
Yet again we had exemplary care provided by the Ashridge Home Care team.Carol K(Daughter-in-law of Client/Service User)

they ensure there is happiness in all of this. Thank you!Jason B(Son of Client/Service User)

greeting her each morning with a cheerful smile and sorting her breakfast.Nicola M(Daughter of Client/Service User)

Yet again we had exemplary care provided by the Ashridge Home Care team.Carol K(Daughter-in-law of Client/Service User)

they ensure there is happiness in all of this. Thank you!Jason B(Son of Client/Service User)

greeting her each morning with a cheerful smile and sorting her breakfast.Nicola M(Daughter of Client/Service User)

Ashridge Home Care is an independent, family owned company dedicated to providing compassionate, personalised care in the comfort of your own home. With over 35 years of experience the team understand that arranging support can feel overwhelming, which is why they focus on delivering attentive, tailored services that give you peace of mind and confidence in the care you receive.
At the heart of what they do is a commitment to...
Ashridge Home Care is an independent, family owned company dedicated to providing compassionate, personalised care in the comfort of your own home. With over 35 years of experience the team understand that arranging support can feel overwhelming, which is why they focus on delivering attentive, tailored services that give you peace of mind and confidence in the care you receive.
At the heart of what they do is a commitment to excellence. Caregivers are carefully chosen not just for their skills, but for their genuine passion for making a positive difference in people’s lives. Ashridge Home Care provides them with extensive training and continuous support, ensuring the highest standard of care for every client.
The fully managed service means they take care of everything—from coordinating medical appointments to conducting regular care reviews—allowing you to focus on what matters most. They also recognise the importance of providing a nurturing environment for carers, as they know their wellbeing is essential to delivering outstanding care.
They understand that choosing care is a big decision, especially for those who have lived independently. The team is here to guide you every step of the way, offering thoughtful advice and support to help you make the best choice for your needs.
At Ashridge Home Care, they’re not just providing care—they’re building trusted relationships that enrich lives.
They believe in creating care solutions that fit your lifestyle, rather than expecting you to adapt to theirs. With a combination of empathy, expertise, and practical wisdom, they aim to make the process of securing care as simple and stress-free as possible.
Care Provided by Ashridge Home Care Ltd
Types of Home Care
- Visiting Care
- Live-in Care
- 24 Hour Care
- Overnight Care (Waking)
- Overnight Care (Sleeping)
Minimum Visit Duration (Visiting Care)
- 60 minutes
Contract Durations
- Ongoing / Long Term
- Respite / Short Term
Age Ranges
- Older Person Care (65+)
- Younger Adult Care (18-65)
Personal Care Services
- Washing & Dressing
- Toileting Assistance
- Medication Assistance (Oral)
- Companionship
- Continence Care
- Feeding & Drinking Assistance
Household Services
- Cleaning Service
- Food Preparation & Serving
- Laundry Service
- Shopping Service / Errands
- Transportation Service
Other Care Provided
- Dementia
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Cancer Care
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Hospital Discharge
Funding & Fees
Daily Charges per Person
Our fees cover the cost of a fully managed service, the cost of the dedicated carer, the management of your care and a care manager who will make sure you are happy every step of the way.
For couples, a live-in carer is a fantastic option as we only make a small additional charge for the extra person needing care. If your relative lives alone, having a live-in carer is a viable option, as the costs compare favourably to that of a care home.
We know how important it is that your relative builds a strong bond with their carer, and we will provide a dedicated carer that they can get to know well.
It can be hard to make that first phone call to us, but there really is no obligation, and we are more than happy to talk through the different options with you so you can make an informed decision.
More fee information can be found on our website.
The price(s) shown are provided by the agency. Contact Ashridge Home Care Ltd for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Ashridge Home Care Ltd to get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Private Funding (Self-funded)
- Direct Payments (from Local Authority/NHS)
- Local Authority (Contracted Provider)
- NHS (Contracted Provider)
Good to Know
Owner
- Ashridge Home Care
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Lina Pazou (Head of Operations & Registered Manager)
Ashridge Home Care Ltd Reviews (76)
Ashridge Home Care Ltd has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.797) out of 10, based on 24 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Ashridge Home Care Ltd has 76 reviews.
My husband at 92 needed care when I had to visit my family in Scandinavia for 10 days. A lovely person arrived, and Anna took the weight off my shoulders allowing me to see my family after nearly five years and leave my husband (and an 11-year-old yellow Labrador) in her care which was brilliant,...
My husband at 92 needed care when I had to visit my family in Scandinavia for 10 days. A lovely person arrived, and Anna took the weight off my shoulders allowing me to see my family after nearly five years and leave my husband (and an 11-year-old yellow Labrador) in her care which was brilliant, she had the patience, skills to personal care including 'judging' the character of all (human and dogs!). She was an angel for us, nothing was too much for her, she fed the boys, took them for walks, made sure all was comfortable when I returned, my house was spotless, my husband was very happy and the dog didn't want her to go either. We need more human beings like her, thoughtful, kind, beautifully caring and very intelligent. It turned out to be a perfect match thank you, and we are very grateful for our 'angel'. Bless you all.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review us. I'm so glad that you were able to have a relaxing trip and left your husband and dog in the safe hands of our wonderful carer!
Totally satisfactory.
Totally satisfactory.
Thank you for taking the time to review us. Your rating is very important to us and a reflection of the great work our carers do.
Ashridge Home Care have been caring for my mum for the last few years. They have been amazing in every way. Mum struggles with dementia and is unable to do certain things, but the extraordinary care and support offered by Ashridge allow her to live joyously and fulfillingly day by day. They ensure...
Ashridge Home Care have been caring for my mum for the last few years. They have been amazing in every way. Mum struggles with dementia and is unable to do certain things, but the extraordinary care and support offered by Ashridge allow her to live joyously and fulfillingly day by day. They ensure the chores are done, they ensure the routines are organised and they ensure there is happiness in all of this. Thank you!
Hi Jason, thank you for taking the time to review our service. We value your feedback and will share this with the team. It is our pleasure to provide the care for your mother. Best wishes, the Ashridge Care team.
Their supportive, caring, compassionate and trustworthy care of my mother-in-law was second to none and we know that we can always rely on Ashridge Home Care to be there for us whether it be last minute or pre-planned. We...
Their supportive, caring, compassionate and trustworthy care of my mother-in-law was second to none and we know that we can always rely on Ashridge Home Care to be there for us whether it be last minute or pre-planned. We have always found the carers to be respectful, considerate and appropriate to my mother-in-law's needs whether it be personal care or being a reassuring presence in our home. I can wholeheartedly recommend Ashridge Home Care for the care of your loved one.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Carol. We value your feedback to share the team who are critical to the work we do. It was our pleasure to provide the care for your mother-in-law. Best wishes, Mitch and the Ashridge Care team.
I could not be happier with the care and service provided by the team at Ashridge Home Care. They have helped our family out at short notice and when we were most in need of help and support. They provided short-term assistance every day for my mother-in-law as she settled back into her home after...
I could not be happier with the care and service provided by the team at Ashridge Home Care. They have helped our family out at short notice and when we were most in need of help and support. They provided short-term assistance every day for my mother-in-law as she settled back into her home after emergency surgery and helped her regain her confidence to be independent once more. They currently also provide daily help for my elderly mother, greeting her each morning with a cheerful smile and sorting her breakfast. Mornings are a time when she is most vulnerable and to have someone there first thing to start her day and ensure she is ok is such a relief for me and my sisters. We are so grateful to have the attentive and professional support of our Ashridge carer and would recommend them most highly. As a family, we do what we can to assist our Mum but sometimes you just need that extra help and Ashridge Home Care will always be the first place we turn to.
Thank you for taking the time to review our service. We value your feedback to share with our carers who are critical to the work we do at Ashridge. It was our pleasure to provide the care for your mother-in-law. Best wishes, Mitch and the Ashridge Care team.
We were so pleased with the care provided. Ashridge Home Care assured me that they would do their best to find the “right” carer for my mother and I feel that they really did. The person chosen was extremely attentive to the needs of my mother and was just a lovely, kind person. Thank you.
We were so pleased with the care provided. Ashridge Home Care assured me that they would do their best to find the “right” carer for my mother and I feel that they really did. The person chosen was extremely attentive to the needs of my mother and was just a lovely, kind person. Thank you.
Thank you for the positive review. We value your feedback to share with our carers who are critical to the work we do at Ashridge. It was our pleasure to provide the care for your mother.
Excellent care both from live-in carers who in the main, were exceptional. Am now having daycare carers who again are very good. As I have had a fair number of replacements (4 so far, 2 still to be done!) I have used three local care agencies and Ashridge Care is, without doubt, the most caring and...
Excellent care both from live-in carers who in the main, were exceptional. Am now having daycare carers who again are very good. As I have had a fair number of replacements (4 so far, 2 still to be done!) I have used three local care agencies and Ashridge Care is, without doubt, the most caring and exceptional group of ladies ever. They even put up with my neurotic fads with a smile and most importantly we have so many laughs!
Thank you, Val, for the kind review. We value your feedback to share with our carers who are fundamental to the work we do at Ashridge. It is our pleasure to provide your care.
We have been with Ashridge Home Care Ltd since February 2021 when they were first recommended to us for live-in care for our father, a dementia sufferer who passed away in October 2021. We have continued with live-in care for Mother who is an Alzheimer's sufferer since Father's passing. Ashridge...
We have been with Ashridge Home Care Ltd since February 2021 when they were first recommended to us for live-in care for our father, a dementia sufferer who passed away in October 2021. We have continued with live-in care for Mother who is an Alzheimer's sufferer since Father's passing. Ashridge seamlessly changed our carers to suit our mother's needs. We have been blessed with the carers we have had in place. Mum's carer now is exceptional and the support, love, and care we receive is beyond remarkable.
Thank you for the kind review. We value this feedback to share with our carers who are fundamental to the work we do at Ashridge. It was our pleasure to provide care for your father and remains our pleasure to provide care for your mother.
Following our unsatisfactory experience with another agency, Ashridge took over my son's live-in care at short notice. Their provision has been exemplary, with both live-in and respite carers "giving (my son) his life back", in his words. All the carers and support team clearly have the client's...
Following our unsatisfactory experience with another agency, Ashridge took over my son's live-in care at short notice. Their provision has been exemplary, with both live-in and respite carers "giving (my son) his life back", in his words. All the carers and support team clearly have the client's interests at heart and go the extra mile to ensure this.
Thank you so much for the kind review. We value this feedback to share with our carers who are vital to the work we do. I am pleased that we were able to help your son and give him the support he needed.
Just before Christmas my 88-year-old husband who has vascular dementia suffered a crisis. We were woefully unprepared and realised hands-on help was needed. Ashridge Home Care assessed the situation and found us a live-in carer at very short notice. He was wonderful, a perfect match for my husband....
Just before Christmas my 88-year-old husband who has vascular dementia suffered a crisis. We were woefully unprepared and realised hands-on help was needed. Ashridge Home Care assessed the situation and found us a live-in carer at very short notice. He was wonderful, a perfect match for my husband. Our carer was calm, experienced with dementia, patient, and very kind. He showed us how to cope with physical limitations and established a daily routine as well as advising about what practical aids we needed long-term. Most of all, he was a joyful, positive presence in our household. He treated my husband with respect, encouraging him to focus on what he can do, not what he has lost. He stayed with us for 8 weeks; in that time, my husband recovered remarkably well. Ultimately, they were doing gardening together and going for short walks. He left us in an excellent state and phoned 2 days later to see how we were coping. I highly recommend Ashridge Home Care. You will be in safe hands.
Thank you so much for this lovely review, it is so important for carers to see feedback like this, it only helps them to continue doing wonderful work. I am so pleased that we were able to help your husband and to give you the support you needed.
Ashridge Home Care have been providing home care for my relative over the past two years. In the past month, they have exceeded my expectations by suggesting increased support to help in a difficult and sensitive situation. The live-in carer they suggested on a trial basis was excellent and...
Ashridge Home Care have been providing home care for my relative over the past two years. In the past month, they have exceeded my expectations by suggesting increased support to help in a difficult and sensitive situation. The live-in carer they suggested on a trial basis was excellent and provided the necessary care for my relative. A satisfactory solution was reached for all. Ashridge Home Care have the best interest of their clients and I am so pleased that I have used their services.
Ashridge have previously helped out with stand-in care for my Mum who suffers from Parkinson's with Dementia. At the beginning of this month, she suffered a setback and was admitted to hospital whereupon it became clear that live-in care would be more suited along with an additional pair of hands...
Ashridge have previously helped out with stand-in care for my Mum who suffers from Parkinson's with Dementia. At the beginning of this month, she suffered a setback and was admitted to hospital whereupon it became clear that live-in care would be more suited along with an additional pair of hands when required. Thankfully the stay in hospital was only short, however, it meant that the care element was urgent. I spoke with their Operations Manager and in the space of 24 hours, we had a plan in place with all bases covered! Absolutely amazing. Thank you to all the team, you are all such a pleasure to work with. 5-stars all round.
The care I receive from my carer and Ashridge is more than satisfactory in every way! I also always receive lovely flowers, cards and gifts for birthdays, Christmas and Easter from the office - very thoughtful.
The care I receive from my carer and Ashridge is more than satisfactory in every way! I also always receive lovely flowers, cards and gifts for birthdays, Christmas and Easter from the office - very thoughtful.
Visited recently and met the carer for the first time in person, due to lockdown. I was greeted warmly at the door, the house was very clean, tidy and Dad's lunch was ready on the table, freshly prepared exactly as he likes it with home made bread. Dad is clearly being helped in an appropriate way...
Visited recently and met the carer for the first time in person, due to lockdown. I was greeted warmly at the door, the house was very clean, tidy and Dad's lunch was ready on the table, freshly prepared exactly as he likes it with home made bread. Dad is clearly being helped in an appropriate way for his needs which are getting more, due to his age. The carer gets up during the night, every night, to make sure he's safe going to the toilet. She manages dealing with the GP, taking samples, collecting prescriptions and doing extra bits of shopping. She seems completely not phased by anything that she has had to do. Accompanies by taxi when needed, takes her time off to suit Dad's needs and timings and is very unobtrusive in his daily life but there when needed. Dealing with the office has been very easy, mostly done by email but phone calls are also answered promptly and efficiently. Arrangement for changeover of carers after Christmas was handled well, despite lockdown uncertainties. Communications are good.
My wife and I have arranged PA/companionship visits by Ashridge for an elderly neighbour, working closely with her son who lives abroad. At every point in the process - assessment of care needs, advice on options, drawing up the care plan, selecting the appropriate PA/companion, reviewing the...
My wife and I have arranged PA/companionship visits by Ashridge for an elderly neighbour, working closely with her son who lives abroad. At every point in the process - assessment of care needs, advice on options, drawing up the care plan, selecting the appropriate PA/companion, reviewing the implementation of the plan - we have found Ashridge totally professional, caring and easy to work with. We find them totally reliable and we (and our friend's son) feel very reassured that we can rely on a care provider with such experience and expertise. In approaching her task, the Ashridge Companion has shown not only kindness and consideration but also considerable resilience and imagination in building a relationship with our friend and showing in what ways she can help her. Ashridge are very well networked into other support mechanisms and have been instrumental in getting our friend into a local Day Centre once a week and arranging a team of neighbours to provide transport. Highly recommended.
I have used Ashridge Home Care for almost a year - October 2019 - September 2020. They are very efficient and professional both in the office and with all the carers. I have mostly used one career who has been my rock but also one other and they are very caring and helpful. I used a carer via...
I have nothing but praise for them and hope they continue to be successful.
Thank you for taking the time to review us. It is an absolute pleasure to work with you.
She is a very caring, sympathetic person, a really lovely person always there when needed. Very supportive in every way. Does her job with dignity and quietness to an excellent standard.
She is a very caring, sympathetic person, a really lovely person always there when needed. Very supportive in every way. Does her job with dignity and quietness to an excellent standard.
My aunt had been diagnosed with dementia many months before Ashridge Home Care were involved. Her support had increased before she went into hospital for 3 weeks in January 2020. We were told that on discharge she would need 24-hour care. Over many months in conversation, Auntie often said 'if I am...
The support was set up almost straight away. There were very difficult times right from the beginning but these were managed. Due to my cousin and I, who have lasting power of attorney, living many miles away and Auntie having no family of her own, we were very dependent upon the Ashridge Home Care staff. The two main carers and particularly the one which did the most weeks were excellent in their support. Relief staff had difficulties especially because they were strangers to Auntie.
In the beginning the agency worked hard to find a carer who could form a good relationship with my aunt. After a couple of false starts, our current carer arrived and my aunt accepted her. She managed to survive and stay cheerful through some difficult times, lots of disturbed nights and the...
When my aunt's carer had her well-earned breaks the agency made sure the relief carers had become familiar to my aunt before they took over, which eased the transition.
Eventually, a move into residential care became necessary, but I am so grateful that my aunt's regular carers wonderful care allowed her to stay in her own home for as long as possible. Many thanks to her and everyone at Ashridge Home Care.
She has been absolutely miraculous giving...
She has been absolutely miraculous giving the excellent and vital care they so desperately needed. I can’t recommend Ashridge more highly.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 31 July 2019Good
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
News (2)
- 18 Mar 2026
Ashridge Home Care celebrated at the 2026 Home Care Awards, being named winner for the End-of-Life Category. The event took place last Friday, recognising the country’s finest home care companies....
- 14 Oct 2024
Ashridge Home Care, a family-owned company based in Amersham, celebrated a remarkable evening at the annual Buckinghamshire Business Awards, clinching both the Excellence in Customer Experience and the Community Champions...
Awards / Recognitions (26)
- 06 Mar 2026Recipient: Ashridge Home Care Ltd
- 07 Mar 2025Recipient: Ashridge Home Care Ltd
- 09 Oct 2024Recipient: Ashridge Home Care Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Ashridge Home Care Ltd.
Meet the Team (9)

Trudi has more than 30 years of experience in the care sector and set up Ashridge Home Care in 2017. She is a passionate believer that there is an...
Trudi has more than 30 years of experience in the care sector and set up Ashridge Home Care in 2017. She is a passionate believer that there is an alternative to going into a residential home and wants to enable everyone to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Trudi has an energy commitment and a ‘never say no’ attitude reflected in several voluntary roles outside of Ashridge.
Trudi has several industry awards to her name and was most recently named Outstanding Individual by the renowned Home Care Awards judges.

Lina brings over a decade of experience to Ashridge Home Care, having spent years with some of the most respected home care providers in the sector....
Lina brings over a decade of experience to Ashridge Home Care, having spent years with some of the most respected home care providers in the sector. With a master’s degree in dementia and a background in nursing, she has spent her career reshaping how care is delivered, empowering individuals and focusing on strengths-based support.
As a dedicated advocate for those living with dementia, her expertise has been recognised on the national stage, where she was awarded both Dementia Registered Manager of the Year and Dementia Specialist of the Year.
Lina is passionate about empowering people to live their best lives and is committed to delivering the highest standards of personalised care while supporting the development of her team.

Agata joined the Ashridge Home Care Team in February 2020 as Care Manager and has recently been promoted to Care Services Manager in 2023. She is...
Agata joined the Ashridge Home Care Team in February 2020 as Care Manager and has recently been promoted to Care Services Manager in 2023. She is responsible for making sure that our new clients have the best possible customer journey and that their care is tailored to suit their individual need. Her attention to details makes sure that we deliver the best possible standard of care.
Having studied clinical psychology at University in Poland Agata started her career as a carer and then worked in a nursing home before becoming assistant manager at a care home. She has a caring background through and through.

Debbie joined Ashridge Home Care as a Care Manager to support Agata in her busy role. Debbie has over 6 years of experience as a live-in carer so has...
Debbie joined Ashridge Home Care as a Care Manager to support Agata in her busy role. Debbie has over 6 years of experience as a live-in carer so has the perfect first-hand knowledge of what it means to be a carer. She has recently achieved a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Lead Adult Care and also completed a Level 2 Diploma in End of Life Care, both of which are an excellent foundation for her role as Care Manager.
Debbie lived in Greece for over 30 years where she taught English as a foreign language to school children. When she moved back to the UK, she retrained as a care worker. She mainly supported individuals living with dementia, which raised her own interest in the need for promoting dementia awareness. She is a Dementia Friend and shares the Ashridge vision that it is the little things that make the biggest difference. Debbie is always ready to go above and beyond to support our clients and their families.
Debbie was brought up in Beaconsfield and now lives in Amersham and knows the area well. She loves to spend her free time with her two children or visiting friends and enjoys walking, visiting places of interest and intends to do more travelling in the future.

Chloe joined the Ashridge team full-time as our Care Administrator in the summer of 2020 and, in 2025, was promoted to a well-deserved role as Care...
Chloe joined the Ashridge team full-time as our Care Administrator in the summer of 2020 and, in 2025, was promoted to a well-deserved role as Care Manager in our Live in Care team.
She studied health and social care and has always had an ambition to work in the care sector. Chloe’s role focuses on recruiting live-in and visiting carers. She is also responsible for ensuring that all new carers’ paperwork is compliant and their training is up to date.
But that’s not all, Chloe also has hands-on care experience working as a visiting carer for a few additional hours each week. She visits clients regularly in Amersham and Prestwood, helping with dinner time and helping them with the bedtime routine. She is helping to rehabilitate one client after she’d had a stroke, and as well as doing physio, they go on walks in the countryside together.
Chloe spends her spare time walking her Golden Retriever, Dudley and loves a good book.

Emma holds a key role at Head Office, as our Visiting Care Manager Emma manages the schedules of the visiting carers and makes sure our clients...
Emma holds a key role at Head Office, as our Visiting Care Manager Emma manages the schedules of the visiting carers and makes sure our clients receive the best possible care.
Emma does a brilliant job at making sure the right person visits each client. Emma ensures there is consistency of care provided to our clients and works closely with the team to ensure all training courses are compliant and are on hand to support the carers in any queries and concerns they may have.

Sarah joins Ashridge with 14 years of experience in the care sector. Most recently, she worked with a large national care provider. A Psychology...
Sarah joins Ashridge with 14 years of experience in the care sector. Most recently, she worked with a large national care provider. A Psychology graduate from Cardiff University, Sarah is passionate about working with people and making a positive impact.
This is a newly created role at Ashridge, and Sarah makes sure we look after our staff team and ensure they receive the very highest level of training. She also oversees our marketing activity.
Sarah has lived on the Buckinghamshire-Hertfordshire border for the past 15 years. She loves the green countryside, especially as she enjoys horse riding in her spare time.

We are delighted to welcome Susie Long, who joined Ashridge as our new trainer. Susie brings extensive experience from the care sector, having worked...
We are delighted to welcome Susie Long, who joined Ashridge as our new trainer. Susie brings extensive experience from the care sector, having worked for many years in various care settings both as a registered manager and as a trainer. She delivers high-quality training to all our staff, making sure that they meet our high standards.
We’re thrilled to have her on board and are confident that she will continue to deliver exceptional training to our staff.
Susie lives in Chesham with her husband and two children. We’re excited to have her as part of our team!

Abbi's role is all about community! She helps us to build stronger connections within the community where we work. She has over 20 years of...
Abbi's role is all about community! She helps us to build stronger connections within the community where we work. She has over 20 years of experience in relationship management and is a great representative for Ashridge, fostering partnerships, enhancing community outreach, and driving impactful initiatives that benefit our local community.Abbi is an animal fanatic with a home filled with dogs cats and horses. She looks after her vast family including three teenagers and relaxes with cooking and baking or a good book.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of homecare.co.uk. Please contact Ashridge Home Care Ltd to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Ashridge Home Care Ltd has an Enhanced Service -what an Enhanced Service includes.