Introduction

Welcome to this brand new Guide to Later Life in Gloucestershire

At Age UK Gloucestershire we think a lot about what would make this a better county in which to grow older.

Everyone knowing where to turn for information and Do drop us a line with your thoughts, questions and advice on the range of issues that arise as we grow ideas for what else would help you and your family older would be high up the list. to love later life. That’s why we have produced this directory – to bring together in one place a whole host of guidance and local contact information. It’s designed to take you through a number of common considerations and to be kept as a reference booklet to dip into as issues arise for you and your family. From tips on healthy living to ensuring you have enough money, from opportunities to meet friends to getting support with care, there are sections to guide you through key issues. If you cannot find the information you need in the pages that follow, then please do contact us at Age UK Gloucestershire. We are an independent local charity that has been working to help older people in Gloucestershire enjoy later life for over 35 years. Our friendly and experienced team are here to help you to understand your options and help you navigate later life in Gloucestershire. Our ambition is for ours to be the best county in Rob Fountain which to grow older. We have a range of projects to Chief Executive Officer try and achieve this, but we’d love to know what you Age UK Gloucestershire think would make Gloucestershire a better county for older people.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to Age UK Gloucestershire ensure that the information in this guide was correct at 26 Station Road press time, Age UK Gloucestershire and Sure Media do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any Gloucester GL1 1EW 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. 01452 422660 Although Age UK Gloucestershire & Sure Media would [email protected] like to thank the sponsors for their support in this www.ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire publication, their inclusion within this publication does not imply any recommendation or endorsements as to the goods or services they may supply. Age UK Gloucestershire has received no financial payments from any sponsors or supporters in the production of this guide.

To feature within a publication or for further information please contact: [email protected] 3 Contents

Contents

3 Introduction from our Chief Executive

5-11 Age UK Gloucestershire guide to our services: 5 Knowing where to turn 6-7 Staying independent and safe at home 8-9 Keeping connected socially 10-11 About us

12-13 Patient choice of GP practice 14 Healthy eating for over 50s 15-18 Staying physically active 19 Keeping mobile and preventing falls 20-22 Volunteering – change a life, change yours 23-24 Your right to social care 25-27 Planning for your care needs 28-30 Are you a carer? 31-32 Choosing care services 33-36 Funding care 37 Care and support plans 38-43 Care services in your home 45-50 Care homes

4 Age UK Gloucestershire

Knowing where to turn Make Age UK Gloucestershire your first port of call 01452 422660

Do you need help navigating the social care system? Assessments, care plans, eligibility criteria, charging – accessing care can be a bewildering exercise. We can talk you through the system and the choices you have.

Have you or your partner been in the Armed Services or completed National Service? There is specific support available to veterans from Age UK Gloucestershire and our partners Growing older can bring changes in our lives, SSAFA (Gloucestershire). We can connect you with decisions to be made and raising questions to specialist support, taking our turn in serving we have never considered before. We may those who have served their country. require support as we slow down, our financial * situation may change and we can find ourselves Have you planned for later life? in a very different and often confusing place. Considering your preferences for your later life can be difficult, but addressing these can bring Similarly, someone who is caring for an older tremendous peace of mind. We can help by loved one or friend can be presented with a providing information on everything from Power number of challenges and decisions, often of Attorney to Funeral Plans. needing to be made at short notice. We are regularly out and about in the local Age UK Gloucestershire exists to help you community so look out for our free information navigate later life. Our experienced and friendly events in your local area and come along to talk team is here to help guide you through those to us. Alternatively, one phone number important issues. 01452 422660 will connect you to all our knowledge, Do you have enough money? experience and understanding. You could be entitled to benefits that you didn’t know you could claim and which could help you Our information and advice is offered free keep your independence and improve your of charge and is of course confidential. standard of living. We can help you access these. Our offices are open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and you are welcome to call us to make an appointment on 01452 422660

We want everyone to have access to our Navigate Team, so if you are unable to travel to our office, we may be able to arrange a home visit.

* This part of the aged veterans fund is funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds 5 Age UK Gloucestershire

Staying independent and safe at home Products & services to keep you where you want to be 01452 422660 Remaining independent at home for as long as Are household chores getting too much? possible is what we all want, but this can Having someone call in regularly to provide become difficult as our needs change over time. practical help around the home can make a big difference. There are many providers who can There are things we can all do to promote our offer help from housework to personal care and independence – maintaining social contact and we can advise you on how to find one that staying as active as possible helps, but at some offers the right level of support for you. Age UK point extra help may be required to keep us Gloucestershire’s own Clean Sweep Plus safe in our home. service offers this and more, for example It’s good to be open to suggestions about helping you deal with paperwork, or getting out receiving help. This doesn’t mean losing your to the shops. The same person will visit you independence. On the contrary, accepting each week and there’s always time for a chat. support when things start getting harder can If you’re looking after a loved-one, we can offer enable you to stay safe, comfortable and in care sitting as part of the service. control at home for longer. Just a few could small changes in the home make a adjustments to the home environment, or some big difference? practical support with certain tasks, may be all it Whether it’s getting up the stairs more easily, takes to ensure you can remain at home for being able to stand up more comfortably or many more years. having a shower without a high step, we have Age UK Gloucestershire can help you and your various solutions that can help make life a bit family find out how to continue enjoying life in easier. Our products include riser-recliner your own home. chairs and adjustable beds, through to stairlifts and bathing solutions. If you’re unsure what you need, call us, and we will guide you through your options, including when it is appropriate to contact Adult Social Care to carry out an assessment of your needs.

PRoTecT yoURSelF FRom FiNANciAl FRAUD Our Stay Smart, Stay Safe booklet provides advice and tips on how to protect yourself from scams and keep you and your money secure. Contact us for your copy.

6 Age UK Gloucestershire

Do you worry about being able to call for Do you need to review your insurance help in an emergency? arrangements? Even if you have regular visitors, there may be For peace of mind, it’s important to ensure you times when you are alone in the house and may have considered all your financial requirements. worry about how to get We work with Age UK to bring you a range of help quickly if you fall or products specifically designed for the over 50s, have an accident. We offer such as home, travel and car insurance, as well a free 6 week trail of our as other financial products including funeral personal alarm which plans. For more information contact our Trading means in an Team on 01452 422660 or email emergency, friends or [email protected] family can be alerted at the touch of a button. We can also put you in touch with relevant Age UK Car, Home and Travel Insurance are administered by Ageas Retail Limited. departments within the Council or Falls Prevention service, if you’d like more advice on Age UK Funeral Plans are provided by Dignity. how to keep safe at home. Brought to you by Age UK Enterprises Limited.

Age UK Personal Alarms are provided by PPP Taking Care Limited and brought to you by age UK Trading CIC. For more information about applying for your free personal alarm trial, contact Age UK Insurance is arranged by Age UK Enterprises Limited 01452 422660 and arranged and administered by Ageas Retail Limited, who are both authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct [email protected] Authority. Ageas Retail Limited is a sister company of Ageas www.ageukgloucestershire.org.uk Insurance Limited.

Ageas Retail Limited Registered Office: Ageas House, Hampshire Corporate Park, Templars Way, Eastleigh, What happens after Hampshire, SO53 3YA. Registered in England and Wales you have been in 1324965. FS Register number 312468. hospital? Age UK Funeral Plans are provided by Advance Planning A spell in hospital can Limited, a subsidiary of Dignity plc, in association with Age UK Enterprises Limited. leave you feeling anxious and more Age UK Trading CIC and Age UK Enterprises Limited are vulnerable. You may commercial arms of Age UK (charity number 1128267) and donate their net profits to that charity. Age UK Trading CIC is lose some confidence registered in England (number 1102972) and Age UK about managing back Enterprises Limited is registered in England and Wales at home. Age UK (number 3156159). The registered address for both is: Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9NA. FS Gloucestershire’s Out registered number 311438. of Hospital Service is available to help you get back on your feet and build longer-term confidence following your return home. We will work with you to identify what will help you remain safe and independent in your own home again

For advice and information about staying independent at home call us on 01452 422660 or visit our website www.ageukgloucestershire.org.uk

7 Age UK Gloucestershire

Keeping connected socially Opportunities to make and retain social contacts 01452 422660 As we get older, there may be fewer For more information, contact Engage on opportunities to connect regularly with others. 01452 854283 or pop along to our information Retirement, reduced mobility, stopping driving sessions which are held at 11am every Monday or having less money can all impact on our and 2pm every Wednesday in the GL3 ability to make and retain friendships. Staying Community Hub Café. socially connected is important for our health and wellbeing. looking for hobbies, clubs or activity groups? Luckily, our county has lots of opportunities to A great way to make friends is to pursue a socialise. Age UK Gloucestershire can help you hobby as part of a group. Whether it is find local opportunities to make those important resuming an activity you used to enjoy or if it is social connections. time to try something new, we have information about coffee mornings, knitting groups, men’s Do you feel lonely? sheds, line dancing and much more. Call us on You can be surrounded by people and yet still 01452 422660 for more details. feel lonely. It might seem difficult to tackle those feelings, but there is support available. Call us on 01452 422660 and we can help you take the first steps. We can find friendship groups or services in your area, or arrange for someone to make a regular phone call to you for a friendly chat. Call us for more tips and advice about overcoming loneliness, or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/health- wellbeing/loneliness/feeling-lonely/ looking for support to get out and about for the day? A day service can be particularly helpful to those who want the benefit of activity co- ordinators on hand to help you get out and about. We can advise on the range of day services available in Gloucestershire and we also run our Engage service, which operates from the GL3 Community Hub in Churchdown. Engage guests enjoy day trips across Gloucestershire, pub lunches and activities at the Hub including singing and arts & crafts.

8 Age UK Gloucestershire

If you fancy singing and socialising, contact us making the most of computers and online? (or visit our website Getting friendly with a laptop, iPad or www.ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire) to find out smartphone can open up new ways to shop, about our friendly Choirs who meet weekly in connect with others and research hobbies and four locations across the county; or, our Ageing interests. Age UK Gloucestershire and a Well Group who combine companionship with number of other local organisations offer tuition creativity, getting involved in arts and poetry in getting on-line. For more information contact projects and even being film extras. us on 01452 422660.

\ Do you enjoy sport? Being older doesn’t mean only watching from can new connections help after a major the sidelines. Age UK Gloucestershire has change in your life? joined forces with local partners to bring you a A bereavement, diagnosis of a serious or long- range of walking sports including rugby, football term illness or simply trying to get through a and netball as well as table tennis and tai chi. particularly tough time in your life, can bring challenges which some may find overwhelming. Our Life Changes project is here to support you whilst you adjust to your new situation, provide emotional support and help to find opportunities for new experiences and connections. Contact us on 01452 422660 if you’re experiencing a difficult period in your life.

For advice and information about staying connected, call us on 01452 422660 or visit our website www.ageuk.org.uk/gloucestershire

9 Age UK Gloucestershire

About us

Age UK Gloucestershire is a local charity, established over 35 years ago to support the people of Gloucestershire. We choose to be a partner of the national charity, Age UK, however we are responsible for our own funding, set our own priorities and are governed by a board of Trustees, drawn from across Gloucestershire.

Operating from our office near the train station in Gloucester, we employ staff to deliver our services across the community. We are also dependent on the support we get from a dedicated group of over 120 volunteers, without whom we would be unable to provide the level of service we do.

We are here to support later life for everyone in our county and are keen to engage with everyone regardless of ethnic and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, nationality or religion.

How we are funded Trading commission As a registered charity, we believe it’s important We have a trading company which, as part of for everyone to understand how we are funded. the national Age UK network, sells insurance Securing income to support our activities is an and other products. The products and services on-going challenge and we currently draw in are provided by partners carefully selected by money in a variety of ways: Age UK and our sales processes are formally regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. contracts The trading company receives commission on We are sometimes awarded contracts to deliver its sales and the profit generated is gifted to the specific services or projects. Out of Hospital is charity. This is valuable income to support our our largest contracted service. charitable services such as Information and Awarded Funds Advice. No-one in the Age UK Gloucestershire Some projects are funded by grants following team receives payment or is otherwise applications we submit. We currently receive financially incentivised based on their sales grant income from organisations including the performance. National Lottery (for our Life Changes project) Fundraising and Donations and the Ministry of Defence (for our Veterans We rely on raising money through events and work). activities as well as from kind donations from Paid for Services individuals. Whether that’s regular giving, We have to charge for some of our services, leaving a legacy in your will or a one-off including Clean Sweep Plus, Engage and IT donation, every contribution helps us to make courses. The fees we charge are set to recover a difference to the lives of older people in the costs of delivering the service. Gloucestershire.

10 Age UK Gloucestershire

can you help us make Gloucestershire the best county in which to grow older? Our ambition is huge but we need your help to achieve the most for local older people. There are three ways you can get involved:

11 Patient choice of GP practice

Patient choice of GP practice

Following changes to GP contracts, all GP practices in england will be free to register new patients who live outside their practice boundary area from January 2015. This means that you are able to join practices in more convenient locations, such as a practice near your work. The idea is to provide you with greater choice and to improve the quality of GP services. These new arrangements are voluntary for GP practices.

A good GP practice should provide the making an appointment following to all patients: Be polite to receptionists. They are busy people • A professional and helpful team of GPs, who often have to deal with unhappy patients. practice staff and other Being polite to them will encourage healthcare professionals. Groups can represent them to help you. • A practice that is accessible patients through to everyone and provides a collecting patient cancelling and missing comfortable and organised feedback, sharing best appointments environment. practice by working with Please always try to let the GP • A flexible and efficient other similar groups and practice know when you are appointment booking system. working with the practices to improve patient unable to attend an appointment. • Assurance of systems to services. They also help It is your responsibility as a monitor and improve the to run courses within the patient to cancel any safety and quality of care. practice, volunteer appointment you have made in • Appropriate, respectful and support services and reasonable time so that another legal management of patient awareness events and patient can benefit from the information. provide newsletters and information directories. appointment slot. • A private consultation room that provides reassurance if you have a complaint or and builds a patient’s concern about your GP or Practice? confidence and trust. First raise it with the staff member concerned or • Opportunities for patients to get involved and the Practice Manager. It may just be an issue of have their say. poor communication. Ask your practice for a copy of their Complaints process to follow. If Patient involvement groups you are not happy with how they respond to Most GP practices have patient involvement your concerns then you can write to NHS groups. These groups are made up of individual England and they will allocate someone to look patients who take an active interest in patient into your complaint. healthcare and are sometimes known as Patient Participation or Partnership Groups Write to: NHS England, PO Box 16738, (PPGs). Redditch, B97 9PT. Tel: 0300 311 22 33 The involvement groups can have many email: [email protected] functions and each group and practice sets its own terms of reference. To find out about your local patient involvement group or to get one started you should ask at the reception desk of your practice.

12 Patient choice of GP practice GP SURGeRieS Postcode Name Address Town/city Phone number GL1 3EN Kingsholm Surgery Alvin Street Gloucester 01452 522902 GL1 3PX London Medical Practice Horton Road Gloucester 01452 337777 GL1 5JQ Rosebank Health 153B Stroud Road Gloucester 01452 543000 GL1 2RE College Yard and Highnam The College Yard Surgery Gloucester 01452 412888 GL1 3PX Barnwood Medical Practice Aspen Centre Gloucester 01452 523362 GL1 5JJ Partners in Health Pavilion Family Doctors Gloucester 01452 385555 GL2 7HU Frampton Surgery The Surgery Gloucester 01452 740213 GL2 4NF Quedgeley Medical Centre Quedgeley Park Gloucester 01452 728882 GL2 7HU Frampton Surgery Whitminster Lane, Frampton-on-Severn 01452 740213 GL2 8DH The Highnam Surgery Highnam Surgery Gloucester 01452 529699 GL2 0AJ Longlevens Surgery 19b Church Road Gloucester 01452 522695 GL2 0LS Cheltenham Road Surgery 16 Cheltenham Road Gloucester 01452 522575 GL3 2DB Churchdown Surgery 24 St John's Avenue Gloucester 01452 899762 GL3 4PE Brockworth Surgery Abbotswood Road, Brockworth Gloucester 0844 477 3589 GL3 3HB Hucclecote Surgery 5A Brookfield Road Gloucester 01452 617295 GL4 4SH Saintbridge Surgery Askwith Road Gloucester 01452 500252 GL4 4BL Hadwen Medical Practice Glevum Way Surgery Gloucester 01452 529933 GL5 3BE Rowcroft Medical Centre Rowcroft Retreat Stroud 01453 764471 GL5 4EX St Luke's Medical Centre 53 Cainscross Road Stroud 01453 763755 GL5 4BH Beeches Green Surgery Beeches Green Health Centre Stroud 01453 763980 GL5 3BE Rowcroft Medical Centre Rowcroft Retreat Stroud 01453 764471 GL5 1UY Locking Hill Surgery Locking Hill Stroud 01453 764222 GL5 4BH Stroud Valleys Family Practice Beeches Green Health Centre Stroud 01453 764696 GL5 4EX St Luke's Medical Centre 53 Cainscross Road Stroud 01453 763755 GL6 0DQ Price's Mill Surgery Newmarket Road Stroud 01453 832424 GL6 8DE Frithwood Surgery 45 Tanglewood Way Stroud 01453 882868 GL6 0DQ Price's Mill Surgery Newmarket Road Stroud 01453 832424 GL6 6RD Painswick Surgery Gyde Road Stroud 01452 812545 GL6 9JF Minchinhampton Surgery Bell Lane Stroud 01453 883793 GL10 2AA Regent Street Surgery 73 Regent Street Stonehouse 0844 815 1066 GL10 2NG Stonehouse Health Clinic High Street Stonehouse 01453 823144 GL11 5NE The Orchard Medical Centre Dursley 01453 548666 GL11 4JN Walnut Tree Practice May Lane Surgery Dursley 01453 540555 GL11 4JN Acorn Practice May Lane Surgery Dursley 01453 540540 GL11 5NE The Orchard Medical Centre The Orchard Medical Centre Dursley 01453 548666 GL11 4JN Walnut Tree Practice May Lane Surgery Dursley 01453 540555 GL12 7LS Culverhay Surgery Culverhay Wotton Under Edge 01453 843252 GL12 7BD Chipping Surgery The Chipping Surgery, Symn Lane Wotton Under Edge 01453 842214 GL13 9BL Marybrook Medical Centre Marybrook Street Berkeley 01453 810228 GL14 2AN Forest Health Care Cinderford Health Centre, Dockham Road Cinderford 01594 820820 GL14 1BE Newnham Surgery High Street Newnham 01594 516241 GL14 2AN Dockham Road Surgery Cinderford Health Centre, Dockham Road Cinderford 0844 815 1058 GL14 1BE Newnham & Westbury Surgery High Street Newnham 01594 516241 GL14 2AN Forest Health Care Cinderford Health Centre, Dockham Road Cinderford 01594 820820 GL15 5PF Severnbank Surgery Tutnalls Street Lydney 01594 845715 GL15 4RS Yorkley Health Centre Bailey Hill Yorkley 01594 562437 GL15 5NQ Lydney Practice The Health Centre, Albert Street Lydney 01594 842167 GL15 4ED Blakeney Surgery Mill End Blakeney 01594 510225 GL15 5PF Severnbank Surgery Tutnalls Street Lydney 01594 845715 GL15 5NQ Lydney Practice The Health Centre, Albert Street Lydney 01594 842167 GL16 8HJ Brunston & Lydbrook Practice Cinderhill Coleford 01594 833255 GL16 8RH Coleford Health Centre Railway Drive Coleford 01594 838108 GL17 0AU Mitcheldean Surgery Brook Street Mitcheldean 01594 542270 GL17 9JE Drybrook Surgery The Surgery Drybrook 01594 542239 GL17 0AU Mitcheldean Surgery Brook Street Mitcheldean 01594 542270 GL18 1BA Newent Doctors Practice The Holts Health Centre, Watery Lane Newent 01531 820689 GL19 3RB Staunton and Corse Surgery The Surgery, Corse, Staunton Gloucester 01452 840228

13 Healthy eating fr over 50s

Healthy eating for over 50s

Healthy eating can improve your quality of life and help you avoid diseases associated with ageing. There's a lot you can do to introduce healthier foods into your diet without giving up all of your favourites.

A change in your food requirements • drink plenty of water and cut out fizzy, sugary A major reason for age-related weight gain is drinks - watch out for hidden sugars added to that the rate at which you burn calories in food many soft drinks and drink, known as your metabolic rate, slows • limit your consumption of food and drinks that down with age. The extra calories will turn into are high in sugar, or in saturated fats - like surplus body fat over time if you don't adjust butter your diet or exercise more. • choose lower-fat meat, poultry and dairy foods • eat more fish – aim for two portions a week, How much should you eat? including one portion of oily fish such as Weight gain is all about how much energy you salmon, fresh tuna, mackerel, sardines or trout take in to your body and how much energy your • drink less alcohol body uses. To lose weight you need to take less • limit your salt intake to a maximum of six energy (calories) into your body from food and grams a day – try not to add it to your food drink than the amount your body uses up by and beware of added salt in processed foods being active. Remember that you’ll need fewer and ready-made meals calories in your 50s and 60s than you did in • try not to skip meals, particularly breakfast your 30s. • eat a variety of foods to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs How much you can eat without putting on weight is also linked to how much you exercise. Being active burns calories, so it links between diet, exercise and health can help you to lose weight. Increased activity is perhaps the key to weight control as you age. Eating a balanced diet, not manage your weight with a balanced diet overeating and eating the right foods is You may have to reduce your calorie intake important. slightly and ensure that you keep active. It's not Research shows, for example, a link between a good idea to follow fad diets. It can make it diet and many major diseases, like coronary even harder to manage your weight over the heart disease and cancer. By walking regularly long term. you cut your rate of physical decline by half. To get the best from your diet: Thirty minutes of moderate exercise five times a • eat at least five portions of fruit and week is what the experts recommend. It can be vegetables a day base meals on starchy foods all in one half-hour, or split into smaller bouts of like bread, potatoes, rice or pasta activity throughout your day.

Remember, before changing your diet or starting an exercise regime, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor.

14 Our Clean Sweep Plus service can help you with food shopping and meal preparation. Contact us on 01452 422660 for more information Staying physically active

Staying physically active

Keeping physically active improves your health and quality of life, and can also help you to live longer. it's never too late to start doing some exercise. Health benefits The risks of physical inactivity Physical activity means anything from everyday inactivity puts you at greater risk of: tasks, like cleaning the house, heavy gardening • heart disease or walking the dog. Or specific exercise like • some cancers keep fit, swimming, golf, football, gym-based • diabetes activity or tennis. The best type of activity is one • osteoporosis, leading to fractures (half the that makes you feel slightly warmer and breathe number of hip fractures could be avoided with a bit heavier, getting your heart and pulse regular physical activity) pumping faster than usual. • obesity and related health problems

Some of the benefits of Getting started keeping active include: There is no reason to If you haven't done any exercise • a reduced risk of developing a give up a sport or for years - and it's estimated that life-threatening disease exercise you enjoy just four out of 10 people over 50 do • a greater likelihood of because you are getting little or no exercise - then start maintaining or reaching a older. you should aim to gently and build up gradually. If healthy weight do at least 30 minutes you're exercising for the first time • a greater sense of well-being of moderate physical or are unsure if you should try a • improved sleep and increased activity five or more particular activity, talk to your GP. times a week. day-time vitality Experts recommend thirty • stay independent minutes of moderate exercise a • have a healthy heart day at least five times a week. It • reduce falls can be all in one half-hour, or split into three • keep up with children you know periods of ten minutes or in smaller bouts of • meet people and share the company of others activity throughout your day. • feel happier and keep your brain sharp • age better A good starting point may be to begin with a short five-minute brisk walk in your local park. If you stay physically active, you're also likely to Then build up gradually, increasing slowly to the stay independent longer. Exercise can make full 30 minutes over a number of weeks. you stronger. You'll feel more confident and Walking is great for your health. There are involved in life. walking groups open to different ages around Remember, before beginning a new exercise the country. regime, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor first. Your GP is also a good place to start to learn about exercise for your health.

Contact us on 01452 422660 for more information about our walking sports and other local activity providers. 15 Staying physically active

Age guidelines There is no reason to give up a sport or How much activity is enough? exercise you enjoy just because you are getting Try to be active for 2 hours each week and do older. You should aim to do at least 30 minutes activities to improve muscle strength at least of moderate physical activity five or more times twice a week.” A little activity every day (a ‘daily a week. Even if you haven't been particularly dose’) can make a big difference. athletic at a younger age, there are many benefits of improved fitness as you get older. Remember: Remember to keep moving and retain your • routine activities like carrying the washing or mobility and flexibility through daily activity as shopping can help improve muscle strength well. • regular walking can improve your health • go at your own pace If you're in your 80s or 90s, regular, gentle • listen to your body exercise can help retain muscle strength and • Little and often, preferably in short periods of improve mobility. Through daily activity you can at least 10 minutes - all the little periods of retain mobility and flexibility. activity add up

Daily activities Physical activity guidelines for older adults It's easy to boost your physical activity without making huge changes to your lifestyle. You can How much physical activity do older adults begin by incorporating it into your everyday life aged 65 and over need to do to keep with little effort or planning. You can: healthy? To stay healthy or to improve health, older • walk upstairs - don't use the lift or escalator adults need to do two types of physical activity • get off the bus or train a stop or two earlier to each week: aerobic and strength exercises. walk home or to work • spend more time enjoying active interests, like Guidelines for older adults aged 65 and over gardening or golf Older adults aged 65 or older, who are • leave the car at home more generally fit and have no health conditions that • clean the car by hand limit their mobility, should try to be active daily • vacuum the house and should do: • use email less and walk to talk to people in • At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic your office activity such as cycling or walking every week, • play movement games with children you know and strength exercises on two or more days a - children can always come up with great ideas week that work all the major muscles (legs, • take a walk with friends rather than sitting with hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and them for a chat arms). • move around the house, for example every • 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity such time you make a cup of tea, walk up the stairs as running or a game of singles tennis every while the kettle boils or the tea brews week, and strength exercises on two or more organised activities days a week that work all the major muscles There are lots of other ways to stay fit. You (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders could take up a weekly Tai Chi class, play and arms). bowls, go swimming, ramble or cycle. oR In some areas, your local council might offer • A mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic free or cut-price gym-based exercise at the activity every week. For example, two 30- local sports or leisure centre. minute runs, plus 30 minutes of fast walking,

16 Contact us on 01452 422660 for more information about our walking sports and other local activity providers. Staying physically active

equates to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic What counts as vigorous aerobic activity? activity, and strength exercises on two or There is good evidence that vigorous activity more days a week that work all the major can bring health benefits over and above that of muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, moderate activity. shoulders and arms). Examples of activities that require vigorous A rule of thumb is that one minute of vigorous effort for most people include: activity provides the same health benefits as • jogging or running two minutes of moderate activity. • aerobics • swimming fast You should also try to break up long periods of • riding a bike fast or on hills sitting with light activity, as sedentary behaviour • singles tennis is now considered an independent risk factor for • football ill health, no matter how much exercise you do. • hiking uphill Find out why sitting is bad for your health. • energetic dancing Older adults at risk of falls, such as people with • martial arts weak legs, poor balance and some medical Try the aerobic workout videos in the NHS conditions, should do exercises to improve Fitness Studio. Vigorous activity makes you balance and co-ordination on at least two days breathe hard and fast. If you're working at this a week. Examples include yoga, tai chi and level, you won't be able to say more than a few dancing. words without pausing for breath. In general, 75 minutes of vigorous activity can give similar What counts as moderate aerobic activity? health benefits to 150 minutes of moderate Examples of activities that require moderate activity. effort for most people include: • walking What activities strengthen muscles? • water aerobics Muscle strength is necessary for: • all daily movement • ballroom and line dancing • building and maintaining strong bones • riding a bike on level ground or with few hills • regulating blood sugar and blood pressure • playing doubles tennis • maintaining a healthy weight • pushing a lawn mower • canoeing • volleyball

Try the aerobic video workouts in the NHS Fitness Studio.

Moderate activity will raise your heart rate and make you breathe faster and feel warmer. One way to tell if you're exercising at a moderate level is if you can still talk, but you can't sing the words to a song. Daily chores such as shopping, cooking or housework don't count towards your 150 minutes, because the effort isn't enough to raise your heart rate, but they are important nonetheless, as they break up periods of sitting.

Contact us on 01452 422660 for more information about our walking sports and other local activity providers. 17 Staying physically active

Muscle-strengthening exercises are counted in • exercises that use your body weight for repetitions and sets. A repetition is one resistance, such as push-ups or sit-ups complete movement of an activity, like a bicep • yoga curl or a sit-up. A set is a group of repetitions. • lifting weights For each strength exercise, try to do: You can do activities that strengthen your • at least one set muscles on the same day or on different days • eight to 12 repetitions in each set as your aerobic activity – whatever's best for you. Muscle-strengthening exercises are not an To gain health benefits from strength exercises, aerobic activity, so you'll need to do them in you should do them to the point addition to your 150 minutes of aerobic activity. where you find it hard to complete another Some vigorous activities count as both an repetition. There are many ways you can aerobic activity and a muscle-strengthening strengthen your muscles, whether at home or in activity. the gym. Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include: examples include: • carrying or moving heavy loads, such as • circuit training • aerobics • running groceries • football • rugby • netball • hockey • activities that involve stepping and jumping, such as dancing It is always best to discuss your options with • heavy gardening, such as digging or your GP or health profession when planning to shovelling engage in any exercise regime.

18 Contact us on 01452 422660 for more information about our walking sports and other local activity providers. Keeping mobile

Keeping mobile and preventing falls

There's a lot you can do to maintain your mobility and independence as you age. you can take steps to improve safety and prevent falls. Who is at risk? Some organisations, for example, your local About one third of people over 65 fall each year, Council, Housing association or a local private with higher rates for over 75s. community alarm provider may offer a 24-hour community alarm service. The service provides Up to 20 per cent of falls require medical help and reassurance in an emergency to attention. Falls make up half of the hospital people who are elderly and at risk of falls. You admissions for accidental injury, especially hip can keep your alarm with you at all times as a fractures. pendant around your neck or on your wrist.

Half of the falls reported by If you fall you press the button on older people follow a trip or an exercise is one of the the pendant to activate a accident. Some 90 per cent of best ways to prevent separate alarm unit. This alarm hip fractures are caused by a falls, as well as making unit has a powerful microphone fall. you more confident and and loud speaker, letting you talk Around 50 per cent of falls are able to enjoy life. to a member of staff who will get preventable. help.

Assessing your level of risk You might also consider the option of sheltered There are things to look out for that can help housing, where you maintain your you, your family or carers know whether you are independence but have background support at risk of having a fall. To find out what the risks when you need it. are, you can ask for a falls risk assessment at Keeping yourself steady your GP's surgery or at a specialist clinic. To stay firmly on your feet, a few simple The falls assessment aims to discover anything changes - like making sure stairs are kept clear that might cause you to fall and highlights and well lit - can make all the difference and specific things that can be done to help. keep you mobile.

Following the assessment, the doctor or nurse What to do if you have a fall will prepare a plan for you to help reduce your Try not to panic, but get help by making a noise risk of falling in future. like banging or shouting, using your personal alarm or dialling 999. You should ask your GP for more information if • make sure you keep warm, even just by you think you need an assessment. tensing your arm and leg muscles • wrap yourself with anything warm to hand make your home safer There are changes you can make at home that Afterwards, it's important to tell your doctor will help you to prevent falls, like installing hand what's happened - that way you can receive rails to keep you steady in the bathroom or out the correct medical assistance. in the garden.

We offer a free 6 week trial for our personal alarm which means you can get help quickly should you have a fall. Call us on 01452 422660 for more details. Age UK Gloucestershire can sign-post you to the Gloucestershire NHS Falls Management and Prevention Service. 19 Volunteering

Change a life, change yours – volunteer

Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but giving to others can be life-changing for you as well as the people you are helping. It’s an opportunity to develop your skills, meet extraordinary people and work as part of an enthusiastic team. It’s not about how old you are, your educational background, or your level of previous experience.

There are many health benefits to being a volunteer from lowering stress to boosting self- confidence and with hundreds of opportunities across all sorts of organisations you can start reaping the mental and physical health benefits immediately. Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. Giving in simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness. With the right match, you can:

• Enjoy a sense of purpose and fulfilment which will increase your self-confidence. Older people, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

• Stay physically and mentally active. Studies • Decrease your risk of depression. have revealed that volunteers actually Volunteering with and for others increases increased their brain functioning. Volunteer social interaction and helps build a support activities get you moving and thinking at the system based on common commitment and same time. Older volunteers tend to walk more, interests – both of which have been shown to find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are decrease depression. less likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better cognitive skills. Volunteering can • Feel Happier. Helping others can lead to the also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and release of endorphins, the so-called ‘feel-good’ reduce the risk of heart disease. hormone, so the more you volunteer, the happier you become.

20 Volunteering

People in later life have a wealth of skills, meet some of Age UK Gloucestershire’s knowledge and experience to contribute to their volunteers community and provided you take some time to consider what you would enjoy doing and how John – out of Hospital visitor much time you are prepared to give, you can “My career working within the judicial system, find a volunteering role that matches your brought me into contact with prisoners from all commitment and the organisation’s needs. walks of life, but volunteering for Age UK Some people like to use volunteering as a way Gloucestershire has found me meeting people of pursuing a hobby or interest such as and facing challenges I would never have gardening, or to do something completely imagined years earlier. Older people have a different from their regular job or day-to-day lifetime of experiences to share and it’s fun routine. meeting them and hearing their stories. Helping someone regain their confidence after they’ve To ensure you find the right opportunity, you had a long stay in hospital is so very rewarding should consider the following: and I feel that what I’m doing makes a real • Would you like to work with children, adults, difference.” animals or remotely from home? Karen – Helps with office admin • Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a “I’m supporting a relative at home and am team? myself disabled, so coming into the Age UK • Are you better behind the scenes or do you Gloucestershire office once a week is a great prefer to take a more visible role? way for me to focus on something different, chat • How much time are you willing to commit? to colleagues and keep my brain active.” • What skills can you bring? • What causes are important to you? John – Trustee “Although retirement has allowed me to spend Once you’ve identified a role, you should more time on the golf course, I wasn’t ready to consider whether your volunteer position is a give up the working environment altogether. good fit. Ask questions and make sure you Volunteering has given me the opportunity to know and feel comfortable with what is continue to make a contribution and utilise all expected. Don’t feel compelled to stick with a the experience I have gained during my role you dislike and most of all, enjoy yourself! business and management career.”

Volunteers help organisations in a huge variety of ways and find it a very enjoyable and fulfilling experience. As a volunteer you have opportunities to:

• Do something rewarding • Meet a variety of interesting people • Develop new and existing skills • Widen your social network • Discover hidden talents • Make a valuable contribution to your chosen charity or good cause

If you are interested in volunteering, a good place to start is the national volunteering website www.do-it.org

21

Your right to social care

Your right to social care and support

If you think you need social care support, you’ll for social care support, they will carry out a need to think about what types of support you financial assessment to determine how much need – be it homecare workers, equipment or you will need to pay towards your care, if respite breaks. anything. After this, if you are eligible for care and support, social services or an independent Your first step to getting this sort of help should adviser will work with you to create a care and be to ask your local authority social services support plan. department for an assessment of your needs. This assessment will help you decide on the If you feel that your needs have changed over type of services you may want, as well as time, you can request a review of your care helping the local authority understand which plan, or a re-assessment if you were not services you need. originally eligible for care and support. Contact the social care team at your local authority to Your local authority may be able to offer you discuss this. some care services for free. It’s worth finding out if you can get free services from your local Assessing your care and support needs authority because the cost of buying care If you have care and support needs and find it services is likely to be high if you have long- difficult to look after yourself, your local term care needs, and they could increase as authority may be able to advise you and provide you get older. you with some help.

As part of the cARe AcT Your local authority The best way to get help from your local now has an obligation to assess anyone who authority is to ask for a care and support needs appears to have care and support needs. assessment. You can do this by contacting the local authority adult social services department. The authority should: • Make an assessment of your needs When you get assessed by the local authority, regardless of your personal financial as a minimum you may be given information circumstances. and signposting to other services, and ways • Provide you with information about services that you might find funding to pay for them. and options available to you in your area. However, if your needs meet the national • Offer you a carer’s assessment if you are an eligibility criteria, your local authority will have to unpaid informal/family carer. meet these needs.

The assessment by the local authority is The local authority will involve you throughout important because it helps them work out what the assessment to identify what your needs are your difficulties are and what services will help and how these impact on your wellbeing. They 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. If your local authority decides you are eligible

Our Information and Advice Team can talk to through all the options regarding social care and support. Call us on 01452422660 to book an appointment. 23 Your right to social care

The assessment will start to consider how your The specified outcomes measured include: care needs might be met. This could include • managing and maintaining nutrition, such as identifying how preventative services like simple being able to prepare and eat food and drink aids (such as devices to open jars and tins • maintaining personal hygiene, such as being more easily), adaptations to your home (such able to wash themselves and their clothes as handrails) or information about support • managing toilet needs available in the community might meet your • being able to dress appropriately, for example need. It will also identify if you have a higher during cold weather level of need where you may need help in your • being able to move around the home safely, own home or care in a care home. including accessing the home from outside The assessment should be carried out in a way • keeping the home sufficiently clean and safe that ensures your involvement and that takes • being able to develop and maintain family or the right amount of time to capture all of your other personal relationships, in order to avoid needs. loneliness or isolation • accessing and engaging in work, training, If you have a friend or family member looking education or volunteering, including physical after you as an unpaid carer, they can have a access carer’s assessment to see if they need support • being able to safely use necessary facilities or to carry on their caring role. services in the local community including The local authority must give you a copy of your public transport and recreational facilities or needs assessment or carer’s assessment. services • carrying out any caring responsibilities, such What are the national eligibility criteria for as for a child care and support? Local authorities do not have responsibility for The eligibility threshold for adults with care and providing NHS services such as patient support needs is based on identifying how a transport, but they should consider needs for person’s needs affect their ability to achieve support when the adult is attending healthcare relevant outcomes, and how this impacts on appointments. their wellbeing.

Local authorities must consider whether the person’s needs: • arise from or are related to a physical or 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.

Our Information and Advice Team can talk to through all the options regarding social care and support. 24 Call us on 01452422660 to book an appointment. 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 for the first time ever, will offer you protection Care has never been free and everyone should from the risk of losing everything you have to think about the care they might need in the meet your care costs. It does this by setting a future. The long-term costs of care can be maximum amount that you will have to pay significant, and while none of us like to think towards your eligible care needs. This amount that we will become old, ill or disabled, it does will be set nationally, but if you are eligible for happen. local authority support to meet your costs, you will pay much less. Once you reach the cap, Just like your pension, it is never too early to your local authority will take over meeting the start thinking and planning your care and cost. However, this only applies directly to care support needs and their costs. services you are eligible for, and you will still Even if you’re generally fit and healthy and of have to pay other costs such as a contribution working age, don’t ignore your future care. If towards your accommodation. you’re making long-term financial Alongside this, the point at which you may be arrangements, you may want to take into eligible for financial help from your local account the potential costs of your future care authority with your care costs is being needs. The Care Act 2014 creates new extended. Currently, if you have more than provisions that will come into force from April £23,250 in assets, such as your home or 2020. It will introduce a "cap on care costs" that, savings, you will need to meet the full cost of your care. From April 2020 this will increase so that more people benefit from financial help.

How your local authority can help with 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.

We can help with all aspects of later life planning, from care needs to funeral plans. Call us for more information on 01452 422660. 25 Planning for your future care needs

Even if you don’t want or need financial Financial planning for future care needs assistance with your care, your local authority Local authorities have to help people get can still help you plan your care, so it is worth independent financial advice, to enable contacting the adult social services of your local planning and preparation for future care costs. council to find out the options available to you This encompasses a range of services from and your family. generic sources of information and advice, such as websites or helplines, to tailored advice Local authorities must work with people in their relating to specific financial products, which can areas to provide or arrange services that help to only be provided by a regulated financial keep people well and independent. This should advisor. Some of these services may charge a include identifying the local support and fee. resources already available, and helping people to access them. They should make clear: The Money Advice Service website has tips on planning ahead for a time when you can’t • what types of care and support are available – manage your own finances. such as specialised dementia care, befriending services, reablement (short-term making decisions about your future care care time, for example, to get someone safe, needs and wishes happy and able to live independently in their If you are nearing retirement age, it’s important home after they have been discharged from that you take account of your likely care needs hospital), personal assistance and residential and plan accordingly. You may wish to consider care setting up a Power of Attorney or an advanced • the range of care and support services decision (living will). These will help people to available to local people – in other words, take account of your preferences if you lose the what local providers offer certain types of services capacity to make decisions. You will also want • what process local people need to use to get to ensure that you have thought about how you care and support that is available might pay for the care you need. • where local people can find independent Many of us will put off planning for care and financial advice about care and support and support arrangements until the last possible help them to access it moment. • how people can raise concerns about the Having an urgent need for care and support safety or wellbeing of someone who has care after a crisis may mean that we and our families and support needs feel pressured into making decisions quickly. If you think you need care now, or in the very Under such pressure, asking the right near future, the best way to plan your care and questions, thinking and planning for your future find out about your care needs is to ask your needs – including options for meeting the cost local authority for an assessment. The sooner of care – are vital. It is important that you seek you ask for an assessment, the sooner that good advice on these subjects so that you can plans for your care can be made. consider your best short-term and long-term These plans should include what should be options. done in the event of an emergency. There are several factors to consider when planning social care. These include: • the type of condition you have, and the best ways for you to stay healthy and independent • the type of care you would prefer, and whether it would meet your needs

26 We can help with all aspects of later life planning, from care needs to funeral plans. Call us for more information on 01452 422660. Planning for your future care 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 • how much your care is likely to cost and “ whether you may be entitled to free care or If you have a specific financial help condition, you may want to • who you want to care for you, and whether, if get in touch with a national you want friends or family to be your carers, organisation that supports they are able and willing to do so

people with this condition. You will need to weigh up the pros and cons of each care option against these factors. For Your GP surgery should have more information read, “choosing care information on the relevant Services” One of the common decisions groups and organisations. “ people are faced with is whether they should sell their home to pay for their care. If you are thinking about moving into a residential care home and are worried about meeting the costs, ask your council for information about a

"deferred payment agreement". This is an arrangement whereby the person agrees, with their local authority, to pay some of their care fees at a later date. This means they should not be forced to sell their home during their lifetime to pay for their care. A person or their estate usually repays the local authority from the sale of their property at a later date. The Care Act introduces rules that mean councils have to offer deferred payments to people.

We can help with all aspects of later life planning, from care needs to funeral plans. Call us for more information on 01452 422660. 27 Are you a carer?

Are you a Carer? carers' assessments

What to do when you first become a carer use the assessment to identify your support If you provide care and support to an adult needs, and to discuss how these could be met. friend or family member, you may be eligible for This might mean that the council will give you support from your local council. help or put you in touch with other organisations, such as local charities, that you This support could include being offered money can talk to. to pay for things that make caring easier. Or the local authority might offer practical support, eligibility for care and support services such as arranging for someone to step in when A carer’s assessment looks at the different you need a short break. It could also put you in ways caring affects your life, and works out how touch with local support groups so you have you can carry on doing the things that are people to talk to. important to you and your family. It covers your caring role, your feelings about caring, your The Care Act 2014 makes carer's assessments physical, mental and emotional health, and how more widely available to people in caring roles. caring affects your work, leisure, education, Local authorities now have a legal duty to wider family and relationships. assess any carer who requests one or who Your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing appears to need support. should be at the heart of this assessment. This If you are a carer and you need some support, means that you can tell the council how caring get in touch with the council covering the area for someone is affecting your life and what you where the person you care for lives. The council want to be able to do in your day-to-day life. will be able to give you information and advice When the assessment is complete, the local about how the assessment will work. authority will decide whether your needs are A carer’s assessment is a discussion between "eligible" for support from the local authority. you and a trained person either from the council After the assessment, your council will write to or another organisation that the council works you about their decision and give you reasons with. to explain what they have decided.

The assessment will consider the impact the If you have eligible needs, your council will care and support you provide is having on your contact you to discuss what help might be own wellbeing, as well as important aspects of available. This will be based on the information the rest of your life, including the things you you gave them during your assessment. want to achieve day-to-day. It must also If you do not have needs that are eligible, your consider other important issues, such as council will give you information and advice, whether you are able or willing to carry on including what local care and support is caring, whether you work or want to work, and available. This could include, for example, help whether you want to study or do more socially. from local voluntary organisations. The assessment could be done face-to-face, over the telephone or online. The council will

Age UK Gloucestershire’s Engage Day Service offers valuable carer respite and is open every week day. Our Information and Advice Team 28 can put you in touch with other local organisations who can help if you are caring for a loved one. Call us on 01452 422660. Are you a carer?

Before your carer’s assessment wish to ask in advance for the assessment to If you have arranged to have a carer's happen in private, so that you can speak freely. assessment of your needs, give yourself plenty It is vital that it considers whether the role of a of time to think about your role as a carer and carer is affecting your health or safety. note your thoughts down. You might consider: • whether you want to continue being a carer Carers sometimes take on physical tasks, such • if you were prepared to continue, what as lifting and carrying, which can cause long- changes would make your life easier term health problems. Others can find that the • if there is any risk that you will not be able to stress of the role can lead to depression or continue as a carer without support other mental health problems. In some cases, • whether you have any physical or mental safety can be an issue; for instance, because of health problems, including stress or the behaviour of the person they look after. depression, which make your role as a carer During your assessment, explain any mental or more difficult physical health problems you are experiencing. • whether being a carer affects your Social services will consider all aspects of your relationships with other people, including health and safety, including caring tasks that family and friends might put your health or wellbeing at risk. • if you are in paid work, whether being a carer causes problems at your work (such as often Some of the things you might need help with being late) include: • if you would like more time to yourself so that • support to ensure you’re able to attend any you can have a rest or enjoy some leisure medical appointments activity • support if you need to go into hospital for an • if you would like to do some training, voluntary operation (including recovery after surgery) work or paid work that you might have been putting off because of your caring commitment. • training for you, such as safely lifting your decision to be a carer When your carer’s assessment is done, no A carer's assessment should also look at your assumptions should be made about your own interests and commitments to see if and willingness to be a carer. This can be a very how they are disrupted by your role as a carer. sensitive area, because many of us feel that we If they are disrupted, a social worker could have a duty to those we care for. We discuss with you whether some support could sometimes rule out other options because we improve matters for you. feel we have no choice. You have the right to choose: The assessment should look at: • marriage or other such relationships • whether to be a carer at all • friendships and community role • how much care you are willing to provide • paid employment or voluntary work • the type of care you are willing to provide • interests, sport, leisure and hobbies • time for yourself There may be some parts of the role that you find more difficult than others. One of the most important parts of your carer's 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

Age UK Gloucestershire’s Engage Day Service offers valuable carer respite and is open every week day. Our Information and Advice Team can put you in touch with other local organisations who can help if you are caring for a loved one. Call us on 01452 422660. 29 Are you a carer?

The local authority must consider the support Your support plan should consider whether your you may need if you want to stay in your paid situation is likely to change, but you may want job or return to paid work. They must also 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 authority 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 is As well as care and support organised by the sustainable. The assessment is about your council, some people are also eligible to receive needs and therefore you should: help from the NHS. This help may be a nursing service for people who are ill or recovering at • have a reasonably detailed discussion about home after leaving hospital. It could include all the matters relevant to you things like changing the dressings on wounds or • have the assessment in private if you want to, giving medication. at a convenient time and place for you • get relevant information, including about If you are eligible for this kind of help, a health welfare benefits you could claim and details of professional such as your GP or community other services nurse should be able to tell you. • have a chance to identify the outcomes that you want; any services should be appropriate In exceptional circumstances, where an adult for you and meet your needs has a complex medical condition and • be given flexibility and innovation in identifying substantial ongoing care needs, the NHS services that may meet your needs provides a service called NHS continuing • have an opportunity to give feedback about healthcare. NHS continuing healthcare provides the assessment care and support in a person’s home, care • be told about any charges before services are home or hospice. arranged

Support planning for carers After your assessment, you and the local authority 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.

Age UK Gloucestershire’s Engage Day Service offers valuable carer respite and is open every week day. Our Information and Advice Team 30 can put you in touch with other local organisations who can help if you are caring for a loved one. Call us on 01452 422660. 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 have a friend or relative around to help (if you may have particular interests that you want to live in an isolated rural area, for example). Or keep up, or you may simply want to spend time you may have particular needs that cannot be with your family or friends. You may have a job easily met in your home. that you want to keep on doing, or a social activity, sport, religion or a political group that If you do need to move out of your home for you want to keep up with. care reasons, there is a variety of accommodation options that you may want to Your social care support should – as much as consider. These include sheltered housing, possible – help you to continue to do these extra care housing and residential care homes things, and may help you find new things to do. or nursing homes. When choosing the type of care, you also need to think about: If you are thinking about moving, it's worth considering whether it is best to stay in the area • location you are in now, which you will be familiar with, • services or whether you should move elsewhere to be • standards and quality nearer family or friends. You may also want to • price think about the location from a practical perspective (whether it's on a bus route, for location of your care example) or for more personal reasons (such as Your own home is often the best place for you whether you like the surroundings). to get care services. At home is where you may have family and friends and you’ll be in a The kinds of care services on offer familiar and hopefully safe environment. If you are choosing a care service – particularly if it's an ongoing service such as home care or You may want to get help at home, perhaps a place in a care home, you should think about through having home help come in to help you the particular things you want from the service with daily tasks. To stay independently at home, (this will often be referred to as your you may need to have care services in the form "outcomes"). of adaptations to your home (to help with mobility, for example) or perhaps just equipment Use the services search to find out about the to help you out. location, services, facilities, staff and performance of a Care Quality Commission However, your home may not always be the (CQC) registered care home or homecare best environment if you have care needs. It may provider. Your search results should tell you not be safe for you, particularly if you do not whether a service can support you if you have particular needs, such as a sensory impairment or a learning disability.

31 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 authority social services are performing.

The price of your care When choosing social care services, you will have to consider how much the services may If the service is not registered with the CQC, cost. The cost of your care may reflect each of you may have to ask them directly for the aspects listed above: location, quality and information about the services, and you may the kinds of services offered. want to get independent verification, if any is available. Your local authority may have a list of If you have had an assessment from your local local support providers, with information on each. authority, you may get services for free. However, many people have to pay for their Standards and quality of care own care services (self-funders), and even Everyone has a right to expect certain people who have care funded by the local standards in their care. Your care services authority will need to know about the costs of should help keep you safe and well, but also care if they are using a personal budget or a treat you with dignity and respect. You should direct payment. To find out more, read How can always be able to express a choice in your care. I fund my care?

The standards for social care providers, such as more information care homes, are set out by the CQC. The The Money Advice Service has more CQC's inspection reports will tell you which information on choosing the right sort of care services are meeting the minimum services. requirements. If you do not think the service is meeting these requirements, you may want to make a complaint.

The care Advice line Gloucestershire is a free information and advice service for adults and carers in the county. The aim is to help individuals and their families make informed decisions about their care and support and how they pay for it. For a free chat call 01452 222200.

32 Funding care

Funding care

Care and support services in England have never been free. Most people have to pay NHS continuing healthcare something towards their own care and some will If the person you care for has very severe and have to pay for all of the costs. complex health needs, they may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare. This is an ongoing Your local authority (council) may cover some package of care that’s fully funded by the NHS. or all of the cost of care in some circumstances, In some areas of the country, you can arrange but its help is "means-tested". This means that your NHS Continuing Healthcare using a who pays depends on what your needs are, personal health budget – similar to the personal how much money you have, and what level and budgets for social care outlined above. type of care and support you require. NHS-funded nursing care For most people needing social care services, You should receive NHS-funded nursing care if: the first place to start is by • you live in a care home asking your local authority for registered to provide an assessment of your social NHS care could be nursing care, and care (care and support) needs. provided in hospital, but • you don’t qualify for NHS If the local authority considers it could be in someone’s continuing healthcare but have that you need support that it own home or elsewhere been assessed as needing care can provide, it may also carry in the community. from a registered nurse out an assessment of your The NHS will make a payment finances. This assessment will directly to the care home to fund care from determine whether the local authority will meet registered nurses who are usually employed by all the cost of your care, or whether you will the care home. need to contribute towards your care cost or whether you will have to meet the full costs NHS aftercare yourself. Find out about support paid for by your People who were previously detained in local authority. Currently, local authorities won’t hospital under certain sections of the Mental provide care services if you have more than Health Act will have their aftercare services £23,250 in savings and property (your "capital"). provided for free. However, from April 2020, this threshold will rise alongside the introduction of the cap on care Help from charities and funds costs, so more people will be eligible for help There are other sources of funding you might sooner. be able to access to help you with funding care. Some charities can help with funding care Alternatives to care funded by the local needs. For example, the Family Fund is a authority government-backed charity that can help with grants if you care for a severely disabled child NHS care aged 17 or under. You can get an application The NHS is responsible for funding certain pack from the Family Fund website. types of healthcare equipment you may need. In some situations, the NHS is also responsible Get personal advice on care funding for meeting care needs. This is usually when The cost of care and support is likely to be a your need is mainly for healthcare rather than long-term commitment and may be substantial, social care. particularly if you choose to go into a care

Contact our Information and Advice Team who can talk you through all aspects funding your care, or put you in touch with other organisations who can help. Call us on 01452 422660. 33 Funding care

home, or if you have care needs at an early find it helpful to search for and contact care age. If you or a member of the family need to services in your area to get some idea of likely costs. pay for care at home or in a care home, it’s important to understand the alternatives. This The ‘cap on care costs’ makes advice tailored to your individual needs Currently, it is not easy to plan for your future vital. You can get advice from: care needs, as it’s hard to estimate how long you will need care for and how your • your local authority – through an assessment circumstances may change. From April 2020, a of your care and support needs, as well as "cap" on the costs of meeting your eligible care advice on which services are available locally needs (but not accommodation associated with • financial advice from a qualified, independent care or nursing costs) is being introduced. The source – there are independent financial cap means that, once reached, the local advisers who specialise in care funding authority will take over paying the cost of their advice; they are regulated by the Financial eligible care needs. The cap will not cover your Conduct Authority and must stick to a code of daily living costs. These costs include expenses conduct and ethics, and take shared such as rent, food and utilities and the costs responsibility for the suitability of any product you would face even if you did not have care they recommend needs. It is important to note that daily living costs will be a nationally set figure. This figure Paying for your own care and support will be a "notional" amount rather than the Many people who use care and support actual costs. This is designed to support services will pay for all of the costs. This is consistency and enable people to plan. To known as being a "self-funder". benefit from the cap once it comes in, you will need to contact your local authority to see if The cost of your care will vary depending on its your needs are eligible. If you are seen to have type, intensity, specialisation, location and eligible care needs, the local authority will open duration. For example, a place in a residential a "care account" for you. This account records care home will cost hundreds of pounds a week. your progress (the amount of costs you have To make decisions that have such major incurred) towards the cap. The cap does not financial implications, you may want to seek begin until April 2020 and any costs incurred independent financial advice and it’s always before this will not count towards the cap. worth researching the costs of alternatives first. The BBC’s care calculator can estimate how For example, if you are considering a care much you may have to pay for care services home place, the cost should be weighed against depending on where you live in England, once the cost of care and support that may help you the new rules are in place. This will give you an remain in your current home, such as homecare. idea of how the cap will work for you, but actual costs will vary to reflect your individual How much will care cost? circumstances and needs and how they change If you are thinking about your future care needs over time. For more information on how paying or are facing immediate decisions about care for care is changing from 2020, read about the options, it can be helpful to get an idea how changes in the Care Act. much care can cost. Inevitably, the price you would pay will depend on your particular Ask for help from your local authority circumstances and needs. The costs also vary It's worth checking whether you're eligible for depending on where you live. Unfortunately, means-tested support from your local authority care homes and homecare agencies tend not to or other financial support – for example, through provide this information publicly but you may a care needs assessment and a financial

Contact our Information and Advice Team who can talk you through all aspects funding your care, or put you in 34 touch with other organisations who can help. Call us on 01452 422660. Funding care

assessment. Few of us will have the income or ready access to the cash to pay for our ongoing care needs, and you may need to look at selling or re-mortgaging any property you may own. The new Care Act means more people may be able to benefit from "deferred payments". Deferred payments can help people avoid being forced to sell their home in a crisis in order to pay for their care by having the council temporarily cover the cost – usually until you sell your property. Following the Care Act, every local authority in England has to make deferred payment agreements available. As an alternative, you may be able to enter an "equity release scheme" with a financial organisation. Equity release can pay for the fees from the value of property you own. However, you should consider which of these options best meets your needs, and what the overall costs to you will be. Before taking such significant financial steps as equity release, you might want to get independent financial advice. You can find information on equity release for care at home from Which? Elderly Care or the Money Advice Service's equity release information. If you’re planning ahead, you may consider arranging an investment or insurance plan to fund your care. Again, it may be worth taking independent advice on financial arrangements before making major changes. Because of the new rules, there are likely to be more financial products emerging that are designed to help people pay for care. You may also want to explore whether the NHS would meet some or all of your care and support costs, or you may have entitlement to benefits that may help you meet costs. Read about other ways of funding care. Advice on paying for care Even if your local authority is not able to help fund your care, it will be able to make an assessment of your care and support needs. From this, the local authority can provide you with access to a range of information and advice available locally. You can also get independent advice from: • The Money Advice Service website: offers information on paying for care or the option to

Contact our Information and Advice Team who can talk you through all aspects funding your care, or put you in touch with other organisations who can help. Call us on 01452 422660. 35 Funding care

speak to an online adviser. You can call the All councils must offer people the chance to Money Advice Service on 0300 500 5000. defer payment if they meet a set of eligibility • The Society of Later Life Advisers: the society criteria. A deferred payment scheme is only can also help you find advice on how to make available if you don't have enough income to financial plans for care in your old age. cover your care home fees, and you have less • Find Me Good Care: a website of the Social in savings than £23,250. In these Care Institute for Excellence. It has advice on circumstances, the savings don't include the all aspects of planning and funding social care. value of your property, but does include money • Age UK: has great advice for older people and in bank accounts. The local authority will put a those planning for their later years. "legal charge" (similar to a mortgage) on the • Carers UK: an excellent resource of advice for property and will then pay the remaining care carers who need to help someone else. fees in full. You will then be assessed to see • Which? Elderly Care has a guide to financing care. whether they are able to pay a weekly charge to the authority. Your ability to pay is based on Deferred payments if you are unable to pay your income less a set "disposable income for care services allowance" (currently £144 per week). Before Care home fees are a big financial commitment, considering deferred payments, you should look and the decision to go into a care home is often into whether the property will or won't be made at a moment of crisis or urgency, such as counted in how your capital is calculated. For when being discharged from hospital. This can instance, it may be disregarded because your make finding the money to pay for fees (usually partner still lives there, and if it is a deferred several hundred pounds a week) challenging for payment agreement wouldn't be necessary. It's people funding their own care. In particular, if wise to get independent financial advice before you own property outright but have little in the agreeing to a deferred payment, and it’s worth way of savings, you may be expected to fund bearing in mind that choosing deferred your own care but have little immediately payments can impact on some welfare benefits. available money to pay for it. Some people going to stay in a care home for a long time find Protection for self-funders that they have no option but to sell their While you may have the savings in place to property to pay the care home fees. afford care services, if you lack the capacity to make the arrangements, the local authority can Your council may be able to help you if you are step in to help. The local authority can also help at risk of having to sell your home. Where there people who lack capacity by negotiating fees is a delay in selling the property, or you don’t with a care provider and paying them directly. want to sell the property immediately, you may The local authority will need to be reimbursed. be eligible to have your care fee payment Anyone entering into a contract for care "deferred". This is where the local authority services should be given adequate information helps you to pay your care fees temporarily, and about the fees. Care providers should supply: you repay the costs to the local authority at a • information about the fees charged for various later date. If the local authority agrees to the services provided deferred payment and pays the care home fees, • arrangements for paying the fees it will take payment from the money raised once • the fees charged for any additional services the property is sold. This can be: • during your lifetime if you choose to sell your If your capital falls below the set levels for local home authority funding (currently £23,250), you will be • once you die, the local authority can be repaid eligible for reassessment for help from your estate with funding your care.

Contact our Information and Advice Team who can talk you through all aspects funding your care, or put you in 36 touch with other organisations who can help. Call us on 01452 422660. Care and support plans

Care and support plans if you are assessed by social services and are found to be eligible for support, the next stage is to draw up a care and support plan, or in the case of a carer with eligible needs, a support plan.

What is a care plan? • keep as much dignity and respect as possible A care plan (sometimes called a care and It’s worth remembering that if there are different support plan, or support plan if you're a carer) options that would meet your assessed needs sets out how your care and support needs will equally well, the local authority can choose be met. what it believes are the most cost-effective options. You should be fully involved in the preparation of your care plan, and you and anyone else you Reviews of your care plan request should also get a written copy. The care Your care plan should be reviewed by social plan must set out: services within the first three months, and then • the needs identified by the assessment at least annually. The review looks at whether whether, and to what extent, the needs meet the outcomes identified in the care plan are the eligibility criteria the needs that the being met. It should also review these goals to authority is going to meet, and how it intends make sure they’re still appropriate (and for to do so for a person needing care, for which instance, that your care and support needs of the desired outcomes care and support haven’t changed), and check that any risk could be relevant for a carer, the outcomes assessments are up to date. If, after the review, the carer wishes to achieve, and their wishes it is clear that things have changed that affect around providing care, work, education and the detail within the care plan, then the local recreation where support could be relevant authority will conduct a revision of the plan. the personal budget information and advice on This may also involve a needs assessment and what can be done to reduce the needs in financial assessment. question, and to prevent or delay the If it’s decided that you no longer qualify for local development of needs in the future where authority support, you should receive written needs are being met via a direct payment, the reasons for this, with information about other needs to be met via the direct payment and help available, including funding your own care. the amount and frequency of the payments. challenging your care plan Your care plan should be individual to you, and If you’re not happy with a care plan, the you should be allowed to have as much services provided, or the way an assessment involvement in the development of your plan as was carried out, you will need to use the local you wish. authority's complaints process. Care and support should help you to: It can sometimes be helpful to get support when • live independently you’re making a complaint. Sources of help can • have as much control over your life as possible include an advocacy organisation. • participate in society on an equal level, with access to employment and a family life • have the best possible quality of life

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 help, your social services department to ask for an care attendants and "carers" (not to be assessment of your care and support needs. To confused with unpaid family or friends who care contact social services, go to GOV.UK: find your for you). local authority. If you are eligible for homecare services, the local authority may provide or Homecare can suit you if you need: arrange the help themselves. Alternatively, you • personal care, such as washing or dressing can arrange your own care, funded by the local • housekeeping or domestic work, such as authority, through direct payments or a personal vacuuming budget. If you have chosen direct payments or • cooking or preparing meals a personal budget, or you aren’t eligible for local • nursing and health care 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 • day care your home, although the agency will do its best • sessions ranging from 15-minute visits to 24- to take your choices into account. Independent hour assistance and everything in between homecare providers are regulated by the Care If you already know what you want, you can Quality Commission (CQC). Homecare search NHS Choices directories for: agencies must meet CQC’s national minimum • local homecare services and agencies standards and regulations in areas such as • a list of national homecare organisations training and record-keeping. The CQC has the • services that can help you stay safe and well power to inspect agencies and enforce in your home on a long-term basis; these standards. services, often known as "supported living Homecare agencies must vet homecare services", can include financial, help with workers before engaging them by taking up medication, advocacy, social and practical references and carrying out Disclosure and support Barring Service (DBS) checks on potential • a place to live in a family who will care for you, employees. Homecare agencies can also: known as "shared lives services" or adult • take over the burden of being an employer – placement services for example, payroll, training, disciplinary issues and insurance

Our Clean Sweep Plus service provides practical help around the home as well as help with shopping and paying bills. 38 To find out more call 01452 422660. Care services in your home

• train their homecare workers through national Questions to ask when using a homecare qualifications and service-specific 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 An agency will want to see you and the person and what it covers, including: you're looking after so that they can assess • Does the agency check references? your needs. This also means that a joint • What training and supervision do they decision can be made about the most provide? appropriate type of care and support. You can • What is their complaints policy? find out more from the UK Homecare • Who will be responsible for insurance? Association. • Is there any out-of-hours or emergency contact if needed? What are the disadvantages of using a • Will they be able to provide staff if your own homecare agency? care worker is ill or away? (If an agency The main disadvantage is the cost of using an contracts to provide care every day, it must agency. The agency will charge a fee on top of ensure that it does.) the payment made to the care worker to cover their running costs and profit. You normally Hiring a personal assistant (P.A.) have to make a regular payment to the agency, You can hire a "personal assistant" to act as a which includes both the worker’s earnings and homecare worker for you. Personal assistants the agency’s fee.

Our Clean Sweep Plus service provides practical help around the home as well as help with shopping and paying bills. To find out more call 01452 422660. 39 Care services in your home

can offer you all that you’ll get from an agency on information held by various agencies and worker, but you’ll also get the continuity, government departments. familiarity and ongoing relationship with your assistant. However, if you employ a personal If someone who is barred from working with assistant, you will then have the legal children or vulnerable adults is working, responsibility of an employer. This will include volunteering or trying to work or volunteer with arranging cover for their illness and holidays. these groups, they are breaking the law. They GOV.UK has more information on becoming an could face a fine and up to five years in prison. employer, while Which? Elderly Care also has Employers must apply for an enhanced DBS advice on employing private individuals. check (formerly known as a CRB check) when taking on new employees or volunteers to work Homecare from charities with vulnerable adults or children. This includes Charities such as Age UK and Carers Trust can a check of the barred lists. If an organisation provide home help and domestic assistance fails to make the relevant checks, they can be services. The Carers Trust supports carers by penalised. If an organisation dismisses an giving them a break from their caring employee or volunteer for harming a child or responsibilities through homecare services. vulnerable adult, they must tell the DBS. The Marie Curie Nurses can provide practical and DBS must also be notified if any employee or emotional support for people near the end of volunteer harms a child or vulnerable adult, but their lives in their own homes. isn't dismissed because they leave voluntarily. If their organisation does not tell DBS, they will be Safeguarding vulnerable groups acting illegally. Questions can be answered by The DBS makes decisions about who is the DBS call centre on 0870 909 0811. unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults or children. It makes this decision based

Our Clean Sweep Plus service provides practical help around the home as well as help with shopping and paying bills. 40 To find out more call 01452 422660. Care services in your home

employing a care worker on a private basis If you employ a care worker privately, you will not be obliged to use the DBS scheme, but you can use it if you choose to. You need to ask social services or the police to make the checks on your behalf. The care worker must have already applied to be vetted, and must consent to the check. If you have concerns about the suitability of someone you employ privately to work with a vulnerable adult or child, you can ask social services to investigate the matter. They can refer the worker to the ISA on your behalf. manual handling If you need help to move, or you need someone to lift you (such as getting out of bed or getting on to the toilet), this can put the person doing the lifting at risk of injury. This "manual handling" can result in back pain and in the most serious cases, permanent disability if not done correctly. The law says that employers must take reasonable precautions to ensure their employees don't do any manual handling that carries a risk of them being injured. This applies to you if you directly employ a personal assistant to care for you (but most likely will not if you hire someone through an agency). It is particularly important to consider insurance in this situation. This would cover any risk of the care worker injuring themselves, as well as any risk of them causing an injury.

Our Clean Sweep Plus service provides practical help around the home as well as help with shopping and paying bills. To find out more call 01452 422660. 41

Care services in your home HomecARe AGeNcieS Postcode Name Address Town/city Phone number GL1 1JB Independent Home Life Services 2 St Michaels Crt, St Michaels Sq, Brunswick Rd Gloucester 01242 255444 GL1 1PX Human Support Group Eastgate House, 121-131 Eastgate Street Gloucester 01452 379352 GL1 1UN Dynavour Care Services Gloucester House, 29 Brunswick Square Gloucester 01452 501552 GL1 2RU Bluebird Care The Island, Suite 4, Westgate House Gloucester 01452 414952 GL1 2SQ Avida Care 7a Mercia Road Gloucester 01452 415066 GL1 4JE Crossroads Care Central & East St James Court, 285 Barton Street Gloucester 01452 302542 GL1 4TB Holmleigh Care Homes 141 High Street Gloucester 01452 300025 GL1 5AA Merit Healthcare Unit A, 13-19 Stroud Road Gloucester 01212 225610 GL1 5NS Carmel Domiciliary Care Shenley House, 164 Tuffley Avenue Gloucester 01452 300162 GL1 5RZ Care Community Office 6, Unit 2, Bizz Space, Bristol Road Gloucester 01452 507677 GL2 2AP K2 Care Unit 11, The Glenmore Centre, Jessops Court Gloucester 01452 722282 GL2 2AT Heritage Healthcare Kestrel Court, Waterwells Drive Gloucester 07796 662961 GL2 2AT Elite Home Care Solutions Kestrel Court, Waterwells Drive Gloucester 0844 800 1130 GL2 2AT Voyage (DCA) Suite So1a, Kestrel Court, Waterwells Drive Gloucester 01452 886300 GL2 2AT Reach Supported Living Kestrel Court, Waterwells Drive Gloucester 01793 250299 GL2 2AT Dynamic Support Gloucester Kestrel Court, Waterwells Drive Gloucester 01452 341509 GL2 2ZT Futurescare Manor Farm, Manor Farm Way Gloucester 01452 535544 GL2 4AL Care Connections Unit 48, Space Business Centre, Olympus Park Gloucester 07932 084444 GL2 4PJ Naswell Care 9 School Lane Gloucester 01452 722791 GL2 4WL Severn Sunrise Homecare 52 Curtis Hayward Drive Gloucester 01452 540116 GL2 5FD Nightingales Home Care Unit C1, Spinnaker House, Spinnaker Road Gloucester 01452 310314 GL2 5QY Your Lifestyle Suite A, Sudbrooke House, High Orchard Street Gloucester 01452 729757 GL2 5QY Care-Nursing Alliance RecruitmentSuite C, Sudbrooke House, High Orchard Street Gloucester 01452 508299 GL2 7EE Craigdale Care Church End Frampton-on-Severn 01452 740562 GL2 8EY Flexicare Homeservices Unit 1, The Steadings, Maisemore Court Gloucester 01452 306296 GL2 8EY Face2Face Unit 17, The Steadings, Maisemore Gloucester 01452 520011 GL2 8EY Radis Community Care Unit 4, The Steadings, Maisemore Gloucester 01452 305628 GL2 8EY Livability Lifestyle Choices West Unit 28, The Steadings Business Centre Maisemore 01452 506730 GL2 8EY Flexicare Home Services Unit 1, The Steadings, Maisemore Court Gloucester 01452 306296 GL2 9PG Gloucester Homecare Services Unit 10, Twigworth Court, Tewkesbury Road Gloucester 01452 549495 GL2 9RG Fox Elms Care 1st Floor, New Wing, Agricultural House Gloucester 01452 382357 GL3 1DL Broomfield Care Suite 1, The Business Centre, Innsworth Lane Gloucester 01452 730888 GL3 3PX Tendercare 67 Laynes Road, Hucclecote Gloucester 01452 550268 GL3 4AH Mears Homecare 1390 Montpellier Court, Brockworth Gloucester 0870 607 1400 GL4 3GG Helping Hands Unit 2, Ambrose House, Barnett Way Barnwood 01452 226024 GL5 1QJ Penna Homecare Willow House, Slad Road Stroud 01453 756227 GL5 2AJ First Contact Healthcare Palace Chambers, 38-39 London Road Stroud 07939 142893 GL5 2AY Bosun Care Ground Floor, Trixter House, London Road Stroud 01453 350654 GL5 2AZ DoCare Griffin Mill, London Road, Thrupp Stroud 0333 700 0333 GL5 2HL Bluebird Care 3B Nelson Street Stroud 01453 757937 GL5 4EX Gannicox 57 Cainscross Road Stroud 01453 753350 GL6 0AG Corinium Care George Street, Nailsworth Stroud 01453 839290 GL6 6JS Grapevine Care The Mount, Main Road, Whiteshill Stroud 01453 757291 GL6 6UL Richmond Village Painswick Stroud Road, Painswick Stroud 01452 813902 GL6 9EY Centre For The Elderly Horsfall House, 42 Windmill Road Stroud 01453 731227 GL6 9EY Horsfall House Homecare Windmill Road, Minchinhampton Stroud 01453 886381 GL10 2JY Stroud Care Services Head Office, Pearcroft Road Stonehouse 01453 791320 GL10 2JY Forget Me Not Care Field View, Pearcroft Road Stonehouse 01453 824591 GL10 2JY Fieldview Pearcroft Road, Stonehouse Gloucester 01453 791320 GL11 4HY Network Health and Social Care 14-16 Long Street, Grove Lane, Westend Dursley 01453 519240 GL12 7BX TLC Support Services 43 Long Street Wotton-under-Edge 01453 844080 GL14 2AB Crossroads Care St Annals House, Belle Vue Ctr, 6 Belle Vue Rd Cinderford 01594 823414 GL14 2JT Merry Den Care 44 Station Street Cinderford 01594 827358 GL15 5LF Live Well at Home The Springs & Watermead, South Road Lydney 01594 843574 GL16 8AA Step-A-Side Care 29 Market Place Coleford 01594 501230 GL16 8BA Gloucestershire Domiciliary Care 16 Bank Street Coleford 01594 540312 GL17 0DD Dean Healthcare The Carlson Suite, Vantage Point Business Vil. Mitcheldean 01594 888348 GL18 1AH Easy Living Solutions 10 Broad Street Newent 01531 820556

43

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 you funding accommodation, it must allow a person live and potentially committing to paying a entering residential care to choose which care considerable amount of money for your ongoing home they would prefer, within reason. 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 • help to live independently at home Local authority help with the cost of residential care is means-tested. You are free to make your You should also consider whether you really own arrangements if you can afford the long- need the amount of care on offer at a care term cost. However, it is worth asking the local home, and look at alternatives such as "extra authority for a financial assessment, because it care" housing schemes or warden-controlled might pay some or all of your care costs. sheltered accommodation. These options offer independence with an increased level of care In the financial assessment, the local authority and support. can only take into account income and assets you own. The local authority cannot ask Personal care or nursing care? members of your family to pay for the basic cost Care homes for older people may provide of your care. Read more about local authority personal care or nursing care. A care home funding for care and funding your own care. registered to provide personal care will offer support, ensuring basic personal needs are If you choose a care home that costs more than taken care of. A care home providing personal the local authority usually expects to pay for a care only can assist you with meals, bathing, person with your needs, you may still be able to going to the toilet and taking medication, if you live in the care home if a relative or friend is need this sort of help. Find care homes without willing and able to pay the difference between nursing. what the local authority pays and the amount the care home charges – this is known as a Some residents may need nursing care, and "top-up" fee. some care homes are registered to provide this. These are often referred to as nursing homes. However, if their situation changes and they are For example, a care home might specialise in no longer able to pay the top-up, the local certain types of disability or conditions such as authority may have no obligation to continue to dementia. Find care homes with nursing. fund the more expensive care home place and

45 Care homes

you may have to move out. It is worth thinking Tips on choosing a care home about this potentially difficult situation when • Check the most recent inspection report to deciding on care home options. see how well the care home is doing and if there is anything of concern. You can get Do not cancel your tenancy or sell your home inspection reports by searching for the care until the final decision has been made by the home on the Care Quality Commission local authority. The value of your home must not website be included in the local authority's means- • Consider the location of a care home. Is the testing until 12 weeks after you've confirmed care home near family and friends? Are there that the care home placement will be shops, leisure or educational facilities in the permanent. area? Is the area noisy? The Care Act 2014 is changing how people are • Is the care home focused on the residents' able to pay for their own care, introducing the individual needs, or do they insist that right for you to ask for the local authority to pay residents adapt to their routine? for the cost of your care while you try to sell • What arrangements are there for visitors? Can your home. This is known as a "deferred residents come and go as they please, as far payment scheme". as it is safe to do so? Are staff able to help residents to go out? Are outings arranged? choosing a care home if you're funding your • What involvement would you have in the care own care home? How would you communicate with If you are funding your own care, you have a staff? Are there any support groups or regular great deal of options, and you will need to do a meetings? lot of research on which care home provides the • If safety and security are issues, what best options for you in terms of its cost, arrangements or supervision can the care location, services, and a host of other potential home provide? factors. Read on for tips on choosing your care • Will the care home meet your specific home. religious, ethnic, cultural or social needs? Will the correct diet be provided? Will the right choosing a care home if you're having care language be spoken? Will there be provided by the local authority opportunities to participate in religious After a needs assessment from social services, activities? Do they allow pets? you will be provided with a care plan, which • When you are choosing accommodation it should make clear whether you need residential may be a lifelong decision, so you may want care and what other options, if any, might be to think about planning for end of life care at available and most appropriate based on your the same time. needs. • You might also want to check what people who have used the care home say about it Even if you're unlikely to be eligible for financial from online feedback and review services, help with residential care home fees, it could such as those put together on NHS Choices Website. still be worth involving social services. The • Ask for a temporary stay in the care home needs assessment, and information they before you decide. Temporary stays in care provide, are likely to be very helpful in making homes can also be arranged in certain decisions about care. circumstances, such as after a stay in hospital.

46 Care homes

A good care home will: • be in a poorly maintained • offer new residents and their families or carers building, with roomscthat all look the same a guide (in a variety of accessible formats) and have little choice in furnishings describing what they can expect while they're • need cleaning, with shared bathrooms that living there aren't cleaned regularly • have staff who have worked there for a long time, know the residents well, and are friendly, if you move into a care home supportive and respectful When you go into a care home, make sure the • employ well-trained staff, particularly where management and staff of the home know about specialist care such as dementia nursing is your condition, disability and other needs. They required may have some of this information already – for • involve residents, carers and their families in example, if the local authority has set up the decision-making placement after a care needs assessment. • support residents in doing things for Moving home can be unsettling at the best of themselves and maximising their times, so when you move into a care home, it's independence • offer a choice of tasty and good to have it planned in advance nutritious food, and provide a and have family or friends variety of leisure and social Under existing rules, around you when you move to activities taking residents' make you feel more comfortable. needs into account independent healthcare • be a clean, bright and and adult social you should also: hygienic environment that's services must be • contact the benefits office, if adapted appropriately for registered with the you have one (including residents, with single cQc. NHS providers, disability benefits, as these can bedrooms available such as hospitals and be affected by care home stays) • respect residents' privacy, ambulance services, • make sure other services at modesty, dignity and choices must also be registered. your previous address have • be accredited under the Gold been notified Standards Framework for end of life care • let friends and family know your know contact details and when you might feel up to An unsatisfactory care home might: receiving visitors • have a code of practice, but not adhere to it • fail to take into account residents' needs and Rights of care home residents wishes, with most decisions made by staff The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the • let residents' care plans become out of date, regulator of health and adult social care in or fail to reflect their needs accurately England, whether it's provided by the NHS, • have staff who enter residents' rooms without local authorities, private companies or voluntary knocking, and talk about residents within organisations. earshot of other people • deny residents their independence – for Under existing rules, independent healthcare example, by not allowing someone to feed and adult social services must be registered themselves because it "takes too long" with the CQC. NHS providers, such as hospitals • have staff who don't make an effort to interact and ambulance services, must also be with residents and leave them sitting in front registered. of the TV all day

47 Care homes

The registration of organisations reassures the care home closures public when they receive a care service or Care homes will sometimes close. This can be treatment. It also enables the CQC to check because the owner decides not to carry on that organisations are continuing to meet CQC providing the service in that location (for standards. instance, if they retire), or because the home has been sold or failed to meet legal standards. Standards for care homes are outlined on the Proposals to close a care home can obviously CQC website. These standards are cause great distress. If the care home is underpinned by regulations governing the operated by the local authority, it has to follow a quality and safety of services. consultation process with residents and The regulations are enforceable by law – the families. CQC can enforce fines, public warnings, or It may be best to get specialist legal advice in even suspend or close a service if they believe this situation. You can find an appropriate people's basic rights or safety are at risk. solicitor through the Law Society.

48 Care homes

NURSiNG HomeS Postcode Name Address Town/city Phone number GL1 1AN Park View Gloucester Park View, Trier Way Gloucester 01452 671499 GL1 3HZ Trevone House 22 Denmark Road Gloucester 01452 529072 GL1 3LE Chapel House Care Centre Horton Road Gloucester 01793 821200 GL1 3PH Magdalen House Nursing Home London Road Gloucester 01452 386331 GL1 3PL The Gloucester Charities Trust Century House, 100 London Road Gloucester 01452 500429 GL1 3PL Wotton Rise Nursing Home 140 London Road Gloucester 01452 303073 GL2 0RX Bohanam House 2 Barnwood Road Gloucester 01452 876160 GL2 0SD Charnwood House Nursing Home 49 Barnwood Road Gloucester GL2 4QW The Lawns The Lawns, 346 Bristol Road Gloucester 01452 721345 GL2 4WD Chestnut Court St James, Quedgeley Gloucester 01452 720049 GL2 8HB Deanwood Lodge Church Road Maisemore 01452 415057 GL3 4EX Millbrook Lodge Moorfield Road, Brockworth Gloucester 01452 863783 GL3 4QG Brockworth House Care Centre Mill Lane, Brockworth Gloucester 01452 864066 GL4 0AH Pine Tree Court Care Home Larchwood Drive Tuffley 01452 385855 GL4 3TD Woodstock Nursing Home 35 North Upton Lane, Barnwood Gloucester 01452 616291 GL4 4QQ Painswick Road Care Home 189 Painswick Road Gloucester 01452 300307 GL4 4QQ Saintbridge House 189 Painswick Road, Abbeydale Gloucester 01452 300307 GL4 6SB Westbourne Nursing Home 190 Reservoir Road Gloucester 01452 506106 GL4 6SX Brunswick House Nursing Home 119 Reservoir Road Gloucester 01452 523903 GL5 4AP The English Dominican Congregation St Martins Centre, Stratford Lawn Stroud 01453 763793 GL5 4EE Wyatt House Watermoor Road Stroud 01453 764194 GL5 4HB Ashleigh House 64 Cainscross Road Stroud 01453 756090 GL5 4JE Cotswold House Care Home Church Road, Cainscross Stroud 01453 752699 GL5 4SP Scarlet House 123 Westward Road, Ebley Stroud 01453 769810 GL6 6LS Resthaven Nursing Home Pitchcombe Stroud 01452 812682 GL6 6UL Richmond Village Painswick Stroud Road, Painswick Stroud 01452 813902 GL6 9EY Minchinhampton Centre For The Elderly Horsfall House, 42 Windmill Road, Stroud 01453 731227 GL10 2NP The Elms Elm Road Stonehouse 01453 824477 GL10 3BZ Moreton Hill Care Centre Standish Stonehouse 01453 826000 GL10 3RT The Grange Care Centre Bristol Road Stonehouse 01453 791513 GL11 4BE Henlow Court Henlow Drive Dursley 01453 545866 GL11 5HA The Hollies Nursing Home Drake Lane Dursley 01453 541400 GL11 6BB Blanchworth Care Homes The Cider Mill, Blanchworth Dursley 01453 546746 GL11 6BQ Stinchcombe Manor Echo Lane, Stitchcombe Dursley 01453 549162 GL12 8RA Pennwood Lodge Nursing Home Wotton Road, Kingswood Wotton-under-edge 01453 521522 GL12 8RA Kingswood Lodge Care Centre Wotton Road, Kingswood Wotton-under-edge 01453 844647 GL13 9HG Breadstone Care Home with Nursing Breadstone Berkeley 0845 345 5782 GL14 1PD Westbury Court Westbury-on-Severn Westbury-on-Severn 01452 760429 GL15 5BB Rodley House Harrison Way Lydney 01594 842778 GL16 8NX The Elms Care Home with Nursing Staunton Coleford 0845 345 5793 GL16 8QE The Coombs The Gorse Coleford 01594 833200 GL17 0AY Townsend House Court Farm Lane Mitcheldean 01594 542611 GL17 0DR Forest Court Care Home Bradley Court Road Mitcheldean 01989 750775 GL17 0LL The Manor House Nursing Home Ross Road Longhope 01452 830291 GL17 9BW Chantry Retirement Homes Hawthorns Drybrook 01594 543982 GL17 9BW Euroclydon Nursing Home Hawthorns Drybrook 01594 543982

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ReSiDeNTiAl HomeS Postcode Name Address Town/city Phone number GL1 1AN Park View Gloucester Park View, Trier Way Gloucester 01452 671499 GL1 2QX Cathedral View Archdeacon Street Gloucester 01452 303248 GL1 3HH Elmlea 99 London Road Gloucester 01452 550438 GL1 3HW Guild House Residential Home 2A Denmark Road Gloucester 01452 525098 GL1 3JQ Cathedral Care Denmark Lodge, 38 Denmark Road Gloucester 01452 383888 GL1 3PL The Gloucester Charities Trust Century House, 100 London Road Gloucester 01452 500429 GL1 3PX Horton House Residential Care Home 1 Horton Road Gloucester 01452 524615 GL1 4BG Great Western Court 33a Millbrook Street Gloucester 01452 423495 GL1 4RJ Bathurst Lodge Residential Care 74 Bathurst Road Gloucester 01452 552683 GL1 4SX Johnathan Peter Basil Trevarthen 23 Carmarthen Street Gloucester 01452 522335 GL1 4TB Holmleigh Care Homes 141 High Street Gloucester 01452 300025 GL1 5AJ Bramble House 96a-98 Stroud Road Gloucester 01452 521018 GL1 5JL St Paul's Residential Home 127 Stroud Road Gloucester 01452 505485 GL1 5LA New Beginnings 210 Stroud Road Gloucester 01452 528989 GL1 5LF Cavendish Care Home 301 Stroud Road Gloucester 01452 521896 GL1 5LX Branksome House 26 Tuffley Avenue Gloucester 01452 535360 GL1 5PA Chestnut Residential Care Home 20 Podsmead Road Gloucester 01452 546204 GL2 0NY Elmbridge Residential Home 21 Elmbridge Road Gloucester 01452 524147 GL2 0QJ Keychange Charity Sceats Care Home 1-3 Kenilworth Avenue Gloucester 01452 303429 GL2 0RZ Avalon Residential Home 17 Barnwood Road Gloucester 01452 417400 GL2 4NA Mary Rush Care Homes 116 Bristol Road Quedgeley 01452 728296 GL2 4NA The Retreat 116 Bristol Road, Quedgeley Gloucester 01452 728296 GL2 7EE Craigdale Care Church End Frampton-on-Severn 01452 740562 GL2 7HE Wisma Mulia Bridge Road, Framption-on-Severn Gloucester 01452 740432 GL2 9BD Redlands Acre 35 Tewkesbury Road, Longford Gloucester 01452 507248 GL3 2JE Parton House Parton Road, Churchdown Gloucester 01452 856779 GL4 0BD The Knoll 335 Stroud Road, Tuffley Gloucester 01452 526146 GL4 0PS The Grange 15 Holmwood Drive Gloucester 01452 312372 GL4 0UN Brookthorpe Hall Care Centre Stroud Road, Brookthorpe Gloucester 01452 813240 GL4 4AL Wheatridge Court 40 Wheatridge Court, Abbeydale Gloucester 01452 500669 GL4 6UD Southfields Residential Care 54 Southfields Road Gloucester 01452 545367 GL5 1JL Church Court Care Home Church Street Stroud 0845 345 5785 GL5 1SP Northfield Care Folly Lane, Uplands Stroud 01453 750478 GL5 2JQ Southfield Park Road Stroud 01453 764892 GL5 2QW M & C Care Brimscombe Farm, Brimscombe Hill Stroud 01872 276477 GL5 4SX Novalis Trust Ebley House, 235 Westward Road Stroud 01453 837551 GL6 0BS Gloucestershire Group Homes Spring Mill Business Ctr, Avening Rd Stroud 01453 835023 GL6 0DB The Steppes Residential Care Home Cossack Square, Nailsworth Stroud 01453 832406 GL6 0DX Cherry Tree Close 3 Cherry Tree Close, Nailsworth Stroud 01453 835023 GL6 0ET Aaron House Care Aaron House, Nymphsfield Road Nailsworth 01453 833598 GL6 0LS Winslow House Springhill, Nailsworth Stroud 01453 832269 GL6 6EP More Hall Convent Randwick Stroud 01453 764486 GL6 6JS Grapevine Care The Mount, Main Road, Whiteshill Stroud 01453 757291 GL6 6JS The Mount Main Road, Whiteshill Stroud 01453 757291 GL6 9AN Stroud Court Longfords, Minchinhampton Stroud 01453 834020 GL10 2AD Regency Retirement Home 52 Regent Street Stonehouse 01453 823139 GL10 2JY Fieldview Pearcroft Road, Stonehouse Gloucester 01453 791320 GL10 3NJ Highborder Lodge Marsh Lane Leonard Stanley 01453 823203 GL11 6AS Yercombe Yercombe Lodge, Stinchcombe Dursley 01453 542513 GL12 8NP Charlton House Residential Care HomeHigh Street, Wichwar Wotton Under Edge 01454 294167 GL13 9BE Canonbury Residential Home 19 Canonbury Street Berkeley 01453 810292 GL14 1JF Stepping Stones Riverside Lane, Broadoak Newnham 01452 760304 GL14 1LS Littlecroft Residential Homes Longcroft Farm, Blaisdon Road Westbury-on-Severn 01452 760747 GL14 1QU Severn Care Upper Rodley Road, Bollow Westbury-on-Severn 01452 760164 GL14 1QU Gatwick House Gatwick House, Upper Rodley Road Bollow 01452 760164 GL14 1QW Chaxhill Hall Chaxhill Hall, Chaxhill Nr Westbury on Severn 01452 760717 GL14 2DY Prospect House Prospect Road Cinderford 01594 826246 GL15 4EB Sydenham House Residential Home Sydenham House, High Street Blakeney 015945 17015 GL16 8AA Step-A-Side Care 29 Market Place Coleford 01594 501230 GL16 8NJ Oak House Trust Oak House, Newland Coleford 01594 832218 GL17 0LJ The Old Rectory School Lane, Church Road Longhope 01452 831135 GL17 9BW Chantry Retirement Homes Hawthorns Drybrook 01594 543982 GL17 9PD The Orchards Stowfield Lower Lydbrook 01594 861137 GL18 1DE Three Ashes Care Home Three Ashes House, Ledbury Road Newent 01531 820226 GL18 1JA Highfield Residential Home Culver Street Newent 01531 821007 GL18 1QY Mantley Chase Residential Care Ross Road Newent 01531 822112 GL18 2DB Hill Ash House Care Centre Hill Ash House, Ledbury Road Newent 01531 892980 GL19 3EA The Laurels Main Road, Huntley Gloucester 01452 901243 GL19 4BS Chelcare Manor Barn, Deerhurst Walton Gloucester 01584 890864

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