Care and support

There are many kinds of care and support available, ranging from a little bit of help in your home to moving into a care home with 24-hour care. But deciding which solutions are right for you is not easy. This may be because of the kind of person you are, or what you can afford. We try to offer suggestions whoever you are, or whoever you are concerned about.

If you need help of any sort, you are entitled to have a social care needs assessment carried out by your local authority (council). It is always a good idea to ask for an assessment. Following your assessment, unless your care needs are critical, your council may not be able to provide regular direct assistance and may leave it to you, your family or carers to make the necessary arrangements for getting the help you need. However, some of the adaptations and equipment may be provided by or through your council.

A little bit of help at home

Help with shopping, cleaning, the garden, or odd jobs. Someone to accompany you on a walk, company, transport, social and leisure activities.

Care at home

Help with vital personal care that you can’t manage any longer, such as help to get up and go to bed, someone to give you a hand with meals and bathing or showering.

Adapting your home

You may be able to stay in your own home if it was adapted. Installing a more suitable bath or shower, a bedroom and/or bathroom downstairs, or a stairlift? There are many ways in which your home may be made suitable for you.

Moving to specially designed housing

You may be thinking of moving to an already adapted or specially designed flat or apartment. There are numerous and varied housing schemes available, including extra care housing where there are regular carers and support services on hand.

Moving to a care home

If you need a lot more care (social and/or nursing care) than can be provided in your own home, you may decide to move to a care home. There are many different sorts of care home.

Paying for care

As part of First Stop Care Advice local NHFA Care Fees Advisers who specialise in care funding can help you fully understand your entitlements from the State and provide financial advice on care plans and other options available to you for meeting your care costs and, as far as possible, preserve your capital and savings.

Request written, personal funding advice from FirstStop

You can find other financial advisers who hold an advanced qualification in long term care funding (the ‘CF8’ qualification) through the website www.unbiased.co.uk.

Some care is free

If your care needs are primarily health care needs you may be entitled to fully funded NHS continuing healthcare.

If you have been detained in hospital for assessment and treatment under the Mental Health Act you may be entitled to Free Section 117 aftercare.

Support for carers

If you need support to continue caring for someone at home. For example, someone to be with the person you look after while you have some time off or attend to your own affairs and appointments.