Your local Health & Wellbeing Guide
Supporting older people in Plymouth to make more of later life
Contents
Contents
4 Age UK Plymouth
5 - 9 Age UK Plymouth - Our Services
10 Keeping mobile and preventing falls
11 - 13 Volunteering may boost mental wellbeing in older adults
14 - 15 Your right to social care and support
16 - 18 Planning for your future care needs
19 - 21 Are you a carer?
22 - 23 Choosing care services
24 - 27 Funding care
28 - 30 Care services in your home
31 - 35 Care homes
Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this guide was correct at press time, Plymouth Age UK and Sure Media Ltd do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by any errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Although Plymouth Age UK & Sure Media Ltd would like to thank the sponsors for their support in this publication, their inclusion within this publication does not imply any recommendation or endorsements as to the goods or services they may supply. Plymouth Age UK has received no financial payments from any sponsors or supporters in the production of this guide. March 2021. Data source CQC & NHS.
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3 Age UK Plymouth
Age UK Plymouth improving well- being in Later Life across the city. Age UK Plymouth is an independent local charity, which has operated since 1942 in the City of Plymouth. We provide a variety of services to people over What we offer: the age of 50 every week, including those who • Information & Advice • Adult Day Care may be vulnerable or socially isolated. We also provide support for carers of older people. • Dementia Day Care • Music for the Memory Our Mission • Carers Support • Big Lottery funded Gateway to Services “Age UK Plymouth exists to care for and work with older people and their carers • Help at Home • Community Support in and around the City of Plymouth to • Handyperson Service • Gardening improve their quality of life through the • Active Living • Volunteering promotion of choice opportunity and opportunities independence.” • Student Placements • Phone Friends To achieve our Mission we aim to improve the • Help to get online well-being of those in Later Life by: • Understanding and responding to their needs • Enabling them to remain independent • Delivering excellent services • Giving them a voice Age UK Plymouth • Working in partnership with others William & Patricia Venton Centre Astor Drive, Mount Gould, Plymouth PL4 9RD • Using innovative ideas William Venton Centre OUR VISION 8 Memory Lane, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 9GH Love Later Life in Plymouth Tel: 01752 256020 OUR VALUES www.ageukplymouth.org.uk Trusted, Compassionate, Innovative ageukplymouth @plymouthageuk
Age UK Plymouth is an independent charity working in Plymouth to offer support and services to older people.
4 Age UK Plymouth
Age UK Plymouth Support for the Over 50’s Age UK Plymouth advice and information service can provide: • Welfare Benefits checks: For people who may be eligible to receive benefits or are unsure about their entitlements e.g. Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit • Money Matters: How to maximise your income including accessing energy savings. • Funding and finding care: Specialists in providing support from assessment to funding whether the care is at home or in a care home. • Housing advice: from local authority Age UK Plymouth provides a range bidding, to dealing with rogue landlords and of services, support and activities for matters of disrepair. anyone over the age of 50, including carers. • Carer Support: Ensuring carers access support that they are entitled to both Since 1942, this trusted local independent financially and through a Carers Assessment. Charity has helped older people across the City of Plymouth to access services and support to • Signposting: Wide range of partners across help them keep healthy and well, to maintain the City for further support and advice where their independence for as long as possible, and needed. to love later life Age UK Plymouth has a wide range of Free Information and Advice information guides on many of these topics which are available online or from the charity’s Making the right decisions helps people to centres. remain in control and able to make informed choices on issues that may affect health and wellbeing.
At Age UK Plymouth our Active Living Centres offer a friendly, warm and supportive environment to engage in activities, socialise and meet new friends.
5 Age UK Plymouth
Active Living Service Age UK Plymouth’s Active Living Service Active Living Services - We can provide the can help older people to love their later opportunity to undertake activities, walk in the park, a trip to the Hoe, these can either be life delivered individually or as part of small groups It does this by offering a high quality based in community venues. and flexible service that is tailored to Companionship - Everyone needs human suit a person’s individual needs and connection, our Active Living Support Service aspirations. can offer support that has huge benefits to the mental, physical health and wellbeing of This enhanced service enables you to receive a person. We can provide a fun, supportive this support in the comfort of your own home environment where people can take part in or if you prefer, you can attend our group a range of activities, including; word games, sessions in your local community. singing groups, quizzes, creative & musical We pride ourselves in supporting older people activities, gentle exercise and much more. and their families to alleviate stress, anxiety Home Admin - We offer a number of options and loneliness. By using a wealth of knowledge which can alleviate anxiety, such as; calendar and a comprehensive training programme, our and address book completion, card writing, staff deliver a safe and caring service - with an gift wrapping & posting of gifts, appointment emphasis on promoting independence, social making, assisting to set-up direct debits, engagement, good health and wellbeing. call assistance to organisations and utility Home Support - We can be your helping providers. hands at home, this service includes; domestic Getting Online - Accessing the internet may cleaning, laundry, ironing, changing bedding, seem daunting but once you’ve got the hang light de-cluttering, basic meal preparation, of it, it’s a great source of information, can sitting service, escorted visits. help you save money and it is a brilliant tool for Gardening - Get your garden chores keeping in touch with friends and family. completed by our fantastic team, this service CST (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy) - You includes; mowing, trimming, pruning, potting, can take part in meaningful and stimulating clearance of weeds & brambles and general activities, proven to help maintain memory and maintenance. mental functioning. Handyperson – for those odd small jobs that need doing around the home, why not let one of our team help you out.
To find out more or to book a session contact: 01752 256020 or email: homecare@ ageukplymouth.org.uk or visit: www.ageukplymouth.org.uk
6 Age UK Plymouth
Love Later Life
Activities available at Age UK Plymouth: • Tai Chi & Yoga • Dance and Gentle Exercise • Whist, Bridge, Card and Board Games • Bingo and Quizzes • Reading & Discussion Groups • Embroidery and Sewing • Knit and Chat • Computer Training • Target Bowls and Skittles Health and well-being is important to us all and • Arts and Crafts as we age it is vital to keep as healthy as we can • Music to enable us to enjoy our journey in Later Life. • Men’s Club Physical activity keeps the body and mind active • And much more! and promotes a general sense of well-being and everyone should aim to do a small amount of exercise each day. Walking, playing games such as bowls, dancing and gentle exercise are all simple ways to introduce a physical activity. Doing regular Age UK Plymouth exercise improves strength and balance which can help reduce the risk of falls and potential Gateway To Services hospital admissions. Thanks to the Big Lottery Community Fund Age Keeping the mind active is important in Later UK Plymouth has launched a new community Life and doing things like crosswords and outreach service in Plymouth. This will help puzzles can help stimulate the brain. older people who may be lonely meet others and take part in activities in the own local area. Learning about technology can open up opportunities to a whole new world of hobbies, With the support of our Gateway to Services interests and communication networks. volunteers, we offer Age UK Plymouth provides FREE IT lessons and • Help to access services these are available at various venues across the • Social Engagement City . • Groups and Clubs Socialising • Lunch Clubs, Coffee Mornings, and Cream Teas When we get older we can sometimes lose • Community Activities touch with family and friends, which can lead to • Benefits Information and Advice feelings of loneliness and isolation so having a Tel: 01752 256020 wide range of social networks and participating email: [email protected] in activities can really improve health and well- www.ageukplymouth.org.uk being. Many older people have skills and life experience If you would like to help older people Love Later they can share with others, so volunteering Life through Gateway to Services why not a small amount of time each week can build volunteer? Meet new people and share your confidence and give the opportunity to make skills, hobbies and interests. new friends and have fun! 7 Age UK Plymouth
Dementia Day Care For those with memory loss or dementia we have a specialist Dementia Day Centre providing meaningful, innovative, and person centred activities. Our Dementia Day Centre helps care for people with memory loss, cognitive issues and all stages of dementia. We have the only Omivista Interactive Table in Day Services Plymouth, and the only Motiview Indoor Virtual Cycling Static Bikes south of Bristol. These Age UK Plymouth offers a variety of Day state of the art new technologies have been Services within Plymouth, two days a week we proven to provide significant stimulation for offer full day respite care at our purpose built those with dementia – and they are fun to use. centre in Mount Gould, the rest of the week we’re out delivering half day sessions out in We understand that a diagnosis of any illness your community. can be difficult for both the person and their carers therefore we offer free introduction and Telephone to make an appointment to visit us taster sessions. to look around and to speak with our friendly staff about the range of services we can People can come along to meet with the staff provide. and find out a little bit more about the type of support that is available to them which can • Operates five days a week help to ease transition into the service. • Offers an enjoyable day out in a friendly, safe Carers will know that their loved ones are being and comfortable environment looked after well and engaged with. • Offers flexible day care to suit individual Our friendly team of experienced staff adapt needs - from three hour sessions to a full day to meet the needs of each individual so • Offers day respite for the carer there’s always something different happening to provide stimulation and encourage • Person centred with meaningful activities to engagement. suit individual needs and aspirations We also provide healthy cooked lunches from Age UK Plymouth our on-site kitchen. William & Patricia Venton Centre Astor Drive, Mount Gould, Plymouth PL4 9RD You do not have to be referred by a professional Tel: 01752 256020 person to join the Dementia Day Centre, we email: [email protected] take both private and Local Authority funded www.ageukplymouth.org.uk clients. Age UK Plymouth Dementia Day Centre at the William Venton Centre Memory Lane, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 9GH Tel: 01752 256020 email: [email protected] www.ageukplymouth.org.uk
8 Age UK Plymouth
Get involved ... Why not get involved and help older How to support us people Love Later Life in Plymouth? We rely on your support to help older If you would like to get involved, people in Plymouth. There are many there are lots of things you can do. ways you can donate to us. Whether you want to give your time by Giving a donation, however small, either a volunteering, take part in a fundraising one-off payment or regularly can really make event, make a donation, or help with our a difference to the work we do at Age UK campaigns, your support would be much Plymouth. appreciated. Donate by post or in person to: There are many reasons why it’s great to Age UK Plymouth volunteer The William & Patricia Venton Centre Astor Drive, Mount Gould, Plymouth PL4 9RD • Give something back to the community and make a difference in people’s lives Leave us a gift in your will or donate to us in memory of your loved one. • Develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge Organise a fundraising event or take a challenge to raise money. • Meet and spend time with people Become a corporate sponsor. We could not function without our dedicated team of volunteers who help us deliver vital Why Fundraise for Age UK Plymouth? services to older people in Plymouth. Age UK Plymouth exists to care for and work Whatever your age, talents and interests, we’re with older people and their carers in and bound to have a volunteering opportunity for around the City of Plymouth to improve their you. quality of life through the promotion of choice, opportunity and independence. As a Charity Volunteers work across all the vital services we we rely heavily on donations to enable us to offer. Living in a society with a growing older continue to provide our services. population means that there are more people that we would love to support. All money raised locally is spent locally supporting older people in Plymouth. For more information visit our website: www.ageuk.org.uk/plymouth/get-involved/ Find out more: volunteer/ Visit www.ageuk.org.uk/plymouth/get- involved/donate/ Call the fundraising team on 01752 256020
Whether you want to give your time by volunteering, take part in a fundraising event, or help with our campaigns, your help would be much appreciated.
9 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 Council, Housing association or a local private About one third of people over 65 fall each community alarm provider may offer a 24-hour year, with higher rates for over 75s. community alarm service. Up to 20 per cent of falls require medical The service provides help and reassurance in attention. Falls make up half of the hospital an emergency to people who are elderly and at admissions for accidental injury, especially hip risk of falls. You can keep your alarm with you fractures. at all times as a pendant around your neck or Half of the falls reported by older people follow on your wrist. a trip or an accident. Some 90 per If you fall you press the button cent of hip fractures are caused Exercise is one of the on the pendant to activate a by a fall. best ways to prevent separate alarm unit. This alarm Around 50 per cent of falls are falls, as well as making unit has a powerful microphone preventable. you more confident and and loud speaker, letting you talk Assessing your level of risk able to enjoy life. to a member of staff who will get help. There are things to look out for that can help you, your family or You might also consider the option of carers know whether you are at risk of having a sheltered housing, where you maintain your fall. To find out what the risks are, you can ask independence but have background support for a falls risk assessment at your GP’s surgery when you need it. or at a specialist clinic. Keeping yourself steady The falls assessment aims to discover anything that might cause you to fall and highlights To stay firmly on your feet, a few simple specific things that can be done to help. changes - like making sure stairs are kept clear and well lit - can make all the difference and Following the assessment, the doctor or nurse keep you mobile. will prepare a plan for you to help reduce your risk of falling in future. What to do if you have a fall You should ask your GP for more information if Try not to panic, but get help by making a noise you think you need an assessment. like banging or shouting, using your personal alarm or dialling 999. Make your home safer • make sure you keep warm, even just by There are changes you can make at home that tensing your arm and leg muscles will help you to prevent falls, like installing hand rails to keep you steady in the bathroom or out • wrap yourself with anything warm to hand in the garden. Afterwards, it’s important to tell your doctor what’s happened - that way you can receive the correct medical assistance.
10 Volunteering
Volunteering may boost mental wellbeing in older adults
“Giving up time for charity work found to boost The demand for volunteers remains high and mental wellbeing as people get older,” the there is always somebody you can help or Mail Online reports. A new UK-based study something you can do to make the world a found that volunteering was associated with better place. Read more about options for increased mental wellbeing; but mainly in volunteering, whatever your age. adults aged between 40 and 70. Where did the story come Researchers used data from the Researchers used from? British Household Panel Survey, data from the British The study was carried out by which is an ongoing survey Household Panel three researchers from the designed to track social and Survey, which is University of Southampton and public health trends. an ongoing survey University of Birmingham, and Researchers found that, designed to track was funded by the Economic generally, people’s health social and public health and Social Research Council, the Office for the Third Sector, and mental wellbeing score trends. got worse as they got older. and the Barrow Cadbury However, when people got over Trust through the Third Sector the age of 40-45, while scores Research Centre. generally continued to get worse The study was published in the peer-reviewed for those who never volunteered, they got BMJ Open journal, which as the name better for those who did any volunteering. suggests, is openly available for access to all. The study’s main limitation is that this can’t The media generally takes quite a simplistic prove cause and effect, or tell the direction of view on these findings which do not prove the relationship. People who volunteer may that volunteering boosts wellbeing. The Mail have better health scores because those includes messages such as “if you want to who feel healthy, active and in a good state get the most out of charity work wait until of wellbeing are more likely to go out and you are at least 40”, “younger people view volunteer to help others than those who feel helping others as a duty and a chore” and “as in poor health. It’s not necessarily the case people get older, volunteering really boosts that the reverse is true; that volunteering has their mental wellbeing” – not one of which is caused the good health state. demonstrated by the findings of this study. It could be that the association works both Similarly, The Daily Telegraph reports that ways – better wellbeing probably makes you “Volunteering is not beneficial until you hit more inclined to help others, and helping 40, study finds.” The implication that you others probably boosts your sense of should only do charitable work if you are wellbeing. guaranteed to benefit from it seems a little, well, uncharitable.
11 Volunteering
What kind of research was this? Researchers adjusted for potential confounding This was a cohort study based on data factors including income, marital status, collected during the British Household educational level and social group. Panel Survey which aimed to see whether What were the basic results? volunteering was associated with mental After excluding those with missing exposure wellbeing among British people across the or outcome data, the researchers had data for course of life. 66,343 people (47% male). Previous research has suggested that freely Most people (80%) did not do any volunteer giving to benefit another person, group or work each survey year. About a quarter of organisation can boost a person’s self-rated those aged 60-74 volunteered compared with health, though most studies have looked at 17% in the youngest 15-29 age group. Also, older adults. This study aimed to see whether it more women (22%) volunteered than men affects all age groups. (19.5%). What did the research involve? Those who did any volunteering had slightly The British Household Panel Survey started better (lower) GHQ scores than those who in 1991, selecting a nationally representative did none (10.7 vs. 11.4). Scores were lowest sample of 5,000 households. Those aged 15 among those who frequently volunteered. or over were interviewed annually until 2008. When looking at the interaction between The study captures 18 waves of data covering volunteering, GHQ score and age, they found various age groups followed up over time. that generally, regardless of volunteer status, all The survey collected data on various areas people’s GHQ score got worse (higher) as they of the participants’ life, including occupation, aged. However, when you got above the age education, health, household consumption, of 40-45, scores generally continued to rise for and social life. Information on volunteering those who never volunteered, but went down was collected in alternative years starting from again for all those who volunteered – rarely, wave 6 (1996). This was assessed by asking if infrequently or frequently. people “do unpaid voluntary work”. How did the researchers interpret the Response categories were: results? • at least once a week The researchers conclude: “volunteering may • once a month be more meaningful for mental well-being at • several times a year some points of time in the life course”. • once a year or less Conclusion • never This research doesn’t prove that volunteering will improve your sense of health and For the purpose of this analysis the researchers wellbeing. combined groups 2 and 3 to give four overall groups – frequent, infrequent, rare or never. The study does have several strengths in that it is a high quality nationally representative survey The outcome of interest was the General Health that collected regular and comprehensive data Questionnaire (GHQ) response, which includes for a large number of UK citizens. 12 questions covering happiness, mental distress (anguish or depression) and well-being to give a total score of between 0 and 36. The lower the GHQ score, the better a person’s health is judged to be.
12 Volunteering
However, the main limitation is that it’s unable Additionally, while this study has data for more to prove cause and effect, or suggest the than 66,000 people, this still only represents direction of the relationship. Those who two-thirds of those taking part in the surveys, volunteered had better (lower) GHQ scores the rest had incomplete data. Those with than those who didn’t – and this was most missing data tended to be younger, female, of marked in middle aged to older adults. But this lower education and occupational level. The may mean that those who feel healthy, active researchers say that GHQ scores did not differ and in a good state of wellbeing are more likely between drop-outs and those analysed, but the to go out and volunteer to help others than full data-set may still have had some difference. those who feel in poor health. Not necessarily The relationship between a person’s self- the reverse, that volunteering has caused the rated health and wellbeing and whether or good health state. not they volunteer is likely to be a complex The score difference was also marginal – on relationship influenced by many other factors average 11.4 for those who never volunteered and personal characteristics. It most probably compared with 10.7 for those who did. How works both ways – better wellbeing probably much of a meaningful difference this small makes you more inclined to help others, and difference would make to the person’s helping others probably boosts your sense of everyday life is not possible to say. These wellbeing. are also of course subjective scores – not You can register to become a volunteer via our confirmed diagnoses of depression. website:Visit www.ageuk.org.uk/plymouth/ When looking at the volunteer work, the survey get-involved/donate/ or by contacting us on did not prompt respondents with examples 01752 256020. of what might be meant by “unpaid voluntary work”. Neither did it look into the types of work they did. Therefore, it isn’t certain that this is a reliable estimate of the frequency of volunteering in Britain.
13 Your right to social care
Your right to social care and support
If you think you need social care support, you’ll need to think about what types of support you need – be it homecare workers, equipment or respite breaks. Your first step to getting this sort of help should be to ask your local authority social services department for an assessment of your needs. This assessment will help you decide on the type of services you may want, as well as helping the local authority understand which services you need. Your local authority may be able to offer you some care services for free. It’s worth finding out if you can get free services from your local After this, if you are eligible for care and authority because the cost of buying care support, social services or an independent services is likely to be high if you have long- adviser will work with you to create a care and term care needs, and they could increase as support plan. you get older. If you feel that your needs have changed As part of the CARE ACT your local authority over time, you can request a review of your now has an obligation to assess anyone who care plan, or a re-assessment if you were not appears to require care & support needs. originally eligible for care and support. Contact The authority should: the social care team at your local authority to discuss this. • Make an assessment of your needs regardless of your personal financial Assessing your care and support needs circumstances. If you have care and support needs and find • Provide you with information about services it difficult to look after yourself, your local and options available to you in your area. authority may be able to advise you and provide you with some help. • Offer you a carer’s assessment if you are an unpaid informal/family carer. The best way to get help from your local authority is to ask for a care and support needs The assessment by the local authority is assessment. You can do this by contacting the important because it helps them work out local authority adult social services department. what your difficulties are and what services will help you most. Often, only minor assistance is When you get assessed by the local authority, needed – such as meals on wheels and help as a minimum you may be given information with washing or dressing, yet these services and signposting to other services, and ways could make a big difference to your life. that you might find funding to pay for them. However, if your needs meet the national If your local authority decides you are eligible eligibility criteria, your local authority will have for social care support, they will carry out a to meet these needs. financial assessment to determine how much you will need to pay towards your care, if anything.
14 Your right to social care
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. The specified outcomes measured include: The local authority will involve you throughout the assessment to identify what your needs are • managing and maintaining nutrition, such as and how these impact on your wellbeing. They being able to prepare and eat food and drink will also discuss with you how you wish to live • maintaining personal hygiene, such as being your life and whether there are certain aims you able to wash themselves and their clothes would like to achieve but you are unable to do • managing toilet needs so because of your care and support needs. • being able to dress appropriately, for The assessment will start to consider how example during cold weather your care needs might be met. This could include identifying how preventative services • being able to move around the home safely, like simple aids (such as devices to open jars including accessing the home from outside and tins more easily), adaptations to your • keeping the home sufficiently clean and safe home (such as handrails) or information about support available in the community might meet • being able to develop and maintain family or your need. It will also identify if you have a other personal relationships, in order to avoid higher level of need where you may need help loneliness or isolation in your own home or care in a care home. • accessing and engaging in work, training, The assessment should be carried out in a way education or volunteering, including physical that ensures your involvement and that takes access the right amount of time to capture all of your • being able to safely use necessary facilities needs. or services in the local community including If you have a friend or family member looking public transport and recreational facilities or after you as an unpaid carer, they can have a services carer’s assessment to see if they need support • carrying out any caring responsibilities, such to carry on their caring role. as for a child The local authority must give you a copy of Local authorities do not have responsibility your needs assessment or carer’s assessment. for providing NHS services such as patient What are the national eligibility criteria for transport, but they should consider needs for care and support? support when the adult is attending healthcare appointments. The eligibility threshold for adults with care and support needs is based on identifying how a person’s needs affect their ability to achieve relevant outcomes, and how this impacts on their wellbeing.
15 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 Care has never been free and everyone should think about the care they might need in the future. The long-term costs of care can be significant, and while none of us like to think that we will become old, ill or disabled, it does happen. Just like your pension, it is never too early to start thinking and planning your care and support needs and their costs. Even if you’re generally fit and healthy and of working age, don’t ignore your future care. If you’re making long-term financial arrangements, you may want to take into How your local authority can help with account the potential costs of your future care planning your care needs. The Care Act 2014 makes clear that local The point at which you may be eligible for authorities must provide or arrange services financial help from your local authority with that help to prevent people developing your care costs is being extended. Currently, care and support needs, or delay people if you have more than £23,250 in assets, such deteriorating to the point where they would as your home or savings, you will need to meet need ongoing care and support. the full cost of your care. Even if you don’t want or need financial assistance with your care, your local authority can still help you plan your care, so it is worth contacting the adult social services of your local council to find out the options available to you and your family. Local authorities must work with people in their areas to provide or arrange services that help to keep people well and independent. This James Brothers Funeral Directors should include identifying the local support T. 01752 881419 and resources already available, and helping www.funeraldirectorsplymouth.org.uk people to access them. They should make clear: 16 Planning for your future care needs
• what types of care and support are of care – are vital. It is important that you seek available – such as specialised dementia good advice on these subjects so that you can care, befriending services, reablement consider your best short-term and long-term (short-term care time, for example, to options. get someone safe, happy and able There are several factors to consider when to live independently in their home after they planning social care. These include: have been discharged from hospital), personal assistance and residential care • the type of condition you have, and the best ways for you to stay healthy and independent • the range of care and support services available to local people – in other • the type of care you would prefer, and words, what local providers offer certain whether it would meet your needs types of services • where you would like to be cared for – in • what process local people need to use to get your own home, in a residential care setting care and support that is available such as a care home, or in the community while you are living at home Financial planning for future care needs • where local people can find independent Local authorities have to help people get financial advice about care and support and independent financial advice, to enable help them to access it planning and preparation for future care costs. This encompasses a range of services from • how people can raise concerns about the generic sources of information and advice, safety or wellbeing of someone who has care such as websites or helplines, to tailored and support needs advice relating to specific financial products, which can only be provided by a regulated financial advisor. Some of these services may charge a fee. Concerned The Money Advice Service website has tips on planning ahead for a time when you can’t about the future? manage your own finances. Care home fees? Inheritance tax? Making decisions about your future care needs and wishes Will I have to sell my home to pay for my care? Who will look after my affairs if I am ill? If you are nearing retirement age, it’s important that you take account of your likely care needs At Thompson & Jackson Solicitors LLP these are just a few of the very common problems that our specialist solicitors are and plan accordingly. You may wish to consider able to solve for our clients. setting up a Power of Attorney or an advanced Many of our lawyers are fully accredited members of Solicitors decision (living will). These will help people to for the Elderly and we provide professional advice at a take account of your preferences if you lose the reasonable cost and in a sympathetic manner. capacity to make decisions. You will also want We can help with such matters as: to ensure that you have thought about how you Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney might pay for the care you need. What to do when someone dies Court of Protection Many of us will put off planning for care and WE Inheritance Tax OFFER support arrangements until the last possible HOME moment. Having an urgent need for care and Contact us today VISITS support after a crisis may mean that we and our on 01752 665037 families feel pressured into making decisions Thompson & Jackson Solicitors LLP are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No:629073 quickly. Your best friend when it comes to legal advice. Under such pressure, asking the right www.thompsonandjackson.co.uk questions, thinking and planning for your future 01752 665037 4-5 St. Lawrence Road Plymouth Devon PL4 6HR needs – including options for meeting the cost
17 Planning for your future care needs
If you have a specific condition, you may want to get in touch with a national organisation that supports people with this condition. Your GP surgery should have information on the relevant groups and organisations.
If you think you need care now, or in the very If you are thinking about moving into a near future, the best way to plan your care and residential care home and are worried find out about your care needs is to ask your about meeting the costs, ask your council local authority for an assessment. for information about a “deferred payment The sooner you ask for an assessment, the agreement”. sooner that plans for your care can be made. This is an arrangement whereby the person These plans should include what should be agrees, with their local authority, to pay some done in the event of an emergency. of their care fees at a later date. This means • how much your care is likely to cost and they should not be forced to sell their home whether you may be entitled to free care or during their lifetime to pay for their care. financial help A person or their estate usually repays the • who you want to care for you, and whether, local authority from the sale of their property if you want friends or family to be your at a later date. The Care Act 2014 introduces carers, they are able and willing to do so rules that mean councils have to offer deferred payments to people. You will need to weigh up the pros and cons of each care option against these factors. Independent advice on planning your care For more information read, “Choosing Care If you are making plans for your future care – Services” (page 22). at whatever stage – it is worth getting advice. One of the common decisions people are faced You may want to get specific care advice from with is whether they should sell their home to a charity, general advice from Citizens Advice pay for their care. or specialist legal, financial or welfare rights advice. If you have difficulty communicating or exerting your rights, you may want to have an advocate to deal with these issues on your behalf. Your local authority social services department should have information about organisations in your area that help people who have social care needs. They may offer an advocacy service.
18 Are you a carer?
Are you a Carer?
Carers’ assessments Eligibility for care and support services What to do when you first become a carer A carer’s assessment looks at the different If you provide care and support to an adult ways caring affects your life, and works out friend or family member, you may be eligible for how you can carry on doing the things that support from your local council. are important to you and your family. It covers your caring role, your feelings about caring, This support could include being offered your physical, mental and emotional health, money to pay for things that make caring and how caring affects your work, leisure, easier. Or the local council might offer practical education, wider family and relationships. support, such as arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break. It could also Your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing put you in touch with local support groups so should be at the heart of this assessment. This you have people to talk to. means that you can tell the council how caring for someone is affecting your life and what you The Care Act 2014 makes carer’s assessments want to be able to do in your day-to-day life. more widely available to people in caring roles. When the assessment is complete, the local Local councils now have a legal duty to assess council will decide whether your needs are any carer who requests one or who appears to “eligible” for support from them. After the need support. assessment, your council will write to you If you are a carer and you need some support, about their decision and give you reasons to get in touch with the council covering the explain what they have decided. area where the person you care for lives. The If you have eligible needs, your council will council will be able to give you information and contact you to discuss what help might be advice about how the assessment will work. available. This will be based on the information A carer’s assessment is a discussion between you gave them during your assessment. you and a trained person either from the If you do not have needs that are eligible, your council or another organisation that the council council will give you information and advice, works. including what local care and support is The assessment will consider the impact available. This could include, for example, help the care and support you provide is having from local voluntary organisations. on your own wellbeing, as well as important aspects of the rest of your life, including the things you want to achieve day-to-day. It must also consider other important issues, such as whether you are able or willing to carry on caring, whether you work or want to work, and whether you want to study or do more socially. The assessment could be done face-to-face, over the telephone or online. The council will use the assessment to identify your support needs, and to discuss how these could be met. This might mean that the council will give you help or put you in touch with other organisations, such as local charities, that you can talk to.
19 Are you a carer?
Before your carer’s assessment Carers sometimes take on physical tasks, such If you have arranged to have a carer’s as lifting and carrying, which can cause long- assessment of your needs, give yourself plenty term health problems. Others can find that the of time to think about your role as a carer and stress of the role can lead to depression or other note your thoughts down. You might consider: mental health problems. In some cases, safety can be an issue; for instance, because of the • whether you want to continue being a carer behaviour of the person they look after. • if you were prepared to continue, what During your assessment, explain any mental or changes would make your life easier physical health problems you are experiencing. • if there is any risk that you will not be able to Social services will consider all aspects of your continue as a carer without support health and safety, including caring tasks that • whether you have any physical or mental might put your health or wellbeing at risk. health problems, including stress or Some of the things you might need help with depression, which make your role as a carer include: more difficult • support to ensure you’re able to attend any • whether being a carer affects your medical appointments relationships with other people, including • support if you need to go into hospital for an family and friends operation (including recovery after surgery) • if you are in paid work, whether being a carer that you might have been putting off because causes problems at your work (such as often of your caring commitment. being late) • training for you, such as safely lifting • if you like more time to yourself so that you A carer’s assessment should also look at your can have a rest or enjoy some leisure activity own interests and commitments to see if and • if you like to do some training, voluntary work how they are disrupted by your role as a carer. or paid work If they are disrupted, a social worker could Your decision to be a carer discuss with you whether some support could improve matters for you. When your carer’s assessment is done, no assumptions should be made about your The assessment should look at: willingness to be a carer. This can be a very • marriage or other such relationships sensitive area, because many of us feel that we have a duty to those we care for. We sometimes • friendships and community role rule out other options because we feel we have • paid employment or voluntary work no choice. You have the right to choose: • interests, sport, leisure and hobbies • whether to be a carer at all • time for yourself • how much care you are willing to provide One of the most important parts of your carer’s • the type of care you are willing to provide assessment will be a discussion about your There may be some parts of the role that you wishes concerning paid work, training or leisure find more difficult than others. activities. Take a step back and think about your role as a The local council must consider the support carer. This can be useful in the discussion you you may need if you want to stay in your paid have during a carer’s assessment. You may wish job or return to paid work. They must also to ask in advance for the assessment to happen consider the support you may need if you want in private, so that you can speak freely. to continue or start studying or training. It is vital that it considers whether the role of a During and after a carer’s assessment carer is affecting your health or safety. If you are looking after someone, the local council will consider a broad range of issues that can affect your ability to provide care as part of their assessment of your needs. 20 Are you a carer?
When assessing your needs, social services Carer's assessments and NHS must consider whether your role as a carer continuing care is sustainable. The assessment is about your As well as care and support organised by the needs and therefore you should: council, some people are also eligible to receive • have a reasonably detailed discussion about help from the NHS. This help may be a nursing all the matters relevant to you service for people who are ill or recovering at • have the assessment in private if you want to, home after leaving hospital. It could include at a convenient time and place for you things like changing the dressings on wounds • get relevant information, including about or giving medication. welfare benefits you could claim and details If you are eligible for this kind of help, a health of other services professional such as your GP or community • have a chance to identify the outcomes that nurse should be able to tell you. you want; any services should be In exceptional circumstances, where an appropriate for you and meet your needs adult has a complex medical condition and • be given flexibility and innovation in substantial ongoing care needs, the NHS identifying services that may meet your provides a service called NHS continuing needs healthcare. NHS continuing healthcare provides • have an opportunity to give feedback about care and support in a person’s home, care the assessment home or hospice. • be told about any charges before services are arranged Support planning for carers After your assessment, you and the local council will agree a support plan, which sets out how your needs will be met. This might Supplying a wide range include help with housework, buying a laptop to keep in touch with family and friends, or of mobility products becoming a member of a gym so you can look and services after their own health. It may be that the best way to meet a carer’s Mobility Scooters • Adjustable Beds needs is to provide care and support directly to Electric & Manual Wheelchairs the person that they care for, for example, by Rise & Recline Chairs • Stairlifts • Hearing Tests & Aids providing replacement care to allow the carer Bathing & Toileting Aids • Incontinence Products to take a break. It is possible to do this as long Extra Wide Cosyfeet Stockists • Daily Living Aids as the person needing care agrees. Your support plan should consider whether your situation is likely to change, but you may want to contact social services and ask them to reassess you if this happens. Carer's assessments and hospital discharge You might have a carer's assessment or a review of your support plan if the person you care for has been in hospital and is being discharged.
More Than Mobility, 139 Cornwall Street, Plymouth PL1 1PA Telephone 01752 673367 or 0800 980 5032 www.morethanmobilityplymouth.co.uk
21 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. If you do need to move out of your home You may have particular interests that you want for care reasons, there is a variety of to keep up, or you may simply want to spend accommodation options that you may want time with your family or friends. You may have a to consider. These include sheltered housing, job that you want to keep on doing, or a social extra care housing and residential care homes activity, sport, religion or a political group that or nursing homes. you want to keep up with. If you are thinking about moving, it’s worth Your social care support should – as much as considering whether it is best to stay in the possible – help you to continue to do these area you are in now, which you will be familiar things, and may help you find new things to do. with, or whether you should move elsewhere When choosing the type of care, you also need to be nearer family or friends. You may also to think about: want to think about the location from a practical perspective (whether it’s on a bus route, for • location example) or for more personal reasons (such • services as whether you like the surroundings). • standards and quality The kinds of care services on offer • price If you are choosing a care service – particularly if it’s an ongoing service such as home care Location of your care or a place in a care home, you should think Your own home is often the best place for you about the particular things you want from the to get care services. At home is where you service (this will often be referred to as your may have family and friends and you’ll be in a “outcomes”). familiar and hopefully safe environment. For more information visit: You may want to get help at home, perhaps www.cqc.org.uk. through having home help come in to help you Use the services search to find out about with daily tasks. the location, services, facilities, staff and To stay independently at home, you may performance of a Care Quality Commission need to have care services in the form of (CQC) registered care home or homecare adaptations to your home (to help with mobility, provider. Your search results should tell you for example) or perhaps just equipment to help whether a service can support you if you have you out. particular needs, such as a sensory impairment However, your home may not always be the or a learning disability. best environment if you have care needs. It If the service is not registered with the may not be safe for you, particularly if you do CQC, you may have to ask them directly for not have a friend or relative around to help (if information about the services, and you may you live in an isolated rural area, for example). want to get independent verification, if any is Or you may have particular needs that cannot available. Your local council may have a list of be easily met in your home. local support providers, with information on each.
22 Choosing care services
Standards and quality of care When choosing care, you might want to look Everyone has a right to expect certain out for services that are signed up to the social standards in their care. Your care services care commitment. Check how well your local should help keep you safe and well, but also council social services are performing. treat you with dignity and respect. You should The price of your care always be able to express a choice in your When choosing social care services, you will care. have to consider how much the services may The standards for social care providers, cost. The cost of your care may reflect each of such as care homes, are set out by the CQC. the aspects listed above: location, quality and The CQC’s inspection reports will tell you the kinds of services offered. which services are meeting the minimum If you have had an assessment from your local requirements. If you do not think the service is council, you may get services for free. However, meeting these requirements, you may want to many people have to pay for their own care make a complaint. services (self-funders), and even people who Good quality services, in whatever form they have care funded by the local council will need take, will treat you as an individual and attend to know about the costs of care if they are to your personal needs. If you have homecare, using a personal budget or a direct payment. for instance, the care workers who come into More information your home should listen to your wishes and include you and your family in decisions and The Money Advice Service has more care. information on choosing the right sort of care services.
THE SOPER FAMILY. PLYMOUTH’S ORIGINAL PLUMBERS SINCE 1850. A NAME YOU CAN TRUST AND RELY ON IN THE PLUMBING AND HEATING INDUSTRY.
23 Funding care
Funding care Care and support services in England have never been free. Most people have to pay something towards their own care and some will have to pay for all of the costs.
Your local authority (council) may cover some If the person you care for has very severe and or all of the cost of care in some circumstances, complex health needs, they may qualify for but its help is “means-tested”. This means that NHS continuing healthcare. This is an ongoing who pays depends on what your needs are, how package of care that’s fully funded by the NHS. much money you have, and what level and type In some areas of the country, you can arrange of care and support you require. your NHS continuing healthcare using a For most people needing social care services, personal health budget – similar to the personal the first place to start is by asking your local budgets for social care outlined above. authority for an assessment of your social care NHS-funded nursing care (care and support) needs. You should receive NHS-funded nursing care if: If the local authority considers that you need support that it can provide, it may also carry • you live in a care home registered to provide out an assessment of your finances. This nursing care, and assessment will determine whether the local • you don’t qualify for NHS continuing authority will meet all the cost of your care, or healthcare but have been assessed as whether you will need to contribute towards your needing care from a registered nurse care cost or whether you will have to meet the The NHS will make a payment directly to the full costs yourself. Find out about support paid care home to fund care from registered nurses for by your local authority. who are usually employed by the care home. Currently, local authorities won’t provide care NHS aftercare services if you have more than £23,250 in People who were previously detained in hospital savings and property (your “capital”). However, under certain sections of the Mental Health Act from April 2020, this threshold will rise alongside will have their aftercare services provided for the introduction of the cap on care costs, so free. more people will be eligible for help sooner. Help from charities and funds Alternatives to care funded by the local authority There are other sources of funding you might be able to access to help you with funding NHS care care. Some charities can help with funding The NHS is responsible for funding certain care needs. For example, the Family Fund is a types of healthcare equipment you may need. In government-backed charity that can help with some situations, the NHS is also responsible for grants if you care for a severely disabled child meeting care needs. This is usually when your aged 17 or under. You can get an application need is mainly for healthcare rather than social pack from the Family Fund website. care www.familyfund.org.uk NHS care could be provided in hospital, but it Get personal advice on care funding could be in someone’s own home or elsewhere in the community. The cost of care and support is likely to be a long-term commitment and may be substantial, NHS continuing healthcare particularly if you choose to go into a care home, or if you have care needs at an early age. If you or a member of the family need to pay for care at home or in a care home, it’s important to understand the alternatives. This makes advice tailored to your individual needs vital.
24 Funding care
You can get advice from: Few of us will have the income or ready access • your local authority – through an assessment to the cash to pay for our ongoing care needs, of your care and support needs, as well as and you may need to look at selling or re- advice on which services are available locally mortgaging any property you may own. The new Care Act 2014 means more people may be • financial advice from a qualified, independent able to benefit from “deferred payments”. source – there are independent financial advisers who specialise in care funding Deferred payments can help people avoid advice; they are regulated by the Financial being forced to sell their home in a crisis in Conduct Authority and must stick to a order to pay for their care by having the council code of conduct and ethics, and take shared temporarily cover the cost – usually until you responsibility for the suitability of any product sell your property. they recommend Following the Care Act, every local authority Paying for your own care and support in England has to make deferred payment agreements available. Many people who use care and support services will pay for all of the costs. This is As an alternative, you may be able to enter known as being a “self-funder”. an “equity release scheme” with a financial organisation. Equity release can pay for the The cost of your care will vary depending on fees from the value of property you own. its type, intensity, specialisation, location and However, you should consider which of these duration. For example, a place in a residential options best meets your needs, and what the care home will cost hundreds of pounds a overall costs to you will be. Before taking such week. significant financial steps as equity release, you To make decisions that have such major might want to get independent financial advice. financial implications, you may want to seek independent financial advice and it’s always worth researching the costs of alternatives first. For example, if you are considering a care home place, the cost should be weighed against the cost of care and support that may help you remain in your current home, such as homecare. How much will care cost? If you are thinking about your future care needs FINDING THE BEST OPTION FOR YOUR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION or are facing immediate decisions about care Whether you are hoping How can we help? options, it can be helpful to get an idea how to live independently for We help ensure care packages are much care can cost. longer in your own suitable, e ective and su cient. Inevitably, the price you would pay will depend Help to identify if someone could be home or you are having eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. on your particular circumstances and needs. to move into a care The costs also vary depending on where you Accompany you to meetings, go home, specialist advice through assessments, draft letters or live. Unfortunately, care homes and homecare could provide you with make telephone calls on your behalf. agencies tend not to provide this information information you may Apply for and manage the complex publicly but you may find it helpful to search for procedure for NHS Continuing and contact care services in your area to get need to help you make Healthcare. the right decisions. Assistance with identifying a package some idea of likely costs. of care suitable for a client whether Ask for help from your local authority Sharon Lamerton’s Care or Not Limited that is in their own home, in warden controlled property or in a residential It’s worth checking whether you’re eligible for Phone: 01752 905031 or Nursing home. means-tested support from your local authority Mobile: 07922 065761 Provide a breakdown of the process or other financial support – for example, Email: [email protected] involved and give you the whole picture when dealing with local through a care needs assessment and a www.careornot.co.uk authorities or NHS Continuing financial assessment. O ce 15 | Owen Drive | Plymouth | PL7 4RN Healthcare teams.
25 Funding care
• Age UK: has great advice for older people and those planning for their later years. • Carers UK: an excellent resource of advice for carers who need to help someone else. • Which? Elderly Care has a guide to financing care. Deferred payments if you are unable to pay for care services Care home fees are a big financial commitment, and the decision to go into a care home is often made at a moment of crisis or urgency, such as when being discharged from hospital. This can You can find information on equity release make finding the money to pay for fees (usually for care at home from Which? Elderly Care several hundred pounds a week) challenging for or the Money Advice Service’s equity release people funding their own care. information. In particular, if you own property outright but If you’re planning ahead, you may consider have little in the way of savings, you may be arranging an investment or insurance plan to expected to fund your own care but have little fund your care. Again, it may be worth taking immediately available money to pay for it. Some independent advice on financial arrangements people going to stay in a care home for a long before making major changes. Because of the time find that they have no option but to sell their new rules, there are likely to be more financial property to pay the care home fees. products emerging that are designed to help Your council may be able to help you if you people pay for care. are at risk of having to sell your home. Where You may also want to explore whether the there is a delay in selling the property, or you NHS would meet some or all of your care and don’t want to sell the property immediately, you support costs, or you may have entitlement to may be eligible to have your care fee payment benefits that may help you meet costs. Read “deferred”. This is where the local authority about other ways of funding care. helps you to pay your care fees temporarily, and you repay the costs to the local authority at a Advice on paying for care later date. Even if your local authority is not able to help If the local authority agrees to the deferred fund your care, it will be able to make an payment and pays the care home fees, it will assessment of your care and support needs. take payment from the money raised once the From this, the local authority can provide you property is sold. This can be: with access to a range of information and advice available locally. • during your lifetime if you choose to sell your home You can also get independent advice from: • once you die, the local authority can be repaid • The Money Advice Service website: offers from your estate information on paying for care or the option to speak to an online adviser. You can call All councils must offer people the chance to the Money Advice Service on 0300 500 5000. defer payment if they meet a set of eligibility criteria. A deferred payment scheme is only • The Society of Later Life Advisers: the society available if you don’t have enough income to can also help you find advice on how to cover your care home fees, and you have less in make financial plans for care in your old age. savings than £23,250. In these circumstances, • Find Me Good Care: a website of the Social the savings don’t include the value of your Care Institute for Excellence. It has advice on property, but does include money in bank all aspects of planning and funding social accounts. care.
26 Funding care
The local authority will put a “legal charge” Protection for self-funders (similar to a mortgage) on the property and will While you may have the savings in place to then pay the remaining care fees in full. You will afford care services, if you lack the capacity to then be assessed to see whether they are able make the arrangements, the local authority can to pay a weekly charge to the authority. Your step in to help. ability to pay is based on your income less a set “disposable income allowance. The local authority can also help people who lack capacity by negotiating fees with a care Before considering deferred payments, you provider and paying them directly. The local should look into whether the property will authority will need to be reimbursed. or won’t be counted in how your capital is calculated. For instance, it may be disregarded Anyone entering into a contract for care services because your partner still lives there, and if it should be given adequate information about the is a deferred payment agreement wouldn’t be fees. Care providers should supply: necessary. • information about the fees charged for various It’s wise to get independent financial advice services provided before agreeing to a deferred payment, and it’s • arrangements for paying the fees worth bearing in mind that choosing deferred • the fees charged for any additional services payments can impact on some welfare benefits. If your capital falls below the set levels for local authority funding (currently £23,250), you will be eligible for reassessment for help with funding your care.
27 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 have chosen direct payments or a Homecare comes in many forms and has many personal budget, or you aren’t eligible for local names used to describe it, including home help, authority help and want to get care privately, you care attendants and “carers” (not to be confused can arrange it in several different ways. with unpaid family or friends who care for you). Independent homecare agencies Homecare can suit you if you need: If you use an independent homecare agency, • personal care, such as washing or dressing you or the person you’re looking after has to find • housekeeping or domestic work, such as the care agency and pay them. The agency will vacuuming provide a service through a trained team of care • cooking or preparing meals workers, which means you may not always have the same person visiting your home, although • nursing and health care the agency will do its best to take your choices • companionship into account. Independent homecare providers Homecare can be very flexible, in order to meet are regulated by the Care Quality Commission your needs, and the same person or agency (CQC). Homecare agencies must meet CQC’s may be able to provide some or all of these national minimum standards and regulations in options for the duration of your care: areas such as training and record-keeping. The • long-term 24-hour care CQC has the power to inspect agencies and • short breaks for an unpaid family carer enforce standards. • emergency care Homecare agencies must vet homecare workers before engaging them by taking up references • day care and carrying out Disclosure and Barring Service • sessions ranging from 15-minute visits to 24- (DBS) checks on potential employees. hour assistance and everything in between Homecare agencies can also: If you already know what you want, you can • take over the burden of being an employer search NHS Choices directories for: – for example, payroll, training, disciplinary • local homecare services and agencies issues and insurance • a list of national homecare organisations • train their homecare workers through • services that can help you stay safe and national qualifications and service-specific well in your home on a long-term basis; training these services, often known as “supported • replace workers when they are ill, on holiday living services”, can include financial, help or resign with medication, advocacy, social and • put things right when they go wrong practical support An agency will want to see you and the person • a place to live in a family who will care for you’re looking after so that they can assess your you, known as “shared lives services” or needs. This also means that a joint decision can adult placement services be made about the most appropriate type of care If you believe that you might benefit from some and support. You can find out more from the UK help at home, the first thing to do is to contact Homecare Association. your social services department to ask for an What are the disadvantages of using a assessment of your care and support needs. To homecare agency? contact social services, go to GOV.UK: find your local authority. If you are eligible for homecare The main disadvantage is the cost of using an services, the local authority may provide or agency. The agency will charge a fee on top of arrange the help themselves. Alternatively, you the payment made to the care worker to cover can arrange your own care, funded by the local their running costs and profit. You normally authority, through direct payments or a personal have to make a regular payment to the agency, budget. which includes both the worker’s earnings and the agency’s fee. 28 Care services in your home
Questions to ask when using a homecare Employers must apply for an enhanced DBS agency check (formerly known as a CRB check) when The fees some agencies charge can be quite taking on new employees or volunteers to work high. Before deciding to go ahead with an with vulnerable adults or children. This includes agency, you should ask questions about the fee a check of the barred lists. If an organisation and what it covers, including: fails to make the relevant checks, they can be • Does the agency check references? penalised. • What training and supervision do they If an organisation dismisses an employee or provide? volunteer for harming a child or vulnerable • What is their complaints policy? adult, they must tell the DBS. The DBS must also be notified if any employee or volunteer • Who will be responsible for insurance? harms a child or vulnerable adult, but isn’t • Is there any out-of-hours or emergency dismissed because they leave voluntarily. contact if needed? If their organisation does not tell DBS, they will • Will they be able to provide staff if your be acting illegally. Questions can be answered own care worker is ill or away? (If an agency by the DBS call centre on 0870 909 0811. contracts to provide care every day, it must Employing a care worker on a private basis ensure that it does.) If you employ a care worker privately, you will Hiring a personal assistant (P.A.) not be obliged to use the DBS scheme, but you You can hire a “personal assistant” to act can use it if you choose to. You need to ask as a homecare worker for you. Personal social services or the police to make the checks assistants can offer you all that you’ll get on your behalf. from an agency worker, but you’ll also get the continuity, familiarity and ongoing relationship with your assistant. However, if you employ a personal assistant, you will then have the legal responsibility of an employer. This will include arranging cover for their illness and holidays. GOV.UK has more information on becoming an employer, while Which? Elderly Care also has advice on employing private individuals. Homecare from charities Charities such as Age UK and Carers Trust can We want you to enjoy living in your provide home help and domestic assistance home and we can help. We are an services. The Carers Trust supports carers outstanding team who take pride in the care we provide. by giving them a break from their caring responsibilities through homecare services. Marie Curie Nurses can provide practical and emotional support for people near the end of their lives in their own homes. Safeguarding vulnerable groups The DBS makes decisions about who is unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults or children. It makes this decision based on information held by various agencies and government departments. The service decides who is unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults or children. If someone who is barred from working with Get in touch today. children or vulnerable adults is working, Call us on 01752 349 784 volunteering or trying to work or volunteer with [email protected] these groups, they are breaking the law. They caremark.co.uk/locations/plymouth could face a fine and up to five years in prison.
29 Care services in your home
HOME CARE AGENCIES Postcode Name Address Town/City Phone number PL1 3AB The D O V E Project 1st Floor, 7 The Cresent Plymouth 01752 676840 PL1 3JY Nurseplus UK The MillfieldsMary Seacole Road Plymouth 01752 266802 PL3 5JP Assistants at Hand Eggbuckland Road Plymouth 01752 927011 PL4 0EG Arrow Support Limited 2 Cattedown Road Plymouth 01752 546263 PL4 6JJ Helping Hands 75 Mutley Plain Plymouth 01752 424406 PL4 9EF 1st Call Homecare 115 Beaumont Road Plymouth 01752 603100 PL6 5AQ Prestige Nursing 54a Morshead Road Plymouth 01752 213213 PL6 5QZ Network Healthcare Derriford Business Park Plymouth 01752 604600 PL6 5WR Newcross Healthcare William Prance Road Plymouth 01752 395009 PL6 5XR Collingswood Care Budshead Road Plymouth 01752 289444 PL6 5XR Tamar Care Budshead Road Plymouth 01752 657560 PL6 7PP Peninsula Care 10 Thornbury Road Plymouth 01752 695448 PL6 8AL Quality Lifestyle 334 Tavistock Road Plymouth 01752 875553 PL7 1RF Bluebird Care Valley Road Plymouth 01752 347700 PL7 4AU HomeLife Carers 97 Newnham Road Plymouth 01752 422222 PL7 5JY Caremark Falcon House, Eagle Road Plymouth 01752 349784 PL20 6HL Santé Care at Home Frogs Meadow Milton Combe 01822 678010
The care worker must have already applied to be vetted, and must consent to the check. If you Are you nding it have concerns about the suitability of someone you employ privately to work with a vulnerable di cult to adult or child, you can ask social services to investigate the matter. They can refer the worker manage on your to the ISA on your behalf. Manual handling own at home? If you need help to move, or you need someone to lift you (such as getting out of bed or getting Our Live-In Carer Service is the on to the toilet), this can put the person doing real alternative to residential care the lifting at risk of injury. This “manual handling” can result in back pain You don’t need to leave your home to move in with your and in the most serious cases, permanent family, go into residential care or lose your independence. disability if not done correctly. The law says that Santé Care at Home live-in carers will employers must take reasonable precautions to ensure their employees don’t do any manual provide companionship, personal care and housekeeping handling that carries a risk of them being to allow you to carry on living the life you want. injured. This applies to you if you directly employ a personal assistant to care for you Santé Care at Home live-in care (but most likely will not if you hire someone service is designed for home-loving people through an agency). It is particularly important To nd out how we can help you stay at home, call us today to consider insurance in this situation. This Inspected and rated would cover any risk of the care worker injuring Good themselves, as well as any risk of them causing [email protected] an injury. Located in and serving Devon www.santecareathome.co.uk
30 Care Homes
Care homes If you’re looking for a residential care home, there’s a huge variety of options available. There are permanent care homes for older people, homes for younger adults with disabilities, and homes for children. Care homes may be privately owned or run by charities or councils. Some will be small care homes based in home-like domestic dwellings, while others will be based in large communal centres. One of the first options you have to consider when choosing residential care is whether you need the care home to provide nursing care, or just standard personal care.
Consider other options for care first Choice of care home Going into a care home is a major commitment The law says that where the local authority is for your future – it involves changing where funding accommodation, it must allow a person you live and potentially committing to paying 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 Local authority help with the cost of residential • help to live independently at home care is means-tested. You are free to make your own arrangements if you can afford the long- You should also consider whether you really term cost. However, it is worth asking the local need the amount of care on offer at a care authority for a financial assessment, because it home, and look at alternatives such as "extra might pay some or all of your care costs. care" housing schemes or warden-controlled sheltered accommodation. These options offer In the financial assessment, the local authority independence with an increased level of care can only take into account income and assets and support. you own. The local authority cannot ask members of your family to pay for the basic cost Personal care or nursing care? of your care. Read more about local authority Care homes for older people may provide funding for care and funding your own care. personal care or nursing care. A care home If you choose a care home that costs more than registered to provide personal care will offer the local authority usually expects to pay for a support, ensuring basic personal needs are person with your needs, you may still be able taken care of. A care home providing personal to live in the care home if a relative or friend is care only can assist you with meals, bathing, willing and able to pay the difference between going to the toilet and taking medication, if you what the local authority pays and the amount the need this sort of help. Find care homes without care home charges – this is known as a "top-up" nursing. fee. Some residents may need nursing care, and However, if their situation changes and they some care homes are registered to provide this. are no longer able to pay the top-up, the local These are often referred to as nursing homes. authority may have no obligation to continue to For example, a care home might specialise in fund the more expensive care home place and certain types of disability or conditions such as you may have to move out. It is worth thinking dementia. Find care homes with nursing. about this potentially difficult situation when deciding on care home options.
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Do not cancel your tenancy or sell your home Choosing a care home if you're having care until the final decision has been made by the provided by the local authority local authority. The value of your home must not After a needs assessment from social be included in the local authority's means-testing services, you will be provided with a care plan, until 12 weeks after you've confirmed that the which should make clear whether you need care home placement will be permanent. residential care and what other options, if any, The Care Act 2014 is changing how people might be available and most appropriate based are able to pay for their own care, introducing on your needs. the right for you to ask for the local authority Even if you're unlikely to be eligible for financial to pay for the cost of your care while you try to help with residential care home fees, it could sell your home. This is known as a "deferred still be worth involving social services. The payment scheme". needs assessment, and information they Choosing a care home if you're funding your provide, are likely to be very helpful in making own care decisions about care. If you are funding your own care, you have a Tips on choosing a care home great deal of options, and you will need to do • Check the most recent inspection report a lot of research on which care home provides to see how well the care home is doing and the best options for you in terms of its cost, if there is anything of concern. You can get location, services, and a host of other potential inspection reports by searching for the care factors. Read on for tips on choosing your care home on the Care Quality Commission home. website • Consider the location of a care home. Is the care home near family and friends? Are there shops, leisure or educational facilities in the area? Is the area noisy? • Is the care home focused on the residents' individual needs, or do they insist that residents adapt to their routine? • What arrangements are there for visitors? We are the independent regulator of Can residents come and go as they health and social care services in England please, as far as it is safe to do so? Are staff
We make sure health and social care services provide able to help residents to go out? Are outings people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality arranged? care and we encourage care services to improve. • What involvement would you have in the care home? How would you communicate www.cqc.org.uk with staff? Are there any support groups or regular meetings? • If safety and security are issues, what arrangements or supervision can the care home provide? • Will the care home meet your specific religious, ethnic, cultural or social needs? Will the correct diet be provided? Will the right language be spoken? Will there be opportunities to participate in religious activities? Do they allow pets? • When you are choosing accommodation it may be a lifelong decision, so you may want to think about planning for end of life care at the same time.
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• You might also want to check what people • have staff who don't make an effort to interact who have used the care home say about with residents and leave them sitting in front it from online feedback and review services, of the TV all day such as those put together on NHS Choices • be in a poorly maintained building, with Website. rooms that all look the same and have little • Ask for a temporary stay in the care home choice in furnishings before you decide. Temporary stays in • need cleaning, with shared bathrooms that care homes can also be arranged aren't cleaned regularly in certain circumstances, such as after a stay in hospital. If you move into a care home When you go into a care home, make sure the A good care home will: management and staff of the home know about • offer new residents and their families or your condition, disability and other needs. They carers a guide (in a variety of accessible may have some of this information already – for formats) describing what they can expect example, if the local authority has set up the while they're living there placement after a care needs assessment. • have staff who have worked there for a long Moving home can be unsettling at the best of time, know the residents well, and are times, so when you move into a care home, it's friendly, supportive and respectful good to have it planned in advance and have • employ well-trained staff, particularly where family or friends around you when you move to specialist care such as dementia nursing is make you feel more comfortable. required • involve residents, carers and their families in decision-making • support residents in doing things for themselves and maximising their independence • offer a choice of tasty and nutritious food, and provide a variety of leisure and social activities taking residents' needs into account • be a clean, bright and hygienic environment Tamar House Residential Home that's adapted appropriately for residents, 11 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN with single bedrooms available Our Care Home is just that - a caring, inviting • respect residents' privacy, modesty, dignity environment designed to o er comfort, security, and choices friendship and companionship. • be accredited under the Gold Standards • Respite short term care available - Including trial Framework for end of life care stays and carer relief • A choice of varied nutritious home-prepared meals An unsatisfactory care home might: • 24-hour personalised care and support from our • have a code of practice, but not adhere to it experienced sta team run by a dedicated care • fail to take into account residents' needs and home manager wishes, with most decisions made by staff • A calendar of varied social • let residents' care plans become out of date, activities or fail to reflect their needs accurately • Informal visits welcome anytime • have staff who enter residents' rooms without knocking, and talk about residents within Contact the Care Manager on Single earshot of other people 01752 510810 rooms Email: tamar.manager@theabbey eld.co.uk with en-suite • deny residents their independence – for or tamar.admin@theabbey eld.co.uk facili�es now available example, by not allowing someone to feed See us on: www.abbey eldtamarhouse.co.uk themselves because it "takes too long" Abbey eld Tamar Extra Care Society - A Registered Charity (No 1185635) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No 12182254) Registered in England and Wales. Registered O ce 11 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth PL6 5XN
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NURSING HOMES Postcode Name Address Town/City Phone number PL1 3QR Nazareth House Durnford Street Stonehouse 01752 660943 PL1 4QJ Parkwood House 72-74 Exmouth Road Stoke 01752 560000 PL1 4QQ Waters Park House Exmouth Road Stoke 01752 567755 PL1 5PF St James’s Lodge 74 Molesworth Road Stoke 01752 563003 PL1 5RH Drake Nursing Home 4 Nelson Gardens Plymouth 01752 551859 PL3 4HE Woodland Villa Care Home 91-95 Alma Road Plymouth 01752 669625 PL3 5AP Seymour Court Nursing & Care Glen Road Mannamead 01752 663626 PL3 5LW Hartley Park Care Home Hartley Road Hartley 01752 777719 PL3 5SY Torr Home The Drive Plymouth 01752 771710 PL3 5TX Consort House Nursing Home 35 Consort Close Torr Lane 01752 789861 PL5 2EW Butterfly Lodge Agaton Road St Budeaux 01752 360000 PL5 2EY Waypoints 20 Ernesettle Lane Plymouth 01752 360450 PL5 3HA Honeybourne House 98 Sheridan Road Manadon 01752 242789 PL5 4LE Cann House Care Home Tamerton Foliot Road Plymouth 01752 771742 PL7 1ZB Merafield View Nursing Home Underlane Plympton 01752 348070 PL7 4DZ Colebrook Manor Boringdon Road Plympton 01752 343001 PL7 4LE Meadowside and St. Francis 5 Plymbridge Road Plympton 01752 347774 PL9 8QX Furzehatt Residential & Nursing 59 Furzehatt Road Plymstock 01752 484008
You should also: Standards for care homes are outlined on • contact the benefits office, if you have one the CQC website. These standards are (including disability benefits, as these can be underpinned by regulations governing the affected by care home stays) quality and safety of services. • make sure other services at your previous The regulations are enforceable by law – the address have been notified CQC can enforce fines, public warnings, or • let friends and family know your know even suspend or close a service if they believe contact details and when you might feel up to people's basic rights or safety are at risk. receiving visitors Care home closures Rights of care home residents Care homes will sometimes close. This can The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the be because the owner decides not to carry regulator of health and adult social care on providing the service in that location (for in England, whether it's provided by the instance, if they retire), or because the home NHS, local authorities, private companies or has been sold or failed to meet legal standards. voluntary organisations. Under existing rules, Proposals to close a care home can obviously independent healthcare and adult social cause great distress. If the care home is services must be registered with the CQC. NHS operated by the local authority, it has to follow providers, such as hospitals and ambulance a consultation process with residents and services, must also be registered. families. The registration of organisations reassures It may be best to get specialist legal advice the public when they receive a care service or in this situation. You can find an appropriate treatment. It also enables the CQC to check solicitor through the Law Society. that organisations are continuing to meet CQC standards.
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RESIDENTIAL HOMES Postcode Name Address Town/City Phone number PL3 5HQ Evergreen Residential Home 2 Brandreth Road Mannamead 01752 665042 PL2 3QR Vicarage Residential Home 1 Honicknowle Lane Pennycross 01752 779050 PL3 4ST Thorn Park Care Home 69 - 73 Mannamead Road Mannamead 01752 224800 PL3 4NE Thornbury Villa 128 Peverell Park Road Peverell 01752 262204 PL6 5SR Valley View 298 Fort Austin Avenue Crownhill 01752 705109 PL3 4SR Charlton House 55 Mannamead Road Plymouth 01752 661405 PL3 4BG Durnsford Lodge Residential 90 Somerset Place Stoke 01752 562872 PL7 4JU Ashleigh Manor Residential Care 1 Vicarage Road Plympton 01752 346662 PL1 5RB Astor Hall 157 Devonport Road Stoke 01752 562729 PL1 4QQ Waters Park House Exmouth Road Stoke 01752 567755 PL9 9BD Selkirk House Church Road Plymstock 01752 492850 PL6 5JE Manor House 135 Looseleigh Lane Derriford 01752 777572 PL3 5HG Dewi-Sant Residential Home 32 Eggbuckland Road Plymouth 01752 664923 PL3 5BE Chatsworth Residential Home Dormy Avenue Mannamead 01752 660048 PL3 4BP Underhill House Residential 12 Underhill Road Stoke 01752 561638 PL3 6ND Manor Court 257 Blandford Road Efford 01752 768425 PL9 9QS Wisteria House Dementia Care 53 Hooe Road Plymouth 01752 606877 PL7 4LD Plymbridge House 3 Plymbridge Road Plympton 01752 345720 PL6 5XN Tamar House 11 Brest Road Derriford 01752 510810 PL9 8DA Nutley Lodge Care Home Nutley Lodge 43 Sherford Road 01752 402024 PL7 2HP Michaelstowe 211 Ridgeway Plympton 01752 339096 PL4 8QE Bethany Christian Home 2 Woodside Lipson 03003 038440 PL4 7PJ Trenant House Care Home Queens Road Lipson 01752 663879 PL4 6BN Vale Lodge Residential Home 38-40 Sutherland Road Mutley 01752 220456 PL3 5LW Hartley Park Care Home Hartley Road Hartley 01752 777719 PL3 4DN Camellia House 5 Belmont Place Plymouth 01752 509697 PL9 9NR The Retreat Care Home Belle Vue Road, Hooe Plymstock 01752 204044 PL1 5PN Arguam House 50 Valletort Road Stoke 01752 560480 PL4 6HH St Anne’s Residential Home 4 Houndiscombe Road Plymouth 01752 263263 PL9 9BD Oaklands 76-78 Church Road Plymstock 01752 481166 PL7 4DX The Durnford Society 31 Parkstone Lane Plympton 01752 344144 PL7 1UF Hardwick View Ridge Road Plympton 01752 342056 PL4 8RG Inglenook House 46 Lipson Road Lipson 01752 229448 PL5 3HA Honeybourne House 98 Sheridan Road Manadon 01752 242789 PL1 4BT Higher Park Lodge Devonport Park Stoke 01752 606066 PL3 5JF Greenacres care centre Pearn Road Plymouth 01752 674111 PL7 2HJ Amberley House 171-175 Ridgeway Plymouth 01752 336960 PL3 5BB Mayflower House Courtfield Road Mannamead 01752 828100 PL6 8AE Sunnymeade Quality Care 323 Tavistock Road Derriford 01752 781811 PL6 8AL The Lodge 334, Tavistock Road Derriford 01752 777243
35 Age UK Plymouth William & Patricia Venton Centre Astor Drive, Mount Gould, Plymouth PL4 9RD William Venton Centre 8 Memory Lane, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 9GH Tel: 01752 256020 www.ageukplymouth.org.uk ageukplymouth @plymouthageuk