community care: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Mid-FrequencyFormal, Professional
Quick answer
What does “community care” mean?
Care or support provided to people, typically the elderly, disabled, or mentally ill, within their own homes or local community rather than in institutional settings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Care or support provided to people, typically the elderly, disabled, or mentally ill, within their own homes or local community rather than in institutional settings.
Formal and informal systems, often coordinated by public or nonprofit agencies, designed to assist vulnerable individuals to live independently and maintain social connections in their local area.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'community care' is a well-established term tied to legislation (e.g., the Community Care Act). In American English, related terms like 'in-home care services', 'community-based care', or 'home and community-based services (HCBS)' are more common.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with local government (social services) and the National Health Service (NHS). US: Often linked to Medicaid waivers and private health/social care agencies.
Frequency
Substantially more frequent in UK English due to its status as a statutory term.
Grammar
How to Use “community care” in a Sentence
[SUBJECT: The council] provides community care [PREP: for] [OBJECT: elderly residents].[OBJECT: Community care] [VERB: was introduced] [PREP: under] [AGENT: the 1990 Act].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community care” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council is now community-caring for over 200 clients.
- We need to properly community-care for our veterans.
American English
- The agency community-cares for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Few states have successfully community-cared for this population.
adverb
British English
- Patients are now treated more community-care oriented.
American English
- The system is designed to operate community-care focused.
adjective
British English
- The community-care budget faces further cuts.
- She works in a community-care role.
American English
- The community-care waiver program is under review.
- We need more community-care options for seniors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used by companies providing contracted care services to local authorities.
Academic
Used in social policy, gerontology, and public health research.
Everyday
Used when discussing arrangements for an ageing relative needing support at home.
Technical
Refers to specific statutory duties, care packages, and eligibility criteria within social work and healthcare.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community care”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community care”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community care”
- Using 'community care' to refer to unpaid, informal neighbourly help (it's a formal term).
- Confusing it with 'primary care' in a medical sense.
- Spelling as 'community-care' (usually open compound).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the country and the individual's means. In the UK, it is often means-tested, with charges based on income and savings.
Typically, individuals assessed as having eligible needs due to age, illness, disability, or mental health conditions, where support is required to maintain independence at home.
'Home care' is a service (e.g., personal care, chores). 'Community care' is the broader policy and coordination framework that includes home care alongside other services like day centres, social work, and equipment provision.
It focuses primarily on social care needs (washing, dressing, meals, social support). Healthcare (nursing, physiotherapy) is often provided separately but should be coordinated with community care under integrated care models.
Care or support provided to people, typically the elderly, disabled, or mentally ill, within their own homes or local community rather than in institutional settings.
Community care is usually formal, professional in register.
Community care: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnɪti keə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnɪti ker/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It takes a village to provide community care.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Community Care: Care that Comes from the Community, not a Clinic.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY AS A SAFETY NET (The community is a structure that catches and supports those at risk of falling).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is 'community care' a specific statutory term tied to legislation?