking, and we will be honest about it.
How much does a carer cost per hour in Dorking?
With LCH Care, hourly care in Dorking costs £25 an hour with at least 2 hours a visit, so a 2-hour visit costs £50. A written quote confirms the full price before care starts. See the cost of hourly care.
How much does live-in care cost per day in Dorking?
About £157 a day: live-in care is £1,100 a week (2 weeks minimum) wherever you live, including Dorking, plus the carer's food or a £30 weekly food allowance. See the cost of live-in care.
Will the NHS pay for care at home in Dorking?
Only if the person's needs are mainly health needs and they qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which the local integrated care board assesses. In Dorking that is NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. See NHS Continuing Healthcare.
Can care start when someone comes home from Dorking Community Hospital?
Yes, when a suitable carer is available near Dorking. Tell us the discharge date as early as you can, and we will send profiles of carers who could start in Dorking.
How many older people live in Dorking?
The 2021 Census counted 3,640 people aged 65 or over in Dorking (20.9% of residents), including 633 aged 85 or over.
Care at home in Dorking
Tell us what is needed in Dorking, and we'll call you back and send profiles of suitable carers.