Home Care is aimed at providing care in your own home, so that you can remain in your familiar surroundings for as long as possible.

If you are finding it difficult to look after yourself, and you need someone to help with every day activities, such as washing, dressing, getting out of bed, cooking, and shopping, then community home care is there to assist you.

There are several ways that you can get help and care at home. If you have a family member or a friend that can help you each day, then they may be entitled to a carers allowance. Then their needs will be assessed.

If you or the person that looks after you feels that you need more help and care than you are getting at present, you can request an assessment from Social Services who cannot refuse your request. They may be able to provide home care for you in some way.

What happens at the assessment interview?

A Care Manager from Social Services will make an appointment with you and your carer to come and see you in your home.

You should tell the care manager exactly what your needs are, and how you think you can be helped. He or she should be able to give you some indication at that interview whether or not they will be able to help provide services for you.

If after the assessment a need is identified, then they should offer you the relevant services to give you home care. This could be for a carer to come into your home each day, and help you with your personal tasks, such as washing, dressing, bathing, shopping, receiving meals-on-wheels, or even adapting your home with mobitily aids or grab rails.

Funding your care at home

The Council in your area usually have some form of means test, to assess your ability to make a contribution towards the cost of your care services. But there is no standardised means test at present.

Different parts of the UK have different rules pertaining to financial testing. If you are already receiving Income Support or any other benefits, that does not necessarily mean you will qualify for funding towards your care.

In some parts of the country, charges to the client are quite high, in other areas, care services are much more reasonable, and are subsidised by their Local Councils. But be aware , you will probally be required to pay a contribution towards your care.

Councils have been directed by Social Services that their means testing must be 'reasonable'.

If you are unble to pay towards your care because of very limited means, then the charges you are expected to pay should either be waived or reduced.

The Council must allow you to have enough income left for you to live on, after you have paid for your care services.

Your family or spouce will not be expected to contibute towards the cost of your home care.

If you find that you have trouble paying for your care once the services are in place, then the Council cannot withdraw those services from you, but the amount you owe them could be recovered through civil procedures.

If after your financial assessment you are not happy with the result, Social Services can provide you with details of how to appeal or make a complaint.

Other funding options

Direct Payments

Is money paid directly to you by Social Services.

This money can be used for you to find and pay ,for your own home care using a Domercilary Care Agency, rather than using the services provided by Social Services.

If you do decide to go down the road of finding your own care package, you need to mention this to the Social Services Care Manager when you have the inital assessment with them.

In this case, you should make sure that Social Services have a temporary care package in place for you until you can arrange this care for yourself.

Please note that you do not have to accept Direct Payments if they are offered to you.

A Final word on Direct Payments.

This money cannot be used to pay for your care ,if your spouse, relative, friend or anyone else living in your house looks after you. But it can be used to pay a live-in carer.

Direct payments cannot be used for a permanent placement in a care home, but there is an exception for short stays of under 4 weeks at any one time.

Theses rules change for different parts of the UK, so you need to check with your local Council.

Finding a Domiciliary or Care Agency

There are many Domiciliary Care Agencies in every town and city who can provide the services that you require, (a comprehensive list can be found in yelow pages).

These agencies must be registered with the 'Commission for Social Care Inspections'. and are inspected once or twice a year.

Each agency is required to have, a written statement of purpose, with their aims, objectives, and services on offer.

You can request a copy of this document along with any other infomation you require from the agency of your choice.

When the agency comes to see you, they must do an assessment of your needs.

After telling them what you feel your requirements are. they should put together a package of care for you.

Make sure you are happy with the price asked for, and that the suggested care package is going to meet your needs, before you agree to the services recommended.

If you are not happy with what they suggest then you must say so.

If you are not happy with the Care Agency in general do not be afraid to change to another one. But remember that you will have to go through the assessment process all over again.

Other Benefits that can be looked into that may help you with your income are:

Pension Credit.

It is a fairly new benefit for the over sixties who are on a very low income, or for people who have some savings, or are on a small private pension. This pension credit is means tested, and aims to bring your income up to a more realistic level,

Council Tax Benefit

If you are living on your own in your home, you can get a discount on your council tax.

If you are on a low income , or are permanently disabled, or have severe mental problems , it may be possible to get a reduction in your council tax.

If you are disabled or elderly, and living in a 'granny flat' with your family living next door, then your granny flat should be exempt from paying council tax.

Housing Benefit is another area that can be investigated, but again it will be means tested and certain rules apply.

These benefits can be claimed at your local Housing and Benefits office.

Attendance Allowance

Is not means tested.

The criteria for Attendance Allowance being awarded:

It is a benefit for older people over the age of 65 who are very frail and are uable to care for themselves , and are in of need help with their personal care several times during the day and night, this payment helps to cover the cost of someone constantly attending to all your needs.

There are two levels of care.

Level 1 ,
Covers the need for care during the day.
At present the allowance is set at £43.15 per week.

Level 2,
Covers the need for care both day and night.
The allowance is set at £64.50 per week.

If you are terminally ill, then you will qualify for a higher rate of attendance allowance.

To claim this allowance, contact your local Disability Benefits Office.

Domecilary or Care Agencies

Provide care at home.

Trained health care assistants provide daily assistance with your personal needs when you need them, by coming into your home.

If you need twenty four hour care then it is possible for a carer to live in, but you need to have a spare bedroom for them to sleep in.

Other care services available

Respite care

Is available for the person (your family member or friend) who cares for you each day.

Social services, along with your care manager, will make alternative arrangements for you to be taken care of while your carer has a few days off, this may mean that you will have to go into a care home for a few days.

Day Centres

Where you can meet other people and participate in various activities like, board and card games, gentle keep fit exercises, day outings,
hot meals. Some day care centers even provide assisted bathing.

Some Voluntary organisations and church groups have volunteers who will come and help you with gardening, small diy jobs, shopping, dog walking, or just sitting with you so that you hav some company for a while.

The British Red Cross and St John Ambulance can often loan out long term, items such as walking aids, wheel chairs, or commodes.

Visit Age Concern on our Further information and Support Groups page for more information on Home Care and The British Red Cross for Care in the Home