As we are living longer the cost of care is something we are likely to be faced with but may not consider until it becomes unexpectedly urgent. The types of care are explained here but if you need support we can help you consider your options and find the right care.
Care At Home
Getting some support can help you to stay at home. Care and support varies enormously, it may be simple companionship that you are looking for or help around the house. You may need a call once a week, a few times a week or daily, or it could be that you need a live in carer or Personal Assistant. Try not to skimp on the care you need or ignore the fact that you need it as this often ends in trouble. In the same way getting used to too much care can make you more dependent.
Quality care and meal provision, adaptations to the home such as stair lifts, sensors, community alarms, assistive technology for example identification doorbells and medication reminders and other specialist aids can be useful and are readily available.
Most people would like to stay at home for as long as they can. The Local Authority and NHS have services designed to support independent living, some of which are FREE! Let us help you access care and support to help you retain your independence.
Helping You Stay At Home
Have you thought about asking for?
- A hot meal delivery, help with the laundry or shopping
- A pendant alarm or medication reminder
- A door alarm/door camera or movement sensor
- Aids and adaptations to your home or property design
- Some help with the garden, cleaning or daily chores
- Information on local groups/clubs
- Falls prevention, suitable exercise and diet for ageing well
Supported Living
Independent living with flexible care services can be provided by a number of options and accommodation that could be privately rented, shared ownership, owned properties or have a social landlord. There may be shared living schemes in your area which can include living with support in a family home or a retirement village with support for meals and laundry or even personal care.
Residential And Nursing Care Homes
You may consider moving into a care or nursing home for a short time, for a period of convalescence or respite for yourself or a carer. A time of crisis may not be the right time to make a permanent move which may be premature or unaffordable in the long term. Be aware that needs may change and there may be other housing and care services and options that you didn’t know about.
Some homes (residential care homes) provide help with personal care, others may provide care from a registered nurse (nursing homes), some do both and have ‘dual registration’ with the Care Quality Commission, the industry regulators. There are homes that concentrate on rehabilitation and some will cater for specific needs for example; brain injury or a specific group of people such as ex service personnel or a faith or culture.
Supporting A Carer
Don’t suffer in stoic silence
Just a little bit of help or company might make all the difference and for a carer it might be taking some time out, if you can, to allow for your own wellbeing and resilience. Carer stress is often the reason for a break down in care and rather that a cared for person it is often the carer that needs support. Easier said than done if a loved one needing your help won’t agree to or allow any formal care. The Local Authority or a local carer group may be able to offer some support and we may be able to help you understand the options to help you stay at home for longer.
Coming out of Hospital
This is one of the most common times for arranging care quickly and it may be taken out of your hands with a process called Discharge to Assess. Often a new or changing package of care (both at home and in a care home) is now arranged by the Hospital. A stay in Hospital may be the very thing needed and enable a return home but it can also make you feel more dependent or make you realise that maybe you weren’t managing as well as you had thought. This is a time to assess the care and support that is needed and whether it can be managed safely at home.
Many people want to go home but feel tired, less confident or able to manage. A spouse/partner or friend, family, carer maybe unable to cope. Sometimes this need is being highlighted for the first time, it’s a shock and the situation can seem unmanageable. Care Navigators can help assess and arrange care and support you to plan financially for longer term.
Choosing A Care Home
Need help to choose?
Thinking about moving into permanent care but not sure what to look for, what or who to ask? It’s worth starting with what is important to you and consider some of the key points in our Choosing a Care Home Checklist.
Submit your email to receive the FREE Choosing a Care Home Checklist
Please ask for an assessment of your care needs from the Local Authority and make sure that Continuing Healthcare has been considered if your care needs are primarily health as this will mean your care will be free and can be paid wherever you receive the care, even in your own home. Get in touch or give us a call on 01280 818784 if you would like some advice and guidance.
FAQ
How do I find good care?
The Care Quality Commission monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and publish what they find, including performance ratings to help people choose care. We can help you find, arrange and review care and make sure that you are choosing the right care for you. Please get in touch if you need some help to find good care.
What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?
A care home usually only provides residential, personal care. A nursing home will have a qualified nurse on-site to provide health related care. Some can provide both types of care, and have a dual registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and some can meet more complex needs or specialise in mental health well-being such as living with Dementia. It can be daunting choosing care for a loved one, if you are not sure what type of care you need or need some help to find, arrange and review care, please get in touch
Can you choose your own care home?
In theory yes but it will usually depend on who is paying. If you are self-funding your care, it is important to remember that 25% of people funding their own care run out of money and a Local Authority may not pay what you have agreed privately with a provider. A Local Authority must offer choice of accommodation but not necessarily at the same cost as a privately agreed fee. It is important to check continuity of care and care funding before a permanent move. If you would like a Care Funding and Benefit check please get in touch.
How do the CQC assess care?
The CQC have inspectors that assess care providers and they ask the same five questions of all the services they inspect:
- Are they safe? Safe: you are protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
- Are they effective?
- Are they caring?
- Are they responsive to people's needs?
- Are they well-led?
How much is care?
The cost of care varies greatly, not only by the type of care, for example at home or in a care or nursing home but also geographically the differences can be huge. The setting and environment also affect the cost for example an en-suite may be more expensive and rooms with a window or access to a garden could come at a premium.
Care homes in England (2020/21) average a cost of:
£35’500 per year for a residential care home, or
£45,000 to £65,000 per year if nursing is required.
Approximately 49% will be ‘self-funding’ their care at a 44% higher fee than that of someone placed by a Local Authority
If you would like help to consider your options and assess your care needs please get in touch
PDF Downloads
Click to Download - Finding Good Care - PDF
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