concern Liverpool & Sefton Your local A name you can trust Later Life Guide
Helping people aged 50 and over in Liverpool and Sefton
Contents
Contents 4 Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton - Welcome
5 - 8 Helping local people age 50+
9 - 12 Money, Money, Money
13 - 14 Legal Services
15 - 16 Changing the tune at UK Funerals
17 - 20 Living with Dementia
21 - 23 Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton Homecare Services
24 - 25 Your right to social care and support
26 - 28 Planning for your future care needs
29 - 31 Are you a carer?
32 - 33 Choosing care services
34 - 37 Funding care
38 - 42 Care services in your home
43 - 47 Care homes
Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this guide was correct at press time, Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton and Sure Media do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by any errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Although Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton & Sure Media would like to thank the sponsors for their support in this publication, their inclusion within this publication does not imply any recommendation or endorsements as to the goods or services they may supply. Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton has received no financial payments from any sponsors or supporters in the production of this guide.
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3 Introduction
Welcome from the Chief Executive Thank you for reading our Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton “Later life guide”.
Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton is 90 years old We have tried to cover the main areas we this year. It was the very first Age Concern type receive queries about including retirement charity in the world and has developed over the planning, finances, care, support for people years to become the prime local charity for older living with dementia and some of the sensitive people. In 2014 the charity was awarded the issues such as funeral planning. We have also freedom of the City of Liverpool in recognition showcased the services and products which of the high quality work it undertakes with local we provide that can make life better for older older people. people. Liverpool’s Lord Mayor in 2014, Councillor I hope that you enjoy reading the guide and Gary Millar, said; that it is helpful and informative; however we “It really is such a proud moment not just for recognise that a booklet can never take the me but for the city to be able to award a charity place of talking to another person, so please which works tirelessly to make lives easier for do get in touch with us if we can help you in local older people. It’s fantastic that not only any way. are they still continuing the work they started We look forward to hearing from you. all those years ago but they were the first Age Concern in the world. This really is something that our city should be proud of. Their staff are dedicated, invaluable and such hard workers always making life better and providing support for the vulnerable as they grow old. The Freedom of the City is the highest honour we can bestow and Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton are a truly deserving recipient.” Because we have served older people in Dil Daly Liverpool & Sefton for so long, we really Chief Executive understand their hopes, concerns and fears and what they need to live happy and fulfilling Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton lives and have tried to incorporate some of that 179 Townsend Lane, knowledge into this guide. Liverpool L13 9DY We hope that this guide will help to address Tel (Liverpool): 0151 330 5678 some of the challenges associated with [email protected] becoming older, as well as highlighting some www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk of the opportunities which later life brings.
4 Helping us to help local people
Helping Local People age 50+ Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton provides a wide range of services offering practical help, care and support to improve the quality of life for local people aged 50 and over: The Poppy Centre The Poppy Centre is located at 179 Townsend - Putting the fun back into life Lane, Clubmoor, Liverpool L13 9DY and has Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton has 90 years private, free parking available for centre users. It of experience of supporting local, older people is a modern, light, clean, fresh and airy building and making their lives more enjoyable. Our which is specifically adapted for older people. Poppy Centre is the perfect place to come. Our The Centre also has a large garden with raised staff provide support and encouragement to beds and a greenhouse so that older people help new visitors settle in quickly and become can nurture plants and flowers and enjoy the established friends. Every day the Poppy Centre outdoor areas and activities such as barbecues offers a tasty and nutritionally balanced 3 course and fresh air activities and exercise classes. It’s meal and snacks\refreshments all made on-site a wonderful place that’s full of life, hope and joy. by our chef in our 5 star food hygiene rated For more information, to look around the Poppy kitchen. Centre or to discuss your requirements please There are also activities every day which are call us on 0151 330 5678 completely optional, but bring the fun back into Homecare life: The service offers high quality personalised • Sing-a-longs care (which is rated as good by the Care Quality • Reminiscence Commission) as well as practical domestic • Entertainers and music support such as cleaning, shopping and help • Arts and crafts with escorted outings. Please see the article on page 21 for more information. • Chair based exercise • Gardening on raised beds Information and Advice • Bingo and hoy We provide information and advice on all issues affecting older people and their carers. We also • Puzzles and games help older people to find their way around the • Summer barbecues on the patio in the system as we know which local organisation will gardens be best placed to help with any particular issue. • Mindfulness and relaxation • Watching classic movies and old television show favourites • Dancing • Chatting and laughing with new friends
5 Helping us to help local people
Practical support for older people with a Dementia Day Care & Carers’ Respite recent cancer diagnosis Support Free practical support for older people recently We provide personalised, sensitive care and diagnosed with cancer funded by Macmillan support for people living with dementia from Cancer Support. This can be in the form of help 8am until 6pm on weekdays in part of the Poppy keeping the house clean, someone to do the Centre in Clubmoor, Liverpool. The service shopping or just someone to go out on a trip offers a range of activities designed for people with. living with dementia and tasty, fresh meals to Community Health Ambassador Team (CHAT) maximise their enjoyment of the day. The Community health ambassador team It also enables Carers to have a break or to go to is funded by Liverpool Public Health to work, secure in the knowledge that the person encourage Liverpool people of all ages to adopt they look after is in safe hands and is having a healthier lifestyles. They organise events and good time. demonstrations to engage local people in ways Please see page 17 for more information. to become healthier and help people access Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton has been local support to ensure that they have the best supporting local people since 1928. We provide chance possible to succeed in developing a a wide range of charitable services which are new, healthier lifestyle. vital to older people’s wellbeing; but it may Specialist Nursing Care surprise you to know that we also manage a We manage 2 nursing homes specifically for business offering commercial products and older people. services to people of all ages. By providing high quality, good value services and products, we The Hamlets in Mersey Parks provides nursing ensure customers get what they want and that care for older people with functional mental the charity benefits from a small commission health conditions such as schizophrenia, payment to help with charitable work. We work paranoia and Korsakoff’s Syndrome. with suppliers who are safe and reputable, so Edinburgh Park provides nursing care for older that when you purchase through us you will people with dementia who need substantial always receive a quality service. It’s a double levels of care and support. win! There is nothing better than getting what you want at a good price and knowing that Both homes provide person centred care which you are supporting a great, local charity in the aims to maximise the independence and abilities process. of the residents within a safe and supportive environment.
6 Helping us to help local people
Legal Services Key Safes Working with a firm of solicitors established in We only offer key safes which are approved 1853, we offer FREE wills and will reviews (a by the police and which are therefore able to donation to Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton is be covered by a typical home insurance (most suggested), half-price Power of Attorney and competitor safes aren’t approved). A key safe Family Protection Trusts etc. Please see our means those people given the access code (e.g. article on page 13 to find out more. carers, family and friends) can gain entry but Daily Living, Mobility, Disability and Dementia everyone else is kept out. Support aids and equipment Thousands of Personal Alarms products to help people manage everyday tasks The ability to summon help just when it’s in their own home can be bought online from needed can be the difference between life and our dedicated internet based shop or a smaller death. We offer push button pendant alarms, selection is showcased in our daily living aids alarms in a normal wrist watch, falls sensors, brochure. carbon monoxide sensors and other sensors to Equity Release ensure the safety of vulnerable individuals. We help people to safely release some of the Energy money tied-up in their property. Our clients use We work with a green gas and electricity the cash released for all sorts of things; home supplier. They take the money our customers repairs, supporting the grandchildren through spend on their energy bills and use it to build college, buying a new car, holidays, care new sources of Green Energy. It’s a unique costs or just as extra income to make life more business model that protects the environment comfortable. We work with an Equity Release Council approved provider so that people can Flowers and Gifts never end up in a negative equity situation and Fresh flowers, bouquets and a wide variety of they have a cast-iron guarantee that they can gifts can be purchased online or over the phone continue to live in their home for life. and delivered the same day (for orders received before 3pm Monday-Saturday). Please see our article on page 9 to find out more. Funeral Plans Travel Insurance A range of high quality, prepaid funeral plans with local independent Funeral Directors that Comprehensive insurance for trips of all kinds ensure that the final arrangements are in ranging from a relaxing beach holiday to accordance with the client’s wishes and that extreme sports (including alligator wrestling and the family are not left with a substantial bill at a martial arts tournaments!). We offer cover to all distressing time. All funeral payments are kept age groups from children to people age 100+. in a separate trust so that there is absolutely Stair Lifts no risk of the monies being unavailable when For people who find getting up or down stairs required. difficult a stair lift can restore their ability to use If you would like more information, or to all of their home. We work with a leading British purchase any of our products and services company providing the best quality stair lifts on then please: Phone us on 0151 330 5678 the market for safety and peace of mind. Email: mail@ageconcernliverpoolandsefton. Financial Advice org.uk or visit our website: www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk Working in conjunction with highly qualified Advant-age travel insurance is provided in association with Travel advisors (approved by the Society of Later Life Insurance Facilities PLC. The insurance sold is underwritten by Advisors), we offer financial planning advice to Travel Insurance Facilites Plc and insured through URV, Branch Office of Union Reiseversicherung AG for the United Kingdom who all age groups, but particularly those coming up are authorised in Germany by BaFin and regulated in the United to retirement. Your future won’t take care of itself Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and are members of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Travel Insurance Facilities without a little expert help and guidance. PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN306537.
7 Helping us to help local people
Helping us to help local people We appreciate all of the support we receive from There are many benefits to being a volunteer: the public and it really does help us to keep • The ability to make a positive difference in going. someone’s life There are many ways to show your support for • Being appreciated for what you do our vital work with local older people, so have a look below and see if any appeal to you. • Meeting new people and being a useful part of your community Give us a donation • Helps build confidence, improves mental By posting us a cheque made payable to Age wellbeing and self esteem Concern Liverpool & Sefton or you can donate by sending a text message. So for example • Learn new skills and gain a sense of pride and if you want to donate £20 then key in ACLS11 achievement and it looks good on your CV or £20 then send your text to 70070. You can also University Applications donate by debit\credit card over the phone, just • It’s fun! call us on 0151 330 5678. Or you can donate online at www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton. Leave us a gift in your will org.uk/support/donate/ To make sure that your gift goes where you Give us some of your valuable time and intended please ensure you use our full name become a volunteer Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton and the registered charity number 517902. We can even Our 250+ volunteers are from all age groups, help you to make a will free of charge if you come from various ethnic backgrounds book an appointment with McClure Solicitors and have a variety of experience, skills and through us on 0151 330 5678. knowledge to share. The only common link between them is that they all want to improve Buy one of our products the quality of life for local older people. If you Whether you buy a funeral plan, take out home have a little time each week to spare, please insurance, send a bouquet to your friend or buy investigate our list of volunteering opportunities. a stairlift, we get a donation from the supplier for We would love to welcome you to the team. every product sold; which helps the charity to provide vital services. Please phone 0151 330 5678 for more details. Thank you.
One of our fantastic volunteers receiving an award from the High Sheriff of Merseyside
8 Money, Money, Money
Money, Money, Money 1. The Retirement Roadmap Be aware of inflation & Budget - A basket of - Is your pension safe? goods 10 years ago would have been much If you aren’t yet retired, then what will your cheaper than the same basket of goods today. retirement look like, and how should you plan for By the time you reach retirement those goods it and protect your nest egg in a world of Brexit, will be even more expensive, so it is important low interest rates, inflation and fraudsters? to understand what your future will likely cost. Bear in mind that post retirement you will have At its heart the new freedoms and choices a lot more time on your hands and often time that people have with regards to how they can costs money (hobbies, travelling etc.). Keep an spend their pensions is a good thing. However eye on the numbers and be willing to tweak your pensions are complicated and the concept of pension contributions accordingly what an individual truly needs is even more complicated. A recent article published in The Avoid Scams - Remember the old maxim, if Guardian revealed that in addition to being it sounds too good to be true it usually is! If in swamped with choices, many of the over 50s doubt, speak to an independent, qualified and are leaving themselves open to pension fraud. trustworthy financial adviser recommended by the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) who You should never be pressured in to transferring can help you make a safe choice. your pension, or any savings Failing to seek advice - An adviser is there for that matter, and if you aren’t sure about a to plan the journey with you, to maximise tax- financial product or service you’re being offered efficiency and ensure that you are not paying check out the details with an independent unnecessarily high fees. They will help you expert who is completely separate from the to invest your money in the right way, not organisation which contacted you before taking exceeding your allowances and minimising the any action. effect of tax on the way out. Five ‘Wrong Turns’ to avoid Most advisers will offer a free initial consultation, Don’t put it off - You are never as young as either over the phone or face to face. This will you are today; as such the sooner you start a give you the opportunity to understand what pension the better. charges are involved, what service will be delivered and whether you will feel comfortable Be Realistic - To get to retirement you will have having this person along for the financial no doubt worked incredibly hard. It is important planning journey. that the amount that you hold in apension is suitable for your longer term needs. Remember, The advice above was given by Mark Gill, an modest contributions in = modest income out! Independent Financial Adviser at Co-operative Wealth. Co-operative Wealth work with Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton to offer advice on pensions, investment and financial planning. Contact us if you want individual advice on how to maximise your retirement income on 0151 330 5678.
9 Money, Money, Money
2. Raising Money from your home, the For others, the money tied up in our bricks and safe way! mortar is ours to enjoy after years of working to If you own your own home, then one way to pay off the mortgage. release money is through equity release. By its very nature, having an equity release plan will reduce the amount of inheritance you leave, In order to be safe, you need to ensure that as you are unlocking and spending some of the equity release provider offers a guarantee the capital from your home’s value. However, that you will never be in a negative equity today’s wide range of plans offer several ways situation and that you will always have the right for you to protect some of the remaining equity to continue to live in your home. Age Concern as an inheritance for your loved ones. Liverpool & Sefton work with equity release specialists who are members of the Equity Your inheritance protection options include: Release Council. They are not tied to a single • Protected Equity Guarantee product provider, so that they can offer you the • Interest payment plans most appropriate equity release and you can Protected Equity Guarantee rest assured that you will never be in a negative Modern lifetime mortgages have a security equity position or at risk of losing your home. option built into them which is called the Here are 5 ways equity release can help you ‘inheritance protection guarantee’. Many leading 1. Get the lump sum you want equity release providers offer this safety feature. You may want a new car to get out and about, It works by enabling you to select a percentage the money for your daughter’s wedding or one of the property value that you want to protect. last big holiday. When in retirement it can often The higher the percentage you select, the be hard to get a lump sum via a standard loan or smaller the maximum loan amount available to by re-mortgaging as these products have terms you. For instance, if you wish to protect 30 per that require you to cover monthly re-payments cent of your home’s value as an inheritance for which you may not be able to commit to while your family, then the maximum amount your on a pension. Equity release allows you to get provider will allow you to unlock will be reduced a lumps sum now, with no monthly repayment by 30%. commitments. Interest payment plans 2. Help your family out the way you want Some equity release plans now offer the Nowadays it’s proving very difficult for the flexibility of voluntary payments to reduce or younger generation to make it onto the property prevent interest from accruing on your loan. ladder without a little boost from the “bank of These payments can be made as and when mum and dad.” But many people don’t have you wish, or with some plans, paid regularly by that amount of money laying around and feel standing order. unable to help. Releasing funds from your home The difference between this and a traditional allows you to gift cash to your children so you lifetime mortgage is that, rather than interest can set them up for life, while still being around rolling up over the life of the plan (also known to see them enjoy it. Some grandparents also as compound interest), payments back to your use it to help their grandchildren pay for college provider are made to reduce or prevent the fees to reduce the debt that they otherwise interest from accruing. In some cases, you could would have after graduating. even repay the loan plus interest in full. Some people admit to being put off by 3. Get the home improvements you want equity release because they think that it will Another reason why people choose to access prevent them from being able to leave an funds from their house is to re-invest in their inheritance. This does not have to be the case. property by carrying out home improvements Of course, not everybody wants to, or is able or adaptations. Not only does this make it more to, leave their entire home’s value to their comfortable to live in, but it can also maintain its younger generations. For some, the equity in value and keep energy bills down. our property is a lifeline to keeping afloat in retirement.
10 Money, Money, Money
4. Go debt free You don’t actually have to have anyone helping Many people go into retirement with outstanding you with your care needs to qualify, what matters debts such as loans, credit cards and unpaid is that you need some help. You also must have mortgages. With their monthly income reducing needed the help for a minimum of 6 months it can sometimes be a struggle to keep up with before you can receive Attendance Allowance; the monthly payments. but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t claim Releasing cash from their property enables earlier as the process takes some time before them to clear these debts and get rid of financial an award is made. Also, if you are terminally stress in retirement. Equity release plans can be ill (likely to live 6 months or less) then you can set up with no monthly repayments to allow you claim without waiting 6 months. to enjoy a more relaxed retirement as the money Because it is non-means tested you can have is only repayable when the property is sold or any amount of income and savings but still be when you pass away. eligible to receive Attendance Allowance. This 5. Live your life the way you want also means that you won’t have to answer any questions about your money or savings to get it The dream of a good retirement is often and it won’t adversely affect other means tested shattered by the reality of financial struggles in benefits, in fact it can raise the level of some later life. Many retired people are asset rich but other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing cash poor, meaning they have money tied up in Benefit and Council Tax support. property with no cash to spend on the life they deserve. It is well worth applying for as the weekly rates for 2018/19 are: We have found that many people wanted cash Higher rate £85.60; Lower rate £57.30 from equity release to access the funds tied up in their “bricks and mortar” to spend on the life The higher rate is paid to people who fulfil the they desired and deserve in retirement. With the conditions for both day and night; the lower rate option to spend the money on whatever they for day or night. like to improve their life in retirement it really You may meet the daytime conditions if you does seem a viable option to enjoy the good need frequent help throughout the day with life: holidays, wine, cars and cruises or even things such as getting in or out of bed, eating, perhaps a holiday home. Some people with high going to the toilet, having a wash, getting value homes use equity release to pay towards dressed or taking medication. If you can’t read another property giving them their own home in your mail because of sight problems or need the sun plus a home here in England. help with communicating because of hearing So why aren’t more people unlocking the value loss, this also is taken into account. in their home? The answer is that they are. Over You may meet the night time conditions if you 20,000 people a year are using equity release require prolonged (at least 20 minutes) or and this figure is growing by nearly 20% each repeated attention during the night. year. If you are thinking about unlocking some of your home’s equity to boost your retirement finances, then it is so important to speak to an independent specialist first. Call Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton on 0151 330 5560 to arrange a no obligation discussion with our expert, specialist equity release provider 3. More Money to Get the Help You Need with Daily Living Tasks Attendance Allowance is a non-means tested benefit for people aged 65 and over who have personal care needs or require supervision by day or night because of physical or mental disability.
11 Money, Money, Money
For example, you may need help to go to the looking after your partner, a relative, or even a toilet in the night or you may require someone to friend or neighbour, as long as you satisfy the watch over you to make sure that you don’t put qualifying conditions. You do not have to share yourself or others in danger. accommodation with the person you care for. The Attendance Allowance form is quite long To qualify, you must spend at least 35 hours and involved, but don’t let that put you off. It may a week looking after someone who receives help to make some notes before filling in the a ‘qualifying benefit’ such as: Attendance form, so you can easily identify those times and Allowance, Disability Living Allowance care tasks during the day or night when you needed component (middle or higher rate), Personal help or supervision. Even if you can accomplish Independence Payment daily living component some tasks e.g. dressing, if it is a struggle and (standard or enhanced rate), Armed Forces takes a long time, then this is well worth putting Independence Payment, Constant Attendance down on the form. Similarly, if you don’t do Allowance (of £67.90 or more paid with an some things because you are worried that they industrial injuries disablement, war or service may not be safe; for example having a bath pension). It does not matter whether care because you are worried you may fall because is given during the day, evening, night or your balance is poor, then put this down on the weekend, as long as it totals at least 35 hours a form. week. There is no upper age limit for claiming, Just keep in mind that throughout the form it although if you receive a State Pension or is vital to explain the help that another person certain other benefits, you may not receive any could give you with daily living tasks, even if or all of the Carer’s Allowance. Instead, you there is no one providing this help currently. may be awarded an ‘underlying entitlement’ To apply for Attendance Allowance, call the CA has a complicated relationship with other helpline on 0345 605 6055 and ask for a benefits and because of this, some carers miss claim form to be sent to you. If you need help out on their full entitlement. It is possible your with daily living tasks or personal care, then CA claim can affect the benefits entitlement of please call Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton’s the person you care for. You cannot normally Homecare Service on 01704 503356. receive CA and another ‘earnings replacement’ benefit such as State Pension because of 4. Financial help for Carers overlapping benefit rules. If your other benefit Research published by Carers UK reveals that pays less than the CA rate of £62.70 a week, you nearly half (48%) of carers are struggling to are entitled to a top-up of CA to that amount. If make ends meet financially despite the fact that your other benefit is more than £62.70 and you informal carers (meaning people who are not qualify for CA, you are awarded an ‘underlying professional care staff) are vital to this country. entitlement’ only. You will not be paid any CA, They save the UK economy over £132 billion a but the underlying entitlement might help you to year (which is nearly enough money to fund the qualify for higher rates of means-tested benefits whole of the NHS). like Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council So what is available to help Carers make ends Tax Support. These benefits may include an meet? The main source of financial support is extra allowance for carers known as a carer’s Carer’s Allowance (CA). This is a benefit paid to premium or addition. This means getting an people who are caring for a disabled person for underlying entitlement to CA can be worthwhile at least 35 hours a week. The Carer’s Allowance if you are on a low income, because it allows rate for 2018/19 is £64.60 a week, so it is well you to claim these benefits, or get an increase, worth claiming. for the first time. Many carers, especially those You can only claim Carer’s Allowance to care over State Pension age, could be helped by the for one disabled person, even if you care underlying entitlement rules. for more than one person. If more than one As you can see Carers Allowance is quite person is caring for a disabled person, only complicated, so for help with claiming please one of them can claim. The other carer can contact Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton claim Carer Credits which pays a credit to their (0151 330 5678) and we will put you in touch National Insurance record. You can claim for with the organisation best placed to help you make a claim. 12 Legal Services
Two of the most important things you should ever do Every adult should have a Power of Attorney (POA) just in case it is needed. It’s like insurance for your house in that you hope you never need it but you will be glad that you took it out if the worst happens. And none of us knows what is around the corner! Certainly everyone over 50 should have a POA. Without a POA, if you lose capacity, someone In England we need two POAs, one for our will need to apply to the Court of Protection for assets (house and money) and one for our a Deputyship. This is expensive and takes time welfare. and involves the person who agrees to be your Deputy in a lot of paperwork and responsibility. The Financial POA enables the person you appoint to take care of your financial affairs if, at If you don’t have children, it’s even more some point, you lack the capacity to do this for important to appoint an attorney via a POA as yourself. more distant relatives will usually be reluctant to embark on a Court Procedure for a Deputyship The Welfare POA allows the person you appoint or Guardianship. as your attorney to make decisions about anything to do with your health and personal Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton works with welfare. McClure Solicitors to provide local people with a Power of Attorney. This includes decisions about: McClure have seen many examples of families • medical treatment having to pay thousands of pounds in legal fees • where you’re cared for and disbursements which a POA would have avoided. Sadly they have also come across • the type of care you receive examples of elderly or disabled clients being • day-to-day things like your diet, how you taken advantage of and harassed by relatives dress and your daily routine when there wasn’t a POA in place to protect It is vitally important that you appoint someone them. who knows you well and whom you trust So why take the risk? completely as your attorney as they will make The good news is that through Age Concern decisions on your behalf. You can, however, list Liverpool & Sefton, McClure will prepare your any instructions that your attorney must follow, POA at half price - £180 instead of their usual fee or any preferences that you’d like them to take of £360 and they’ll include the Welfare Lasting into account when making decisions on your Power of Attorney free of charge. behalf. Any decision your attorney makes must be made in your best interests. McClure also let you decide whether and when to register the POAs which can save you up to £440 in disbursements. There are many good reasons for having a POA and no good reason not to. You can change your POA or cancel it at any time.
13 Legal Services
Where there’s a will An ordinary Will only sets out who is to get your We understand that planning and making a Will estate when you die and who is to administer may feel uncomfortable, however, it is important it.However, that’s only Step 1. In addition, in protecting the interests of loved ones and McClure will discuss with you what effect the requires careful thought. inheritance will have on your children or other beneficiaries. This often means that a Will is not Many people wait until health problems prompt enough. You might need a Trust as well. This them to write a Will although the stress they are could be a Trust in your Will or, better still, a experiencing could cloud their judgment so it separate Lifetime Trust. That’s Step 2. is wise to take that step as soon as possible. Getting your affairs in order means there is Lastly, they consider with you where your estate one less thing to think about. With no Will it will is likely to go next, e.g. you might leave your usually take longer and cost more to wind up estate to a son who then gets divorced and your estate. then part of your estate goes outside your blood relatives. This is avoidable if you get the right In your Will, you should set out who you want to advice. benefit from your estate, who is going to carry out your wishes after your death (your executor) If you already have a Will, well done you, but is and any other wishes you may have. it correct and up to date? Research shows that 1 in 4 Wills are defective in some way. McClure Although it is possible to draw up your own Will, carry out free safety checks and if necessary will we strongly advise you appoint someone who update or correct your will for free too. is professionally qualified and who can draw up your Will in a legally binding way. Just as a reminder, if you kindly decide to leave a legacy gift in your will to Age Concern We work with McClure Solicitors who prepare Liverpool & Sefton, then to make sure that your Wills free of charge; all we ask is that you gift goes where you intended please ensure consider a donation to Age Concern Liverpool you use our full name, Age Concern Liverpool and Sefton. There are no age restrictions and & Sefton and the registered charity number appointments are allocated on a first come first 517902. served basis. McClure even offer home visits if you are unable to get to their local offices in Contact us on 0151 330 5678. Liverpool and Sefton. More good news lies in the fact that McClure don’t provide ordinary Wills, they produce estate planning Wills.
14 Funeral Plans
Changing the tune at UK funerals Modern funerals are becoming less about long-followed traditions and more about individual tastes. The traditional sombre service – sorrowful As funerals become less formal affairs, and the mourners shrouded in black listening to weighty individual interests of the deceased take centre readings - is becoming less and less common. stage, people planning their own funerals are And as social conventions surrounding funerals leaving behind personal playlist CDs and funeral relax, one of the biggest changes has been the directors are increasingly tailoring their services range of music now heard at services. to provide a truly personalised “send off”. Not so long ago, the only music played at a Top 10 Funeral Songs funeral would have been familiar hymns or 10. Last of the Summer Wine theme tune organ music. 9. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion Traditional musical choices still hold a strong place in today’s funeral services – ‘The Lord 8. Canon in D by Pachelbel is my shepherd’ and ‘Abide with me’ are very 7. Soul Limbo by Booker T. & the MG’s popular hymns and Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’ is a classical favourite. 6. You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers However, the focus of funerals is shifting from the sad acknowledgment of a loved one’s 5. Enigma Variations - Nimrod by Edward passing to the more joyful celebration of a life Elgar well lived. This has resulted in the musical tastes 4. Angels by Robbie Williams of the deceased coming to play an increasing 3. My Way by Frank Sinatra part in modern funerals, especially at the beginning and at the end of services. 2. Match of the Day theme tune A 2015 BBC report on ‘Happy Funerals’ says 1. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by that rather than looking to the afterlife, British Eric Idle funerals are increasingly about rejoicing Advance planning in memories of the departed’s ‘triumphs, relationships and their favourite songs’. Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton provide a range of pre-paid funeral plans through a network of Notable recent examples are actress Lynda over 3,000 independent funeral directors who Bellingham’s “all-singing, all-dancing knees-up” will work hard to accommodate your musical funeral; the appearance of the New York City and other requests, whatever they may be. Gay Men’s Chorus at Joan Rivers’ funeral; and 200 mourners singing along to the Sid Vicious We encourage people to take out a funeral version of ‘My Way’ at Sex Pistol Manager plan as it makes good financial sense as well Malcolm McLaren’s send off. as saving your family stress at a difficult time. According to SunLife’s 2016 “Cost of Dying” As with everything about life (and death) tastes report, the overall cost of dying – which includes vary; but musical tastes at funerals range from costs such as probate, headstones and flowers the 100-year old Vera Lyn singing ‘We’ll meet in addition to the basic cost of a funeral – has again”, to AC/DC belting out ‘Highway to hell”. risen by 8.3%, a far sharper rise than the cost of Personal music selections, however quirky, can living. help friends and family remember the deceased for who they were and to celebrate their personality and life.
15 Funeral Plans
The average cost of a basic funeral in 2016 had increased by 5.5% to £3,897 which is more than twice as much as it was when SunLife first started tracking funeral prices in 2004. Whilst it is entirely understandable that many people don’t like to think about their funeral and what will happen when they’re no longer here, there are simple ways to plan ahead which can save you and your family both worry and expense. A pre-paid funeral plan is a safe, simple way to help make things easier for loved ones at a difficult time, and protect your family from rising funeral costs. A pre-paid funeral plan freezes the cost of the funeral director’s services included in the plan at today’s prices. In addition to gaining peace of mind over finances, a funeral plan also gives you more control over your funeral arrangements so you know you’re getting the funeral you want. 41% of people don’t know if their loved ones want to be buried or cremated, and only one in seven know what type of coffin to choose. This uncertainty can cause loved ones unnecessary stress as they will, of course, want to make the correct choices for you. With a funeral plan, when the time comes, one call to the funeral director activates the plan and the wishes that were stated will be carried out. This means the family aren’t left with any difficult decisions to make, allowing them to concentrate on supporting one another. For further information on our pre-paid funeral plans please call us on 0151 330 5678.
16 Living with Dementia
Living with Dementia Facts, symptoms and support The number of people with dementia is steadily increasing. The number of people with dementia is steadily Symptoms of the different types of dementia increasing. Research conducted for Dementia Alzheimer’s disease - typical early symptoms UK: second edition shows that, in 2013, there may include: were 815,827 people with dementia in the UK (Alzheimer’s Society, 2014). 773,502 of these • Regularly forgetting recent events, names and people with dementia were aged 65 years or faces. over. This represents one in every 79 (1.3%) • Becoming increasingly repetitive, e.g. of the entire UK population and 1 in every 14 repeating questions after a very short interval. of the population aged 65 years and over. If current trends continue and no action is taken, • Regularly misplacing items or putting them in the number of people with dementia in the UK odd places. is forecast to increase to 1,142,677 by 2025 and • Getting confused about the date or time of 2,092,945 by 2051, an increase of 40% over day. the next 12 years and of 156% over the next 38 • Being unsure of where you are or getting lost, years. especially in unfamiliar places. Many people talk about a ‘dementia time • Having problems finding the right words. bomb’ that the state cannot cope with. This is misleading. A steady, rather than dramatic, • Having mood or behaviour problems such as growth is expected over the next 25 years. loss of interest in daily activity, becoming easily upset or annoyed or losing confidence. Types of dementia Vascular dementia - can have symptoms Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of similar to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The proportions of those with different dementia. Other symptoms may include: forms of dementia can be broken down as follows: • Thinking skills – taking more time to process Alzheimer’s disease: 62% information and having problems with attention, planning and reasoning Vascular dementia: 17% Mixed dementia: 10% • Personality changes – these may include depression and apathy (becoming less Lewy-body dementia: 4% interested in things). People may also become Fronto-temporal dementia: 2% more emotional. Parkinson’s dementia: 2% • Movement problems – difficulty walking or Other: 3% changes in the way a person walks. • Bladder problems – frequent urge to urinate or other bladder symptoms. This can be common in older age, but can be a feature of vascular dementia when seen with other symptoms.
17 Living with Dementia
Dementia with Lewy bodies - can cause • Recognition – difficulty recognising people or common dementia symptoms, but there are also knowing what objects are for. some more specific symptoms associated with • Movement problems – this can include stiff the disease: or twitching muscles, muscle weakness and • Alertness – changes in alertness, attention difficulty swallowing. and confusion, which may be unpredictable There are many other reasons why people and change from hour-to-hour or day-to-day. become forgetful, not just dementia. • Movement problems – Parkinson’s disease- Some medicines and drugs can affect memory. type symptoms such as slowed movements, Depression, anxiety, vitamin deficiency and muscle stiffness and tremors. thyroid problems can also cause forgetfulness, • Visual hallucinations – seeing things that are so it’s important to see your GP if you or your not really there, e.g. people or animals. These family and friends are worried about any often happen repeatedly and are realistic and changes in memory, general mental functioning, well-formed. ability to carry out daily tasks, personality or • Sleep disturbances – acting out dreams or behaviour. shouting out while sleeping which can disrupt Your GP will be able to either reassure you or, if sleep and potentially cause injury. necessary, refer to a specialist. Early diagnosis • Stability – fainting, unsteadiness and falls. of dementia is important to allow access to the right help and treatments and to plan for the Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) - the early future. symptoms of FTD vary from person to person. Symptoms may include: Do you care for a family member, partner or friend who is over 60? • Personality changes – this may include a change in how people express their feelings We can help towards others or a lack of understanding of Are you worried that they can’t look after other people’s feelings. themselves properly because they are confused • Lack of personal awareness – people may or have a dementia diagnosis? fail to maintain their normal level of personal If so you may benefit from the Age Concern hygiene and grooming. Liverpool & Sefton Dementia Support & Carer’s • Lack of social awareness – this might include Respite Service at the Poppy Centre. We provide making inappropriate jokes or showing a lack personalised, sensitive care and support so that of tact. you can have a break and get on with your life. • Diet – changes in food preference, over-eating or over-drinking. • Behaviour changes – may become more aggressive, develop unusual beliefs, interests or obsessions. • Decision making – difficulty with simple plans and decisions. • Language – decline in language abilities. This might include difficulty getting words out or understanding them. People may repeat commonly used words and phrases, or forget the meaning of words.
18 concern Liverpool & Sefton Do you care for A name you can trust a family member, partner or friend who is over 60? Are you worried that they can’t look after themselves properly because they are confused or have a dementia diagnosis? If so you may benefit from our day care respite services. Our role is to provide personalised, sensitive care and support so that you can have a break and get on with your life.
Everyone needs and deserves a break from caring responsibilities to: • Have a rest and recharge “the batteries” • Have a little “Me time” • Have the time to give attention to other family members and friends • Go to work and keep your career alive • Have a change in routine
But It won’t only be you having fun during your break. Your loved one will have a great time at the Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton Poppy Centre. The Poppy Centre is adapted for older people. It is on one level and incorporates a walk\wheel in shower room, accessible toilets, and a chiropody room. The Centre has a large garden with raised beds and a greenhouse so that older people can nurture plants and flowers and enjoy the outdoor areas and activities such as barbecues and fresh air exercise classes. It is also secure so people cannot wander out onto the road. It’s a great place for food lovers too as snacks and a freshly made 3 course lunch are highlights of the day. There are also a range of stimulating activities which vary according to the season, personal taste and level of ability retained by the individual.
To find out more about how we can help and support you and the person you care for please contact us today: Phone: 0151 330 5678 or email: [email protected] Registered Charity No. 517902 Living with Dementia
Everyone needs and deserves a break from The Centre also has a large garden with raised aring responsibilities to: beds and a greenhouse so that older people a change in routine can nurture plants and flowers and enjoy the outdoor areas and activities such as barbecues But whilst you are having a break, your loved and fresh air exercise classes. It’s a wonderful one will have a great time at the Poppy Centre. place that’s full of life, hope and joy. You can entrust the safety and care of the person you love to us from 8am until 6pm on Being cared for at home any or all weekdays, Monday to Friday. (We For people who would prefer to stay at home will consider weekend care if the demand is and be looked after we offer a person-centred sufficient). We provide tasty and nutritionally home care and support service. balanced meals and snacks\refreshments all Depending on what you and your loved one made on-site by our chef in our 5 star food want, we can offer a range of tailor made hygiene rated kitchen. support provided by Age Concern Liverpool & The range of activities that your loved one will Sefton Carers. We can sit with your loved one be encouraged to join in with will be varied and play games, do crosswords, reminisce and according to the season, personal taste and the chat. We can escort him or her out on walks or ability retained by the individual. They might like little trips. We can also undertake practical tasks to join us in: such as helping your loved one get dressed, • Gardening on raised beds making them a nice meal or doing a spot of • Singing cleaning. • Gentle walking When you come home your loved one will have • Reminiscence new things to tell you about their day. • Listening to music and poetry To find out more about how we can help and • Story telling and being read to support you and the person you care for please contact us today. • Painting and other arts and crafts • Chair based exercise Visit us at: The Poppy Centre, 179 Townsend Lane, • Tai-chi Liverpool L13 9DY • Puzzles and games Tel: 0151 330 5678 or email: • Drama [email protected] • Mindfulness and relaxation • Watching classic movies and old television show favourites • Dancing • Outings (all risk assessed and safely escorted) • Just chatting to other people and our staff All of this will take place at The Poppy Centre, a modern, light, clean, fresh and airy building which is specifically adapted for older people with physical disabilities and dementia. It is all on one level and incorporates a walk\wheel in shower room, accessible toilets, a chiropody room etc. It has a commercial standard kitchen serving meals, refreshments and snacks. We have incorporated dementia friendly room colouring and signage, so that it is easy for people to find their way around.
20 Care at Home
I’m having difficulty with everyday tasks, what help can I get? The answer depends on how much help you We also stock a wide range of purpose need. As we get older we often find more designed products which can improve the difficulty in doing the everyday things we used quality of life and prolong independence for to take for granted. Putting on and pulling people living with dementia. up socks for example can be a real struggle. Becoming a bit forgetful can be a normal part Lifting a full kettle can not only be difficult, but of the ageing process but memory loss is also dangerous too. Rather than struggling on or a symptom of dementia. However, products are even worse, just giving up, there are alternative available to help overcome the problems that options. forgetfulness can cause, such as failing to take Daily Living Aids medication or forgetting to go to appointments Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton have partnered because of confusion over which day it is. They with one of the UK’s largest suppliers of daily also offer activities, games and memory cards to living aids, to provide access to an extensive stimulate the brain and help people to reconnect range of stylish yet practical tools and aids to with their past and preserve their identity. help you stay active and independent. Eating and drinking properly is also essential The range contains all sorts of items designed but eating habits and ability can change with to improve mobility and compensate where dementia. We can provide purpose designed strength or grip is impaired. On the mobility plates or cups to reduce spillage and make side for example, we have height adjustable mealtimes a more pleasurable and more walking sticks, lightweight walking frames and dignified experience. easy to manoeuvre rollators with a flip up seat Hundreds of products are available to make that allows the user to sit comfortably. With the life easier and safer without compromising right aids and equipment many of the everyday independence and dignity. To see the full range actions that most of us take for granted can be please can visit our online shop at www. made easier; for example, standing up or getting advantageshop.co.uk/liverpool or if you out of bed, eating, drinking or dressing. And the are not online, then you can get a catalogue use of purpose designed bedroom and seating featuring the most popular products by products is a common sense measure, not phoning 0151 330 5678. just for reasons of comfort but also to prevent Cleaning and shopping pressure sores. If you need help with keeping your home clean and tidy or doing the weekly shop; but you don’t need personal care (i.e. help with getting out of bed, getting dressed or going to the toilet), then the Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton Homecare Service fits the bill perfectly. We will come to your home, find out just what tasks you would like us to do and when and then we will get one of our trustworthy staff to do exactly what you need. All of our domestic and care staff have been police checked and we take up references and interview each and every one of them to provide you with reassurance and peace of mind. To find out more about our service call us on 01704 503 356.
21 Care at Home
If your needs are greater and you are struggling The Council will then arrange care to meet your with daily personal care tasks such as getting needs or you can choose to have more control out of bed, making a meal or getting dressed over how those needs are met by opting for then you have two options: purchase care and direct payments which allow you to directly support from a trustworthy provider such as Age employ care staff or buy other things which Concern Liverpool & Sefton’s Homecare Service meet your assessed needs. (01704 503 356) or ask social services in Sefton You will have responsibilities if you arrange your (0151 934 3737) or Liverpool (0151 233 3800) own care, so you should think carefully before if they can provide the support and care you you make a decision. You’ll have to do things need. like: The first stage is always an assessment of your • choosing the best organisations, people or care and support needs. A needs assessment is services to provide your care simply a discussion about what you are having difficulty with and how you would like care or • keeping records and accounting for how the support to overcome the issues you face. If you money is spent have a Carer you can invite them to participate • taking on the legal role of an employer if in the assessment. You can also ask a family you’re using the payment to pay for a care member or friend to help and represent you or worker you can ask the council to find you someone independent to represent you. It is more work, but many people like to be in full control of their own life and are happy to The Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton Homecare assume the extra responsibilities. service is available to all adults and has no set eligibility criteria. If you want us to help you, then Please remember that Age Concern Liverpool we will. The Council’s provision has eligibility & Sefton is here to help you and we can criteria you must meet to qualify for care and advise you on all aspects of care and support. support. Contact us on: 0151 330 5678 for advice and information. After the assessment, you will be told if your needs are eligible for help from the Council or if not where else you can get the necessary support. If you are eligible for help from social services then the Council will undertake a financial assessment to see if you need to pay a contribution towards your care costs. You may also be eligible for extra money through attendance allowance if you have care or support needs. You will have to pay for the full cost of your care if your ‘capital’ (savings or investments) are worth more than £23,250 (correct as of January 2017).
22 concern Liverpool & Sefton Bespoke A name you can trust Support at Home Service Most of us would prefer to remain in our own homes during later life. After all, home is where the heart is. But what if, due to illness, injury or just getting older, we needed extra help with household cleaning, getting the groceries in, or even help with personal care? What then?
Thankfully, Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton has the answer. Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton Homecare Service has been designed according to exactly what older people have told us they have been looking for. We arrange for dedicated carers to visit your home, at times you decide to help with the tasks you choose. We cover the tasks below plus many more. We fit the service around your needs.
• Cleaning /Household Services • Shopping /Messages • Befriending • Personal Services • Dietary Care • Personal Care
Give us a ring for an obligation-free chat and quote on Phone: 01704 503 356 or email: [email protected] Your right to social care
Your right to social care and support
If you think you need social care support, you’ll If your local authority decides you are eligible need to think about what types of support you for social care support, they will carry out a need – be it homecare workers, equipment or financial assessment to determine how much respite breaks. you will need to pay towards your care, if Your first step to getting this sort of help should anything. After this, if you are eligible for care be to ask your local authority social services and support, social services or an independent department for an assessment of your needs. adviser will work with you to create a care and This assessment will help you decide on the support plan. type of services you may want, as well as If you feel that your needs have changed helping the local authority understand which over time, you can request a review of your services you need. care plan, or a re-assessment if you were not Your local authority may be able to offer you originally eligible for care and support. Contact some care services for free. It’s worth finding the social care team at your local authority to out if you can get free services from your local discuss this. authority because the cost of buying care Assessing your care and support needs services is likely to be high if you have long- If you have care and support needs and find term care needs, and they could increase as it difficult to look after yourself, your local you get older. authority may be able to advise you and As part of the CARE ACT your local authority provide you with some help. now has an obligation to assess anyone who The best way to get help from your local appears to care & support needs. authority is to ask for a care and support needs The authority should: assessment. You can do this by contacting the • Make an assessment of your needs local authority adult social services department. regardless of your personal financial When you get assessed by the local authority, circumstances. as a minimum you may be given information • Provide you with information about services and signposting to other services, and ways and options available to you in your area. that you might find funding to pay for them. However, if your needs meet the national • Offer you a carer’s assessment if you are an eligibility criteria, your local authority will have unpaid informal/family carer. to meet these needs. The assessment by the local authority is The local authority will involve you throughout important because it helps them work out the assessment to identify what your needs are what your difficulties are and what services will and how these impact on your wellbeing. They help you most. Often, only minor assistance is will also discuss with you how you wish to live needed – such as meals on wheels and help your life and whether there are certain aims you with washing or dressing, yet these services would like to achieve but you are unable to do could make a big difference to your life. so because of your care and support needs.
24 Your right to social care
The assessment will start to consider how The specified outcomes measured include: your care needs might be met. This could • managing and maintaining nutrition, such as include identifying how preventative services being able to prepare and eat food and drink like simple aids (such as devices to open jars and tins more easily), adaptations to your • maintaining personal hygiene, such as being home (such as handrails) or information about able to wash themselves and their clothes support available in the community might meet • managing toilet needs your need. It will also identify if you have a higher level of need where you may need help • being able to dress appropriately, for in your own home or care in a care home. example during cold weather The assessment should be carried out in a way • being able to move around the home safely, that ensures your involvement and that takes including accessing the home from outside the right amount of time to capture all of your • keeping the home sufficiently clean and safe needs. • being able to develop and maintain family or If you have a friend or family member looking other personal relationships, in order to avoid after you as an unpaid carer, they can have a loneliness or isolation carer’s assessment to see if they need support • accessing and engaging in work, training, to carry on their caring role. education or volunteering, including physical The local authority must give you a copy of access your needs assessment or carer’s assessment. • being able to safely use necessary facilities What are the national eligibility criteria for or services in the local community including care and support? public transport and recreational facilities or The eligibility threshold for adults with care and services support needs is based on identifying how a • carrying out any caring responsibilities, such person’s needs affect their ability to achieve as for a child relevant outcomes, and how this impacts on Local authorities do not have responsibility their wellbeing. for providing NHS services such as patient Local authorities must consider whether the transport, but they should consider needs for person’s needs: support when the adult is attending healthcare • arise from or are related to a physical or appointments. mental impairment or illness • make them unable to achieve two or more specified outcomes • as a result of being unable to meet these outcomes, there is likely to be a significant impact on the adult’s wellbeing An adult’s needs are only eligible where they meet all three of these conditions.
25 Planning for your future care needs
Planning for your future care needs
There may be times in your life when you think about the consequences of becoming seriously ill or disabled. This may be at a time of ill health or as a result of a life-changing event. It may simply be because you are the sort of person who likes to plan ahead. You may want to take the opportunity to think about what living with a serious illness might mean to you, your partner or your relatives, particularly if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. You may wish to record what your preferences and wishes for future care and treatment might be.
The costs of long-term care It does this by setting a maximum amount that Care has never been free and everyone should you will have to pay towards your eligible care think about the care they might need in the needs. This amount will be set nationally, but future. The long-term costs of care can be if you are eligible for local authority support significant, and while none of us like to think to meet your costs, you will pay much less. that we will become old, ill or disabled, it does Once you reach the cap, your local authority happen. Just like your pension, it is never too will take over meeting the cost. However, this early to start thinking and planning your care only applies directly to care services you are and support needs and their costs. eligible for, and you will still have to pay other costs such as a contribution towards your Even if you’re generally fit and healthy and accommodation. of working age, don’t ignore your future care. If you’re making long-term financial Alongside this, the point at which you may arrangements, you may want to take into be eligible for financial help from your local account the potential costs of your future care authority with your care costs is being needs. extended. Currently, if you have more than £23,250 in assets, such as your home or The Care Act 2014 creates new provisions savings, you will need to meet the full cost of that will come into force from April 2020. It will your care. From April 2020 this will increase so introduce a “cap on care costs” that, for the that more people benefit from financial help. first time ever, will offer you protection from the risk of losing everything you have to meet your How your local authority can help with care costs. planning your care The Care Act 2014 makes clear that local authorities must provide or arrange services that help to prevent people developing care and support needs, or delay people deteriorating to the point where they would need ongoing care and support. Even if you don’t want or need financial assistance with your care, your local authority can still help you plan your care, so it is worth contacting the adult social services of your local council to find out the options available to you and your family.
26 Planning for your future care needs
If you have a specific condition, you may want to get in touch with a national organisation that supports people with this condition. Your GP surgery should have information on the relevant groups and organisations.
Local authorities must work with people in their areas to provide or arrange services that help to keep people well and independent. This should include identifying the local support and resources already available, and helping people to access them. They should make clear: • what types of care and support are available – such as specialised dementia care, befriending services, reablement (short-term care time, for example, to get someone safe, happy and able to live independently in their home after they have been discharged from hospital), personal assistance and residential care • the range of care and support services available to local people – in other words, what local providers offer certain types of services • what process local people need to use to get care and support that is available • where local people can find independent financial advice about care and support and help them to access it • how people can raise concerns about the safety or wellbeing of someone who has care and support needs If you think you need care now, or in the very near future, the best way to plan your care and find out about your care needs is to ask your local authority for an assessment. The sooner you ask for an assessment, the sooner that plans for your care can be made. These plans should include what should be done in the event of an emergency.
27 Planning for your future care needs
Financial planning for future care needs • how much your care is likely to cost and Local authorities have to help people get whether you may be entitled to free care or independent financial advice, to enable financial help planning and preparation for future care costs. • who you want to care for you, and whether, This encompasses a range of services from if you want friends or family to be your generic sources of information and advice, carers, they are able and willing to do so such as websites or helplines, to tailored You will need to weigh up the pros and cons advice relating to specific financial products, of each care option against these factors. which can only be provided by a regulated For more information read, “Choosing Care financial advisor. Some of these services may Services” (page 32-33). charge a fee. One of the common decisions people are faced The Money Advice Service website has tips with is whether they should sell their home to on planning ahead for a time when you can’t pay for their care. manage your own finances. If you are thinking about moving into a Making decisions about your future care residential care home and are worried needs and wishes about meeting the costs, ask your council If you are nearing retirement age, it’s important for information about a “deferred payment that you take account of your likely care needs agreement”. and plan accordingly. You may wish to consider This is an arrangement whereby the person setting up a Power of Attorney or an advanced agrees, with their local authority, to pay some decision (living will). These will help people to of their care fees at a later date. This means take account of your preferences if you lose the they should not be forced to sell their home capacity to make decisions. You will also want during their lifetime to pay for their care. to ensure that you have thought about how you might pay for the care you need. A person or their estate usually repays the local authority from the sale of their property Many of us will put off planning for care and at a later date. The Care Act 2014 introduces support arrangements until the last possible rules that mean councils have to offer deferred moment. Having an urgent need for care and payments to people. support after a crisis may mean that we and our families feel pressured into making decisions Independent advice on planning your care quickly. If you are making plans for your future care – Under such pressure, asking the right at whatever stage – it is worth getting advice. questions, thinking and planning for your future You may want to get specific care advice from needs – including options for meeting the cost a charity, general advice from Citizens Advice of care – are vital. It is important that you seek or specialist legal, financial or welfare rights good advice on these subjects so that you can advice. consider your best short-term and long-term If you have difficulty communicating or exerting options. your rights, you may want to have an advocate There are several factors to consider when to deal with these issues on your behalf. planning social care. These include: Your local authority social services department • the type of condition you have, and the best should have information about organisations ways for you to stay healthy and independent in your area that help people who have social care needs. They may offer an advocacy • the type of care you would prefer, and service. whether it would meet your needs • where you would like to be cared for – in your own home, in a residential care setting such as a care home, or in the community while you are living at home
28 Are you a carer?
Are you a Carer?
Carers’ assessments Eligibility for care and support services What to do when you first become a carer A carer’s assessment looks at the different If you provide care and support to an adult ways caring affects your life, and works out friend or family member, you may be eligible for how you can carry on doing the things that support from your local council. are important to you and your family. It covers your caring role, your feelings about caring, This support could include being offered your physical, mental and emotional health, money to pay for things that make caring and how caring affects your work, leisure, easier. Or the local council might offer practical education, wider family and relationships. support, such as arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break. It could also Your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing put you in touch with local support groups so should be at the heart of this assessment. This you have people to talk to. means that you can tell the council how caring for someone is affecting your life and what you The Care Act 2014 makes carer’s assessments want to be able to do in your day-to-day life. more widely available to people in caring roles. When the assessment is complete, the local Local councils now have a legal duty to assess council will decide whether your needs are any carer who requests one or who appears to “eligible” for support from them. After the need support. assessment, your council will write to you If you are a carer and you need some support, about their decision and give you reasons to get in touch with the council covering the explain what they have decided. area where the person you care for lives. The If you have eligible needs, your council will council will be able to give you information and contact you to discuss what help might be advice about how the assessment will work. available. This will be based on the information A carer’s assessment is a discussion between you gave them during your assessment. you and a trained person either from the If you do not have needs that are eligible, your council or another organisation that the council council will give you information and advice, works. including what local care and support is The assessment will consider the impact available. This could include, for example, help the care and support you provide is having from local voluntary organisations. on your own wellbeing, as well as important aspects of the rest of your life, including the things you want to achieve day-to-day. It must also consider other important issues, such as whether you are able or willing to carry on caring, whether you work or want to work, and whether you want to study or do more socially. The assessment could be done face-to-face, over the telephone or online. The council will use the assessment to identify your support needs, and to discuss how these could be met. This might mean that the council will give you help or put you in touch with other organisations, such as local charities, that you can talk to.
29 Are you a carer?
Before your carer’s assessment It is vital that it considers whether the role of a If you have arranged to have a carer’s carer is affecting your health or safety. assessment of your needs, give yourself plenty Carers sometimes take on physical tasks, such of time to think about your role as a carer and as lifting and carrying, which can cause long- note your thoughts down. You might consider: term health problems. Others can find that the • whether you want to continue being a carer stress of the role can lead to depression or other mental health problems. In some cases, safety • if you were prepared to continue, what can be an issue; for instance, because of the changes would make your life easier behaviour of the person they look after. • if there is any risk that you will not be able to During your assessment, explain any mental or continue as a carer without support physical health problems you are experiencing. • whether you have any physical or mental Social services will consider all aspects of your health problems, including stress or health and safety, including caring tasks that depression, which make your role as a carer might put your health or wellbeing at risk. more difficult Some of the things you might need help with • whether being a carer affects your include: relationships with other people, including • support to ensure you’re able to attend any family and friends medical appointments • if you are in paid work, whether being a carer • support if you need to go into hospital for an causes problems at your work (such as often operation (including recovery after surgery) being late) that you might have been putting off because • if you like more time to yourself so that you of your caring commitment. can have a rest or enjoy some leisure activity • training for you, such as safely lifting • if you like to do some training, voluntary work A carer’s assessment should also look at your or paid work own interests and commitments to see if and Your decision to be a carer how they are disrupted by your role as a carer. When your carer’s assessment is done, no If they are disrupted, a social worker could assumptions should be made about your discuss with you whether some support could willingness to be a carer. This can be a very improve matters for you. sensitive area, because many of us feel that we The assessment should look at: have a duty to those we care for. We sometimes rule out other options because we feel we have • marriage or other such relationships no choice. You have the right to choose: • friendships and community role • whether to be a carer at all • paid employment or voluntary work • how much care you are willing to provide • interests, sport, leisure and hobbies • the type of care you are willing to provide • time for yourself There may be some parts of the role that you One of the most important parts of your carer’s find more difficult than others. assessment will be a discussion about your Take a step back and think about your role as a wishes concerning paid work, training or leisure carer. This can be useful in the discussion you activities. have during a carer’s assessment. You may wish to ask in advance for the assessment to happen in private, so that you can speak freely.
30 Are you a carer?
The local council must consider the support Your support plan should consider whether you may need if you want to stay in your paid your situation is likely to change, but you may job or return to paid work. They must also want to contact social services and ask them to consider the support you may need if you want reassess you if this happens. to continue or start studying or training. Carer's assessments and hospital discharge During and after a carer’s assessment You might have a carer's assessment or a If you are looking after someone, the local review of your support plan if the person you council will consider a broad range of issues care for has been in hospital and is being that can affect your ability to provide care as discharged. part of their assessment of your needs. Carer's assessments and NHS When assessing your needs, social services continuing care must consider whether your role as a carer As well as care and support organised by is sustainable. The assessment is about your the council, some people are also eligible to needs and therefore you should: receive help from the NHS. This help may • have a reasonably detailed discussion about be a nursing service for people who are ill all the matters relevant to you or recovering at home after leaving hospital. It could include things like changing the • have the assessment in private if you want to, dressings on wounds or giving medication. at a convenient time and place for you If you are eligible for this kind of help, a health • get relevant information, including about professional such as your GP or community welfare benefits you could claim and details nurse should be able to tell you. of other services In exceptional circumstances, where an • have a chance to identify the outcomes that adult has a complex medical condition and you want; any services should be substantial ongoing care needs, the NHS appropriate for you and meet your needs provides a service called NHS continuing • be given flexibility and innovation in healthcare. NHS continuing healthcare identifying services that may meet your provides care and support in a person’s home, needs care home or hospice. • have an opportunity to give feedback about the assessment • be told about any charges before services are arranged Support planning for carers After your assessment, you and the local council will agree a support plan, which sets out how your needs will be met. This might include help with housework, buying a laptop to keep in touch with family and friends, or becoming a member of a gym so you can look after their own health. It may be that the best way to meet a carer’s needs is to provide care and support directly to the person that they care for, for example, by providing replacement care to allow the carer to take a break. It is possible to do this as long as the person needing care agrees.
31 Choosing care services
Choosing care services
Choosing your care services can be a daunting prospect. There are many care options available, but which kind of support is right for you?
Think about what you get most out of in life. You may want to get help at home, perhaps You may have particular interests that you want through having home help come in to help you to keep up, or you may simply want to spend with daily tasks. time with your family or friends. You may have a To stay independently at home, you may job that you want to keep on doing, or a social need to have care services in the form of activity, sport, religion or a political group that adaptations to your home (to help with mobility, you want to keep up with. for example) or perhaps just equipment to help Your social care support should – as much as you out. possible – help you to continue to do these However, your home may not always be the things, and may help you find new things to do. best environment if you have care needs. It When choosing the type of care, you also need may not be safe for you, particularly if you do to think about: not have a friend or relative around to help (if • location you live in an isolated rural area, for example). Or you may have particular needs that cannot • services be easily met in your home. • standards and quality If you do need to move out of your home • price for care reasons, there is a variety of Location of your care accommodation options that you may want to consider. These include sheltered housing, Your own home is often the best place for you extra care housing and residential care homes to get care services. At home is where you or nursing homes. may have family and friends and you’ll be in a familiar and hopefully safe environment. If you are thinking about moving, it’s worth considering whether it is best to stay in the area you are in now, which you will be familiar with, or whether you should move elsewhere to be nearer family or friends. You may also want to think about the location from a practical perspective (whether it’s on a bus route, for example) or for more personal reasons (such as whether you like the surroundings). The kinds of care services on offer If you are choosing a care service – particularly if it’s an ongoing service such as home care We are the independent regulator of or a place in a care home, you should think health and social care services in England about the particular things you want from the service (this will often be referred to as your We make sure health and social care services provide “outcomes”). people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve. www.cqc.org.uk
32 Choosing care services
Good quality services, in whatever form they take, will treat you as an individual and attend to your personal needs. If you have homecare, for instance, the care workers who come into your home should listen to your wishes and include you and your family in decisions and care. When choosing care, you might want to look out for services that are signed up to the social care commitment. Check how well your local council social services are performing. The price of your care Use the services search to find out about When choosing social care services, you will the location, services, facilities, staff and have to consider how much the services may performance of a Care Quality Commission cost. The cost of your care may reflect each of (CQC) registered care home or homecare the aspects listed above: location, quality and provider. Your search results should tell you the kinds of services offered. whether a service can support you if you have particular needs, such as a sensory impairment If you have had an assessment from your local or a learning disability. council, you may get services for free. However, many people have to pay for their own care If the service is not registered with the services (self-funders), and even people who CQC, you may have to ask them directly for have care funded by the local council will need information about the services, and you may to know about the costs of care if they are want to get independent verification, if any is using a personal budget or a direct payment. available. Your local council may have a list of local support providers, with information on More information each. The Money Advice Service has more Standards and quality of care information on choosing the right sort of care services. Everyone has a right to expect certain standards in their care. Your care services should help keep you safe and well, but also treat you with dignity and respect. You should always be able to express a choice in your care. The standards for social care providers, such as care homes, are set out by the CQC. The CQC’s inspection reports will tell you which services are meeting the minimum requirements. If you do not think the service is meeting these requirements, you may want to make a complaint.
33 Funding care
Funding care Care and support services in England have never been free. Most people have to pay something towards their own care and some will have to pay for all of the costs.
Your local authority (council) may cover some NHS continuing healthcare or all of the cost of care in some circumstances, If the person you care for has very severe and but its help is “means-tested”. This means that complex health needs, they may qualify for who pays depends on what your needs are, NHS continuing healthcare. This is an ongoing how much money you have, and what level and package of care that’s fully funded by the NHS. type of care and support you require. In some areas of the country, you can arrange For most people needing social care services, your NHS continuing healthcare using a the first place to start is by asking your local personal health budget – similar to the personal authority for an assessment of your social care budgets for social care outlined above. (care and support) needs. NHS-funded nursing care If the local authority considers that you need support that it can provide, it may also carry You should receive NHS-funded nursing care if: out an assessment of your finances. This • you live in a care home registered to provide assessment will determine whether the local nursing care, and authority will meet all the cost of your care, or whether you will need to contribute towards your • you don’t qualify for NHS continuing care cost or whether you will have to meet the healthcare but have been assessed as full costs yourself. Find out about needing care from a registered nurse support paid for by your local The NHS will make a payment authority. NHS care could be directly to the care home to fund Currently, local authorities won’t provided in hospital, but care from registered nurses who provide care services if you have it could be in someone’s are usually employed by the care more than £23,250 in savings own home or elsewhere home. and property (your “capital”). in the community. NHS aftercare However, from April 2020, this People who were previously threshold will rise alongside the detained in hospital under certain introduction of the cap on care costs, so more sections of the Mental Health Act will have their people will be eligible for help sooner. aftercare services provided for free. Alternatives to care funded by the local Help from charities and funds authority There are other sources of funding you might NHS care be able to access to help you with funding The NHS is responsible for funding certain care. Some charities can help with funding types of healthcare equipment you may need. In care needs. For example, the Family Fund is a some situations, the NHS is also responsible for government-backed charity that can help with meeting care needs. This is usually when your grants if you care for a severely disabled child need is mainly for healthcare rather than social aged 17 or under. You can get an application care pack from the Family Fund website. NHS care could be provided in hospital, but it www.familyfund.org.uk could be in someone’s own home or elsewhere Get personal advice on care funding in the community. The cost of care and support is likely to be a long-term commitment and may be substantial, particularly if you choose to go into a care home, or if you have care needs at an early age.
34 Funding care
The cost of your care will vary depending on its type, intensity, specialisation, location and duration. For example, a place in a residential care home will cost hundreds of pounds a week. To make decisions that have such major financial implications, you may want to seek independent financial advice and it’s always worth researching the costs of alternatives first. For example, if you are considering a care home place, the cost should be weighed against the cost of care and support that may help you remain in your current home, such as homecare. How much will care cost? If you are thinking about your future care needs or are facing immediate decisions about care options, it can be helpful to get an idea how much care can cost. Inevitably, the price you would pay will depend on your particular circumstances and needs. The costs also vary depending on where you live. Unfortunately, care homes and homecare agencies tend not to provide this information publicly but you may find it helpful to search for If you or a member of the family need to pay for and contact care services in your area to get care at home or in a care home, it’s important some idea of likely costs. to understand the alternatives. This makes The ‘cap on care costs’ advice tailored to your individual needs vital. You can get advice from: Currently, it is not easy to plan for your future care needs, as it’s hard to estimate how • your local authority – through an assessment long you will need care for and how your of your care and support needs, as well as circumstances may change. From April 2020, a advice on which services are available locally “cap” on the costs of meeting your eligible care • financial advice from a qualified, independent needs (but not accommodation associated source – there are independent financial with care or nursing costs) is being introduced. advisers who specialise in care funding The cap means that, once reached, the local advice; they are regulated by the Financial authority will take over paying the cost of their Conduct Authority and must stick to a eligible care needs. code of conduct and ethics, and take shared The cap will not cover your daily living costs. responsibility for the suitability of any product These costs include expenses such as rent, they recommend food and utilities and the costs you would Paying for your own care and support face even if you did not have care needs. It is important to note that daily living costs will Many people who use care and support be a nationally set figure. This figure will be a services will pay for all of the costs. This is “notional” amount rather than the actual costs. known as being a “self-funder”. This is designed to support consistency and enable people to plan.
35 Funding care
To benefit from the cap once it comes in, you will need to contact your local authority to see if your needs are eligible. If you are seen to have eligible care needs, the local authority will open a “care account” for you. This account records your progress (the amount of costs you have incurred) towards the cap. The cap does not begin until April 2020 and any costs incurred before this will not count towards the cap. The BBC’s care calculator can estimate how much you may have to pay for care services depending on where you live in England, once the new rules are in place. This will give you an idea of how the cap will work for you, but actual costs will vary to reflect your individual circumstances and needs and how they change over time. For more information on how paying for care is changing from 2020, read about the changes in the Care Act. Ask for help from your local authority It’s worth checking whether you’re eligible for means-tested support from your local authority or other financial support – for example, through a care needs assessment and a financial assessment. You can find information on equity release Few of us will have the income or ready access for care at home from Which? Elderly Care to the cash to pay for our ongoing care needs, or the Money Advice Service’s equity release and you may need to look at selling or re- information. mortgaging any property you may own. The If you’re planning ahead, you may consider new Care Act 2014 means more people may arranging an investment or insurance plan to be able to benefit from “deferred payments”. fund your care. Again, it may be worth taking Deferred payments can help people avoid independent advice on financial arrangements being forced to sell their home in a crisis in before making major changes. Because of the order to pay for their care by having the council new rules, there are likely to be more financial temporarily cover the cost – usually until you products emerging that are designed to help sell your property. Following the Care Act, people pay for care. every local authority in England has to make You may also want to explore whether the deferred payment agreements available. NHS would meet some or all of your care and As an alternative, you may be able to enter support costs, or you may have entitlement to an “equity release scheme” with a financial benefits that may help you meet costs. Read organisation. Equity release can pay for the about other ways of funding care. fees from the value of property you own. Advice on paying for care However, you should consider which of these options best meets your needs, and what the Even if your local authority is not able to help fund your care, it will be able to make an overall costs to you will be. assessment of your care and support needs. Before taking such significant financial steps From this, the local authority can provide you as equity release, you might want to get with access to a range of information and independent financial advice. advice available locally.
36 Funding care
You can also get independent advice from: • once you die, the local authority can be repaid • The Money Advice Service website: offers from your estate information on paying for care or the option All councils must offer people the chance to to speak to an online adviser. You can call defer payment if they meet a set of eligibility the Money Advice Service on 0300 500 5000. criteria. A deferred payment scheme is only • The Society of Later Life Advisers: the society available if you don’t have enough income to can also help you find advice on how to cover your care home fees, and you have less in savings than £23,250. In these circumstances, make financial plans for care in your old age. the savings don’t include the value of your • Find Me Good Care: a website of the Social property, but does include money in bank Care Institute for Excellence. It has advice on accounts. all aspects of planning and funding social The local authority will put a “legal charge” care. (similar to a mortgage) on the property and will • Age Concern: has great advice for older then pay the remaining care fees in full. You will people and those planning for their later then be assessed to see whether they are able years. to pay a weekly charge to the authority. Your • Carers UK: an excellent resource of advice for ability to pay is based on your income less a set carers who need to help someone else. “disposable income allowance” (currently £144 per week). • Which? Elderly Care has a guide to financing care. Before considering deferred payments, you should look into whether the property will Deferred payments if you are unable to pay or won’t be counted in how your capital is for care services calculated. For instance, it may be disregarded Care home fees are a big financial commitment, because your partner still lives there, and if it and the decision to go into a care home is often is a deferred payment agreement wouldn’t be made at a moment of crisis or urgency, such as necessary. It’s wise to get independent financial when being discharged from hospital. This can advice before agreeing to a deferred payment, make finding the money to pay for fees (usually and it’s worth bearing in mind that choosing several hundred pounds a week) challenging for deferred payments can impact on some welfare people funding their own care. benefits. In particular, if you own property outright but Protection for self-funders have little in the way of savings, you may be While you may have the savings in place to expected to fund your own care but have little afford care services, if you lack the capacity to immediately available money to pay for it. Some make the arrangements, the local authority can people going to stay in a care home for a long step in to help. time find that they have no option but to sell their The local authority can also help people who property to pay the care home fees. lack capacity by negotiating fees with a care Your council may be able to help you if you provider and paying them directly. The local are at risk of having to sell your home. Where authority will need to be reimbursed. there is a delay in selling the property, or you Anyone entering into a contract for care services don’t want to sell the property immediately, you should be given adequate information about the may be eligible to have your care fee payment fees. Care providers should supply: “deferred”. This is where the local authority • information about the fees charged for various helps you to pay your care fees temporarily, and services provided you repay the costs to the local authority at a later date. • arrangements for paying the fees If the local authority agrees to the deferred • the fees charged for any additional services payment and pays the care home fees, it will If your capital falls below the set levels for local take payment from the money raised once the authority funding (currently £23,250), you will be property is sold. This can be: eligible for reassessment for help with funding • during your lifetime if you choose to sell your your care. home (Capital Limits figures correct as of March 2018.)
37 Care services in your home
Care services in your home If you need help around the home, a good option is to have a care worker come in to your home to help you. Types of homecare If you believe that you might benefit from some Homecare comes in many forms and has many help at home, the first thing to do is to contact names used to describe it, including home your social services department to ask for an help, care attendants and “carers” (not to be assessment of your care and support needs. confused with unpaid family or friends who To contact social services, go to GOV.UK: find care for you). your local authority. Homecare can suit you if you need: If you are eligible for homecare services, the local authority may provide or arrange the help • personal care, such as washing or dressing themselves. Alternatively, you can arrange • housekeeping or domestic work, such as your own care, funded by the local authority, vacuuming through direct payments or a personal budget. • cooking or preparing meals If you have chosen direct payments or a • nursing and health care personal budget, or you aren’t eligible for local authority help and want to get care privately, • companionship you can arrange it in several different ways. Homecare can be very flexible, in order to meet Independent homecare agencies your needs, and the same person or agency If you use an independent homecare agency, may be able to provide some or all of these you or the person you’re looking after has to options for the duration of your care: find the care agency and pay them. • long-term 24-hour care The agency will provide a service through a • short breaks for an unpaid family carer trained team of care workers, which means you • emergency care may not always have the same person visiting your home, although the agency will do its best • day care to take your choices into account. Independent • sessions ranging from 15-minute visits to 24- homecare providers are regulated by the hour assistance and everything in between Care Quality Commission (CQC). Homecare agencies must meet CQC’s national minimum If you already know what you want, you can standards and regulations in areas such as search NHS Choices directories for: training and record-keeping. The CQC has • local homecare services and agencies the power to inspect agencies and enforce • a list of national homecare organisations standards. • services that can help you stay safe and well in your home on a long-term basis; these services, often known as “supported living services”, can include financial, help with medication, advocacy, social and practical support • a place to live in a family who will care for you, known as “shared lives services” or adult placement services
38 Care services in your home
Homecare agencies must vet homecare What are the disadvantages of using a workers before engaging them by taking up homecare agency? references and carrying out Disclosure and The main disadvantage is the cost of using an Barring Service (DBS) checks on potential agency. The agency will charge a fee on top of employees. Homecare agencies can also: the payment made to the care worker to cover • take over the burden of being an employer their running costs and profit. – for example, payroll, training, disciplinary You normally have to make a regular payment issues and insurance to the agency, which includes both the worker’s • train their homecare workers through earnings and the agency’s fee. national qualifications and service-specific Questions to ask when using a homecare training agency • replace workers when they are ill, on holiday The fees some agencies charge can be quite or resign high. Before deciding to go ahead with an • put things right when they go wrong agency, you should ask questions about the fee and what it covers, including: An agency will want to see you and the person you’re looking after so that they can • Does the agency check references? assess your needs. This also means that a • What training and supervision do they joint decision can be made about the most provide? appropriate type of care and support. • What is their complaints policy? You can find out more from the UK Homecare • Who will be responsible for insurance? Association.
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39 Care services in your home
• Is there any out-of-hours or emergency Homecare from charities contact if needed? Charities such as Age Concern and Carers • Will they be able to provide staff if your Trust can provide home help and domestic own care worker is ill or away? (If an agency assistance services. The Carers Trust supports contracts to provide care every day, it must carers by giving them a break from their caring ensure that it does.) responsibilities through homecare services. Hiring a Personal Assistant (P.A.) Marie Curie Nurses can provide practical and You can hire a “personal assistant” to act as a emotional support for people near the end of homecare worker for you. their lives in their own homes. Personal assistants can offer you all that you’ll Safeguarding vulnerable groups get from an agency worker, but you’ll also The DBS makes decisions about who is get the continuity, familiarity and ongoing unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable relationship with your assistant. adults or children. It makes this decision based on information held by various agencies and However, if you employ a personal assistant, government departments. you will then have the legal responsibility of an employer. This will include arranging cover for The service decides who is unsuitable to work their illness and holidays. or volunteer with vulnerable adults or children. GOV.UK has more information on becoming an If someone who is barred from working with employer, while Which? Elderly Care also has children or vulnerable adults is working, advice on employing private individuals. volunteering or trying to work or volunteer with these groups, they are breaking the law. They could face a fine and up to five years in prison.
HOME CARE AGENCIES Postcode Name Address Town/City Phone number L13 9DY Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton 179 Townsend Lane, Clubmoor Liverpool 01704 503 356 Home Care Service L1 0AB N-Able Support Services 54 St James Street, Baltic Triangle Liverpool 0151 706 8140 L1 0BS Raglin Care Laurie Courtney House, 23 Greenland Street Liverpool 0151 708 2940 L1 3DZ Network Healthcare Hanover House, Hanover Street Liverpool 0151 285 3828 L5 1UW Venmore Community Centre Hartnup Street Liverpool 0151 263 2888 L5 9UB Sterling Care and Support Box Studios, 17 Boundary Street Liverpool 0151 268 8132 L7 8TF Nugent Community Choices Mount Vernon Green, Hall Lane Liverpool 0151 706 9530 L9 6AW Northern Home Care Limited Centec Business Centre, Stopgate Lane Liverpool 0151 523 5300 L13 8AG Human Support Group 657 West Derby Road, Tuebrook Liverpool 0151 220 3311 L15 8HG Adex Care 10-12 High Street, Liverpool 0151 733 0285 L15 9EA Senior Care Services 9 Church Road Liverpool 0151 559 2555 L16 4PE Homecarers 8 Childwall Valley Road Liverpool 0151 737 2820 L19 2JD Executive Homecare Services 62 St Mary’s Road Liverpool 0151 427 6002 L24 9GS Support at Home Ltd Churchill House, Gaskill Road Liverpool 0151 475 4449 L24 9HE Absolute Care OPCO Trading Complex, Speke Hall Road Liverpool 0151 486 0870 L24 9HJ The Frances Taylor Foundation Liverpool Business Centre, 23 Goodlass Road Liverpool 0151 486 9827 L24 9HJ Bluebird Care Business First, 25 Goodlass Road Liverpool 0151 448 2785 L24 9HZ Abbey Care Unit House, Speke Boulevard Liverpool 0151 486 6618 L24 9LG Clarriots Care Meridian Business Village, Hansby Drive Liverpool 0333 202 6391
40
Care services in your home
Employers must apply for an enhanced DBS If you have concerns about the suitability of check (formerly known as a CRB check) when someone you employ privately to work with a taking on new employees or volunteers to work vulnerable adult or child, you can ask social with vulnerable adults or children. services to investigate the matter. They can This includes a check of the barred lists. If an refer the worker to the ISA on your behalf. organisation fails to make the relevant checks, Manual handling they can be penalised. If an organisation If you need help to move, or you need dismisses an employee or volunteer for someone to lift you (such as getting out of harming a child or vulnerable adult, they must bed or getting on to the toilet), this can put the tell the DBS. The DBS must also be notified if person doing the lifting at risk of injury. any employee or volunteer harms a child or vulnerable adult, but isn’t dismissed because This “manual handling” can result in back pain they leave voluntarily. If their organisation and in the most serious cases, permanent does not tell DBS, they will be acting illegally. disability if not done correctly. Questions can be answered by the DBS call The law says that employers must take centre on 0870 909 0811. reasonable precautions to ensure their Employing a care worker on a private basis employees don’t do any manual handling that carries a risk of them being injured. This If you employ a care worker privately, you will applies to you if you directly employ a personal not be obliged to use the DBS scheme, but assistant to care for you (but most likely will not you can use it if you choose to. You need to if you hire someone through an agency). It is ask social services or the police to make the particularly important to consider insurance in checks on your behalf. The care worker must this situation. This would cover any risk of the have already applied to be vetted, and must care worker injuring themselves, as well as any consent to the check. risk of them causing an injury.
42 Care Homes
Care homes If you’re looking for a residential care home, there’s a huge variety of options available. There are permanent care homes for older people, homes for younger adults with disabilities, and homes for children. Care homes may be privately owned or run by charities or councils. Some will be small care homes based in home-like domestic dwellings, while others will be based in large communal centres. One of the first options you have to consider when choosing residential care is whether you need the care home to provide nursing care, or just standard personal care.
Consider other options for care first Choice of care home Going into a care home is a major commitment The law says that where the local authority is for your future – it involves changing where funding accommodation, it must allow a person you live and potentially committing to paying entering residential care to choose which care a considerable amount of money for your home they would prefer, within reason. ongoing accommodation and care needs. Social services must first agree the home is Before you opt for a move to a care home, you suitable for your needs and it would not cost should think about other less disruptive – and more than you would normally pay for a home potentially less costly – options, including: that would meet those needs. • home care Local authority help with the cost of residential care is means-tested. You are free to make your • help to live independently at home own arrangements if you can afford the long- You should also consider whether you really term cost. However, it is worth asking the local need the amount of care on offer at a care authority for a financial assessment, because it home, and look at alternatives such as "extra might pay some or all of your care costs. care" housing schemes or warden-controlled In the financial assessment, the local authority sheltered accommodation. These options offer can only take into account income and assets independence with an increased level of care you own. The local authority cannot ask and support. members of your family to pay for the basic Personal care or nursing care? cost of your care. Read more about local Care homes for older people may provide authority funding for care and funding your own personal care or nursing care. A care home care. registered to provide personal care will offer If you choose a care home that costs more support, ensuring basic personal needs are than the local authority usually expects to pay taken care of. A care home providing personal for a person with your needs, you may still care only can assist you with meals, bathing, be able to live in the care home if a relative or going to the toilet and taking medication, if you friend is willing and able to pay the difference need this sort of help. Find care homes without between what the local authority pays and the nursing. amount the care home charges – this is known Some residents may need nursing care, and as a "top-up" fee. some care homes are registered to provide However, if their situation changes and they this. These are often referred to as nursing are no longer able to pay the top-up, the local homes. For example, a care home might authority may have no obligation to continue to specialise in certain types of disability or fund the more expensive care home place and conditions such as dementia. Find care homes you may have to move out. It is worth thinking with nursing. about this potentially difficult situation when deciding on care home options.
43 Care Homes
Do not cancel your tenancy or sell your home • Is the care home focused on the residents' until the final decision has been made by individual needs, or do they insist that the local authority. The value of your home residents adapt to their routine? must not be included in the local authority's • What arrangements are there for visitors? means-testing until 12 weeks after you've Can residents come and go as they confirmed that the care home placement will be please, as far as it is safe to do so? Are staff permanent. able to help residents to go out? Are outings The Care Act 2014 is changing how people arranged? are able to pay for their own care, introducing • What involvement would you have in the the right for you to ask for the local authority care home? How would you communicate to pay for the cost of your care while you try to with staff? Are there any support groups or sell your home. This is known as a "deferred regular meetings? payment scheme". • If safety and security are issues, what Choosing a care home if you're funding your arrangements or supervision can the care own care home provide? If you are funding your own care, you have a • Will the care home meet your specific great deal of options, and you will need to do religious, ethnic, cultural or social needs? a lot of research on which care home provides • Will the correct diet be provided? the best options for you in terms of its cost, Will the right language be spoken? Will there location, services, and a host of other potential be opportunities to participate in religious factors. Read on for tips on choosing your care activities? Do they allow pets? home. • When you are choosing accommodation it Choosing a care home if you're having care may be a lifelong decision, so you may provided by the local authority want to think about planning for end of After a needs assessment from social life care at the same time. services, you will be provided with a care plan, • You might also want to check what people which should make clear whether you need who have used the care home say about residential care and what other options, if any, it from online feedback and review services, might be available and most appropriate based such as those put together on NHS Choices on your needs. Website. Even if you're unlikely to be eligible for financial • Ask for a temporary stay in the care home help with residential care home fees, it could before you decide. Temporary stays in still be worth involving social services. The care homes can also be arranged needs assessment, and information they in certain circumstances, such as after a stay provide, are likely to be very helpful in making in hospital. decisions about care. A good care home will: Tips on choosing a care home • offer new residents and their families or • Check the most recent inspection report carers a guide (in a variety of accessible to see how well the care home is doing and formats) describing what they can expect if there is anything of concern. You can get while they're living there inspection reports by searching for the care • have staff who have worked there for a long home on the Care Quality Commission time, know the residents well, and are website friendly, supportive and respectful • Consider the location of a care home. Is the • employ well-trained staff, particularly where care home near family and friends? Are there specialist care such as dementia nursing is shops, leisure or educational facilities in the required area? Is the area noisy? • involve residents, carers and their families in decision-making
44 concern Liverpool & Sefton Exceptional A name you can trust nursing care for older people living with dementia in Liverpool Edinburgh Park Nursing Home is a new facility which provides exceptional, expert and affordable care for up to 30 older people living with dementia in purpose built accommodation in Lower Breck Road, Liverpool . The surroundings are warm and friendly – as are our nurses and carers. We have over 25 years’ experience of providing specialist nursing care for older people, which enables all our residents to lead a fulfilling life. Every individual is important to us and everyone is given the privacy, personal space and dignity that all of us expect and deserve. We get to know every resident and their families individually – their needs and preferences, what makes them happy, and how we can best maximise their quality of life. The social side of life is important at Edinburgh Park. We have an Activities Organiser who provides regular sessions at the home involving residents of all ability levels in fun activities which are also carefully designed to help our residents to retain their skills. As with other aspects of life at Edinburgh Park all staff are pro-active in taking time out to discover what interests our residents. We have sing-along sessions, games and craft activities, chair-based exercise, story reading together and mindfulness and relaxation sessions and outings all contribute to a happy life for the older people in our care.
"We are proud that older people who come to us soon feel at home in the special family"
To find out more about Edinburgh Park call us on: Phone: 0151 330 5678 or email: [email protected] Registered Charity No. 517902 Care Homes
• support residents in doing things for You should also: themselves and maximising their • contact the benefits office, if you have one independence (including disability benefits, as these can be • offer a choice of tasty and nutritious food, affected by care home stays) and provide a variety of leisure and social • make sure other services at your previous activities taking residents' needs into account address have been notified • be a clean, bright and hygienic environment • let friends and family know your know that's adapted appropriately for residents, contact details and when you might feel up to with single bedrooms available receiving visitors • respect residents' privacy, modesty, dignity Rights of care home residents and choices The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the • be accredited under the Gold Standards regulator of health and adult social care Framework for end of life care in England, whether it's provided by the An unsatisfactory care home might: NHS, local authorities, private companies or • have a code of practice, but not adhere to it voluntary organisations. • fail to take into account residents' needs and Under existing rules, independent healthcare wishes, with most decisions made by staff and adult social services must be registered • let residents' care plans become out of date, with the CQC. NHS providers, such as or fail to reflect their needs accurately hospitals and ambulance services, must also • have staff who enter residents' rooms without be registered. knocking, and talk about residents within The registration of organisations reassures earshot of other people the public when they receive a care service or • deny residents their independence – for treatment. It also enables the CQC to check example, by not allowing someone to feed that organisations are continuing to meet CQC themselves because it "takes too long" standards. • have staff who don't make an effort to interact Standards for care homes are outlined on with residents and leave them sitting in front the CQC website. These standards are of the TV all day underpinned by regulations governing the • be in a poorly maintained building, with quality and safety of services. rooms that all look the same and have little The regulations are enforceable by law – the choice in furnishings CQC can enforce fines, public warnings, or • need cleaning, with shared bathrooms that even suspend or close a service if they believe aren't cleaned regularly people's basic rights or safety are at risk. If you move into a care home Care home closures When you go into a care home, make sure the Care homes will sometimes close. This can management and staff of the home know about be because the owner decides not to carry your condition, disability and other needs. They on providing the service in that location (for may have some of this information already – for instance, if they retire), or because the home example, if the local authority has set up the has been sold or failed to meet legal standards. placement after a care needs assessment. Proposals to close a care home can obviously Moving home can be unsettling at the best of cause great distress. If the care home is times, so when you move into a care home, it's operated by the local authority, it has to follow good to have it planned in advance and have a consultation process with residents and family or friends around you when you move to families. make you feel more comfortable. It may be best to get specialist legal advice in this situation. You can find an appropriate solicitor through the Law Society.
46 Care Homes
NURSING HOMES Postcode Name Address Town/City Phone number L8 5XW The Hamlets 99 Mill Street Liverpool 0151 709 1426 L6 0AE Edinburgh Park 219 Lower Breck Road, Anfield Liverpool 0151 330 5678 L4 4LG Walton Manor 23 Luton Grove Liverpool 0151 298 1605 L6 4EH Gordon House Care Home Belmont Grove Liverpool 0151 260 9022 L6 8PB Glenarie House Nursing Home 26 Prescot Drive Liverpool 0151 228 7440 L8 0WN Arundel Park Sefton Park Road Liverpool 0151 291 7840 L8 3SR James Nugent Court 14 Ullet Road Liverpool 0151 728 2722 L9 2DB Grace Lodge Nursing Home Grace Road Liverpool 0151 523 7202 L9 7AL Amberleigh House Care Home Longmoor Lane Liverpool 0151 525 8047 L13 3BJ Brooklands Nursing Home 44 Albany Road Liverpool 0151 252 0080 L13 4BX Oak Vale Gardens 1c The Green Liverpool 0151 220 2708 L14 0JJ Moss View 77 Page Moss Lane Liverpool 0151 482 1212 L18 8BX Redholme Memory Care 11 Carnatic Road Liverpool 0151 724 2016 L25 7UW Kingswood Manor Woolton Road Liverpool 0151 427 9419 L25 7UW Kingswood Mount Woolton Road Liverpool 0151 427 9419 L27 7DA Vancouver House Vancouver Road Liverpool 0151 487 6905
RESIDENTIAL HOMES Postcode Name Address Town/City Phone number L4 2TS Simonsfield 1a Sunbury Road Liverpool 0151 260 7918 L5 1UW Venmore Community Centre Hartnup Street Liverpool 0151 263 2888 L5 2QS Crompton Court Crompton Street Liverpool 0151 298 1959 L6 4DL Breckside Park Residential Home 10 Breckside Park Liverpool 0151 260 6491 L8 0WN Greenheys Lodge Sefton Park Road Liverpool 0151 291 7822 L8 1YQ Granby Care Home 50 Selbourne Street Liverpool 0151 709 3988 L8 3SR James Nugent Court 14 Ullet Road Liverpool 0151 728 2722 L8 7NP Rodney House Care Home 4-6 Canning Street Liverpool 0151 709 3883 L9 8AD Autumn Lodge Residential Home 41 Moss Lane Liverpool 0151 525 0555 L11 0BS Croxteth Park Care Home Altcross Road Liverpool 0151 286 6280 L11 3BR Sedgemoor Care Home 41 Sedgemoor Road Liverpool 0151 233 6320 L11 5AF Walker Lodge 188 Townsend Avenue Liverpool 0151 226 9300 L12 8QT Bellefield Residential Home 42 Aysgarth Avenue Liverpool 0151 259 4397 L13 1DG Greenacres Care Home Pighue Lane Liverpool 0151 259 7899 L14 2EW Christopher Grange Residential Care Youens Way, East Prescot Road Liverpool 0151 220 2525 L15 8HH Prince Alfred Rose Villas, Prince Alfred Road Liverpool 0151 734 2587 L17 3AS Sunnyside Residential Home 37 Ullet Road Liverpool 0151 733 7070 L18 3ER Beechside Residential Care Home 88 Beech Lane Liverpool 0151 724 6606 L18 8BZ Redcourt Care Home 2 Carnatic Road Liverpool 0151 724 1733 L25 7UL The Orchard Woolton Road Liverpool 0151 428 8671 L27 7AR Garden Lodge Care Home Middlemass Hey Liverpool 0151 498 4776
47 concern Liverpool & Sefton A name you can trust
Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton 179 Townsend Lane • Liverpool • L13 9DY Tel (Liverpool): 0151 330 5678 | Email [email protected]
Registered charity number 517902
www.ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk