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HELPLINE: 0845 017 7720
Few of us like to contemplate big changes to our lifestyle that we haven’t necessarily chosen. It sometimes pays, however, to do some thinking and planning for the future before the need becomes urgent. This may mean starting to get familiar with the possibilities for future care and, in some cases, making some financial plans.
There is a lot of information available - so much that it can be confusing. We hope these links will help you find the information you need.
These sites provide a very wide range of information on all aspects of the care of older people, both residential and non residential.
Counsel and Care – an overview of residential care
http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/assets/library/documents/CandCguideComplete.pdf
Age Concern – a vast range of information on every aspect of care in later life
http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/
Help the Aged – another organisation with information on many topics
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb
Alzheimers Society – a great resource for anyone facing, or helping someone with, dementia
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/index.php
First Stop – another wide ranging information source
http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/care-advice.aspx
Local Information
Overview of Care for Older People (Essex, Southend, Thurrock)
http://www.carechoices.co.uk/e_books/essex.html
Planning Ahead
A number of Independent Financial Advisors specialise in planning for retirement and future care. To find a specialist advisor in your area:
http://www.unbiased.co.uk/find-an-ifa/
Telephone: 0800 0853250
Alternatively, Age Concern also offers unbiased financial planning advice for retirement and future care
http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/financial-advice.asp
Telephone: 0845 685 1077
Help the Aged also offers unbiased advice about financial planning for old age, including information about Equity Release
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/FinancialAdvice/
Local Information
If help is needed from the Local Authority, this will be based on an assessment of need and means tested. More information can be found here:
Essex
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/leaflets/Residential.pdf
Southend
http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?content=3376
Thurrock
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_079515
Sudden Change
Sometimes things change fast, perhaps because of an accident, ill health or changes in family circumstances.
If you, or someone you are helping, needs care in an emergency, you may want to talk to someone who can give immediate advice on what can be done. Whether or not you think you may be entitled to, or want, to receive services organised by the Council, your Local Authority may be a good place to start, as they will know about the various services that may be available.
If you live in Essex, you can contact the Council through the call Centre (Contact Essex) on:
0845 7430 430 (e mail: contactessex@essexcc.gov.uk)
or go directly to the special call centre for social care (Social Care Direct) on
0845 603 7630 (e mail SocialCareDirect@essexcc.gov.uk)
If you live in Southend, you can contact the Council on:
Social care general enquiries: 01702 215000
If you live in Thurrock, you can contact the Council on:
01375 652865/8 (e-mail older.peoples.services@thurrock.gov.uk.)
In Hospital
The question of future care often comes up when someone is in hospital. Sometimes, hospital staff may indicate that someone will need residential care when they are discharged. In this case, the hospital social work team should be contacted as soon as possible as they can advise on all forms of care. Ward staff will be able to tell you how to contact them.
There is general advice about hospital discharge here:
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/HealthAdvice/HealthServices/LeavingHospital/default.htm
Local Information
Local hospitals (ward staff or information services) will have contact details for their social work teams. If you are, or your relative is, in hospital and having difficulty in making their views and wishes about future care known, then Age Concern Essex operates an advocacy service that may be able to help. This website: http://www.ageconcernessex.co.uk/frames/agcnsx06f.htm gives numbers for the different hospitals.
Alternatively, contact Age Concern Essex for information:
01245 346106 (e mail: info@ageconcernessex.co.uk)
Being a Carer
Many of us help or take care of older relatives or friends, but we don’t always think of ourselves as “carers”. Nevertheless, there are many services available for “carers”, especially if you are spending a substantial amount of time looking after somebody else.
Financial help - Carers Allowance:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012522
General services and support for carers:
Carers UK – the national organisation for carers
http://www.carersuk.org/Home
Information from “Help the Aged”
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/BeingACarer/
Information from “Counsel and Care”
http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/assets/library/documents/10_Carers_What_Support_is_Available.pdf
This webpage gives a good list of other sources of help nationally.
http://www.carersuk.org/Information/Findinghelp/copy_of_Nationalorganisations
Forum for people caring for someone with dementia
http://www.alzheimersforum.org/site/index.php
Local Information
Local councils have information about local groups and services to support carers. Information about carers’ services in Essex can be found here:
Carers' Rights
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/guc.jsp?channelOid=22718&guideOid=22786&guideContentOid=23545
Essex Carers Grapevine
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/leaflets/Grapevine_2.pdf
Information about services in Southend can be found here:
http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?content=604
http://www.southend.gov.uk/resources/CarersServices.pdf
Information about services in Thurrock can be found here:
Carers' Rights
http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/socialcare/adults/content.php?page=carer_rights_facts
Services
http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/socialcare/adults/content.php?page=carer_support_services
Thurrock Carers Centre
http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/socialcare/policy/pdf/carers_help.pdf
Carers who spend a significant amount of time looking after another person are entitled to an assessment of their own needs. This is a good opportunity to talk over your situation with someone experienced in this field, whether or not you are thinking about using specific services.
To request an assessment, contact:
Essex: 0845 603 7630 (e mail SocialCareDirect@essexcc.gov.uk)
Southend: Social care general enquiries: 01702 215000
Thurrock: Carers Centre: 01375 413705.
Taking Decisions
We all have the right to decide for ourselves how we want to live our lives. In law, everyone is assumed to have this right unless it can be demonstrated that they are no capable of taking decisions for themselves. This is true even when people seem to be taking decisions that don’t appear to others to be in their own best interests. Sometimes, however, we may want someone else to take over some responsibility for decision making on our behalf.
This section contains links to information about the different legal arrangements that exist to regulate the situation when someone prefers to let another person, such as a relative, take decisions on their behalf, or when it appears that they are no longer capable of taking decisions in their own best interest.
An overview from the national Relatives & Residents Association
http://www.relres.org/pdf/Living_in_a_Care_Home/Relatives%20and%20making%20decisions.pdf
The Mental Capacity Act
http://www.carersnet.org.uk/acts/making.pdf
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/459
The Court of Protection
http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/about/court-of-protection.htm
Powers of Attorney
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B3D2A90-A990-4D92-9C8E-6339CF5C2800/0/lasting_powers_of_attorney.pdf
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/472
Living Wills
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/faq.jsp?channelOid=15176&guideOid=96535&oid=96564
Local Information
Mental Capacity Act in Essex and Southend
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/content/binaries/documents/MCA_11-essex_imca.pdf
Mental Capacity Act in Thurrock
http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/socialcare/content.php?page=capacity_act_carers
HELPLINE: 0845 017 7720
| © 2008 The Relatives & Residents Association (Essex)