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PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE |
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All Carers should consider what would happen in the future should you be unable to continue to care, but especially those who care for anyone with long-term Health or Social Care needs, and particularly Older Carers. The aim is to prevent crisis situations for either yourself or the person you care for, by planning practically and financially for the future. We recognise that some Carers may require complex plans, some may just need emotional support to allow you to raise issues with your family and friends The first steps may involve opening up discussion with the person you care for and other family members and friends. This will allow them to identify what information they require, whether other agencies need to become involved, and at what stage to take these steps. The Carer Support Workers at the Carer's Centre can provide practical information and assistance with referrals, and emotional support before and during this sometimes difficult time. Carer Support Workers work with Carers to identify any current needs, think about the need to plan ahead, discuss the options available, start to make plans and decide when to begin implementing them and offer continued support once the Cared For person accesses any alternative support. Other services available at the Carers Centre include the Carers Emergency Card, Training sessions on financial planning covering topics such as Power of Attorney, Wills and Trusts, and the work with Carer Support Workers to compile Person Centred Plans, Life Books and Health Plans ADULT SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH Telephone or drop into the Contact Centre at Wesley House, 01744 456600 for referral to the various sections of ASCH, for the person you care for, if you feel it is the right time for them to live independently from you, with assistance. This may be in their own property with support from Care Workers, in Supported Living schemes or in residential or nursing care homes. See previous sections of the pathway for specific services for Vulnerable Adults or Older People. This is a difficult choice to even think about, and members of the Carer Support Team are available to listen to you, discuss the options with you, and provide emotional support SHELTERED AND EXTRA CARE HOUSING Sheltered Housing is self contained homes designed for older people so that they can live independently in a comfortable, secure environment. Some sheltered housing schemes have a warden service, who provides advice, support and help with social activities. Most sheltered housing will have a call system or community alarm. This means that, in an emergency, you can get help from either the warden when they are on duty and through an emergency contact service at other times. St Helens council is a non-stock holding local authority so all sheltered or retirement housing for rent is provided by private businesses or Housing Associations (also referred to as Registered Social Landlords or RSLs.) They offer housing to people in the greatest need, setting criteria describing who qualifies for their housing. To buy a property there is usually a minimum age for people living in retirement/sheltered housing, but younger people can often buy properties on behalf of an older person. There are usually service and support charges, which contribute to the cost of wardens and communal facilities. The majority of properties are sold on a long lease which sets out in a legal and binding form the duties and obligations of both the management company and residents. Shared ownership is also becoming a popular option on many housing association developments. You can part buy, part rent, which can be an affordable way to protect your assets whilst still qualifying for benefits Extra Care Housing is designed with varying levels of care and support available on site. It comes in many forms, flats bungalow estates and retirement villages. It may provide an alternative to a care home for some people. If you are considering Extra Care Housing you should check what care services are available in the scheme you are considering, whether they meet the needs of the person you care for, how they are paid for, how they are planned and whether the person is eligible for financial help. Professional advice should be sought before signing any lease or tenancy agreement You should ensure you are receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled, especially any supplements to your retirement pension including Pension Credit and Council Tax benefit. People who are renting and have a low income and limited capital should check their eligibility for Housing Benefit, which you can do here at the Carer's Centre To apply for sheltered housing in the social rented sector in St Helens there is a scheme called 'Under One Roof' where all properties for rent are listed, and people can bid for the tenancy. For further details view the website at www.under-one-roof.org.uk, telephone 01744 636363, or view the advert in the local press List of all RSLs in St Helens - click here Housing Care - www.housingcare.org - Comprehensive website with details of all the various housing options, and search facility to find local information Housing Options - 0845 456 1497- www.housingoptions.org.uk Independent advisory service on housing, accommodation and support options for people with learning disabilities. Initial telephone advice, and info from the website is free, there are charges if individual plans are commissioned. Reeve Court Applications and enquires - Margaret Devine 0151 493 4000 MOVING TO A CARE HOME Moving into a Care Home can be a difficult, emotional time for both yourselves and the person you care for. It can be made much worse if you lack information about how to access details of Care Homes, how costs are met and how to get the specific information and support everyone requires. Before you begin looking for a care home, you should contact Adult Social Care and Health by telephoning the contact Centre on 01744 456600, or visiting them at Wesley House. A referral will be made to a Care Manager, who will assess the needs of the person requiring long term care, and arrange a financial assessment to establish who will pay the care home fees. Even if you know there are capital and savings available to pay fees, you should still have an assessment. Care Managers will be able to provide advice about the selection of homes to meet the individual assessed needs. The subject of moving into long term care will involve many emotions for you as the Carer, it is normal to feel great sadness, guilt and anxiety, but also a sense of relief that the person you care for will be provided with the level of care required in a safe and secure environment. You will also have to consider the fact that the person you care for will have their own feelings, they may fear losing independence and choice, may feel abandoned and that they will lose their dignity. However, many people going into long term care feel a great relief because they have felt a burden at home, and as long as they have been involved in the process of choosing the home and know their wishes have been considered, they will have a more positive feeling about the future. It will be a confusing and highly emotional time, but consider the fact that rather than giving up on the person you care for, you are doing the very best you can for them by ensuring their needs are met. The next step is to choose the accommodation. It is vital that the right approach is taken, it is far more likely that a person will feel comfortable and settled, physically and emotionally, if they have been consulted and involved in the choice of care home. Of course, this will not always be possible, but as you will use your knowledge of the needs and preferences of the person you care for, you will feel you have made a choice that will make for a safe, secure and caring home. Some of the things to be considered when choosing a home are
St Helens Adult Social Care and Health have a list of Care Homes, the CARE HOMES RESOURCE DIRECTORY - click here for link to document. All homes are regulated and inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, who make sure that homes meet the standards set by Government, their reports are available at www.csci.org.uk Care Homes generally fall into two categories: Independent Care Homes - These homes are owned by private individuals or companies, normally run as a business charging fees for accommodation. These will vary depending on the standards and facilities of the home Local Authority Care Homes - Run by Adult Social Care and Health, these homes have a standard weekly charge Who pays for Long Term Care? If the person requiring care has Capital and savings over £ 21,500 they will be required to pay the full costs of care. Capital includes the value of property, unless it is occupied by their partner, a relative over 60 or who is disabled, or a child under 16 for whom the person has a responsibility to care for. If capital and savings are under £ 13,000 the Local Authority will pay fees in full, up to their usual rate for the particular type of home. Top up fees can be paid if the home chosen is more expensive than the Local Authority will fund, but these have to be paid by a third party, not from the capital and savings of the person requiring care. St Helens Adult Social Care and Health have a booklet, CHARGES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND NURSING CARE - click here for link to document Who pays for Nursing Care? Care arranged and funded by the NHS is referred to as Continuing Health Care. Broadly speaking, the person you care for must have complex health needs and require regular supervision from a Consultant, Palliative Care Specialist, Therapist or Nurses. Care needs are regularly assessed, and the person may move in and out of eligibility. A decision can be made whether the person is in hospital or having difficulties coping at home. If the person is not eligible for Continuing Health Care, Social Services will arrange for their placement in a nursing or residential home. The NHS will assess and pay for the registered nursing care element of nursing home fees, but the person may have to pay towards the other costs, depending on their financial assessment by Social Services. Contact St Helens PCT Long Term Care Office, Alexandra Park, Prescot Road, 01744 620371 for more information MAKING DECISIONS Click here for link to document This document covers the principles of supporting someone to make decisions, how to make a Lasting Power of Attorney, Living Wills and Advance Decisions, and how to apply to the Court of Protection if someone has lost capacity and no LPA is in place. For details of the Office of the Public Guardian, see www.publicguardian.gov.uk Wills and Trusts - Trusts are a way of arranging an inheritance, managing money or other assets and can avoid benefits and care funding being stopped. Income Support and other benefits stop being paid if a person has more than a certain amount of money, but this can be avoided by a Discretionary Trust. Once assets are put into a Trust they belong to the Trust, not the person intended to benefit. They may get gifts or payments from the Trust. Trusts may be a way of managing the family home, this is useful if a person lacks legal capacity to enter into a contract to own a home. Trusts are normally set up as part of a Will, however they can be set up at any time. The most useful form of trust for someone with a learning disability is a Discretionary Trust. Anyone wishing to set up a Trust is advised to seek the assistance of a Solicitor who is an expert in Trust law -
INDEPENDENT BROKERAGE Work with Carers and families of people with Learning Difficulties, to allow them to plan and get support, and to self direct their support by providing independent information about choices and possibilities. Can help to source suitable housing and/or support providers. Will help to access finances that they may be entitled to. Will attend meetings between family and providers. Need to be aware that cost to the Carer may be involved, although there is usually no costs for initial enquiry Step by Step Living Network - 01706 357711 - www.livingnetwork.org.uk
OTHER SERVICES
Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information provided to Carers, St.Helens Carers Centre do not undertake any liability for any error or omission. The products and services listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by St.Helens Carers Centre |
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