Autumn years health choices
entering a care home what to look for
when a loved one has to go into a care home there are many types of help they could need to help make their stay a more pleasant one some you may not be aware of this site is a guide to what is available and to what may be needed
subjects to consider when you move into a care home
Social services
find a care home
search for a care homes using google maps enter your home town click enter care homes
Continuity plays a great part in a persons care & recovery
taking them away from everything they are used to doctors, dentists, opticians, will all have to change family, friends, and neighbours, will find it hard to visit regularly the person will not be able to visit memorable places and places they like or recognise everything will change, be strange, upsetting, and detrimental to them. The costs of such a move, away from all they know-ie travelling to visit, activities, places and familiar people. This makes their care much harder for them to get used to and settle.
Care homes that understand and can manage a persons condition have to be a priority.
does the home use distraction techniques and how do they manage challenging behaviours
email communication
Ask the home for an email address. contacting a home via email for any reason,
provides a traceable means of communication, and protects the home from any miscommunication between family and professionals.
If care is being overseen by an LPA welfare and finance, or both this also protects them, the care home, and all professionals can easily be copied into any communication regarding care, expenditure, and any issues,
the emails can then be used as proof of messages between all parties.
calendar for appointments did you know !
calendar for appointments - care home and health & welfare attorney should have a calendar for persons appointments
based around main lpa availability as clashing appoIntments can be avoided
does the home have an incidents book for accidents & injuries to be reported
did you know A decision to move a person into a care home by the local social services can be overridden by powers of attorney if they all agree to the home they have under consideration respect must be given to type of care the care home gives for the persons needs
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards dols
DoLS protects the human rights of people who lack capacity to consent to arrangements for their safety and well-being, when those arrangements will deprive them of their liberty. by setting out ways for people to challenge a care plan that deprives them of their liberty, if they or their relatives think that less restrictive options should be used. they make commissioners, relatives, and care staff, look for less restrictive options in a person-sensitive way. to find creative ways to make someone happy within a care plan
from 2018 will see Dols replaced by the liberty protection safeguard (lps)
Find your local council - GOV.UK ask for someone who deals with dols or lps
care quality commission cqc
CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.
if you believe a persons wishes are not being met or care is lacking in some way
Tel: 03000 616161
you can register a concern with your local coucil
office of the public guardian opg
Make, register or end a power of attorney. apply to search the Office of the Public Guardian registers to see if someone has an attorney or deputy acting on their behalf.
Main Telephone: 0300 456 0300
advanced decisions
the person carefully considers & make decisions while capable
Advance statement a written statement that sets your preferences, wishes, beliefs and values regarding your future care.
You can write the statement yourself, with support if needed
- How you want any religious or spiritual beliefs to be reflected in your care
- where you'd like to be cared for – for example, at home or in a chosen care home
- how you like to do things – for example, if you prefer a shower instead of a bath
- music, TV or DVD preferences
An advance statement isn't legally binding, but your health & welfare attorney and healthcare team will take it into account.
Advance decision
is a written statement you can make now to refuse a specific type of treatment in the future.It's a good idea to discuss the treatments you're deciding to refuse with your doctor or healthcare team so you fully understand the consequences. you may want to refuse a treatment in some circumstances, but not others.
You may also want to refuse a treatment that could potentially keep you alive, known as life-sustaining treatment.
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – may be used if your heart stops
- ventilation – this may be used if you can't breathe by yourself
- antibiotics – these help your body fight infection
You can't ask for anything that's against the law, If you decide to refuse life-sustaining treatments in the future,
your advance decision needs to be:
- written down signed by you
- signed by a witness
- give a copy to attorneys
Make sure your doctor has a copy of the advance decision to include in your medical notes.
Health & Welfare Attorney
A health and welfare attorney, helps the donor make decisions regarding health care and expenditure if the person becomes incapable of making a decisions their wishes can be protected you should register with the persons medical practitioners to see medical records which helps in any benefits claim
you can have more than one power of attorney listed the first person registered becomes the person all others attorneys need to go through
did you know A decision to move a person into a care home by the local social services can be overridden by powers of attorney if they all agree to the home they have under consideration respect must be given to type of care the care home gives for the persons needs
valetudo et benevolentia actor
gp health records
can help manage persons condition & apply for grants & benefits
a person needing care in their own home can apply for grants and benefits such as personal independence payment
a person who already receives personal independence payments and has new conditions and or requiring going into a care home they should inform dwp as they may qualify for extra benefits or can have reduced benefits if care is now provided in a care home the power of attorney for health and welfare is normally responsible to fill in forms in the case of mental infirmities
subject access requests
you have the right to have data added corrected or erased
This is a must do making a subject access request (sar) request via email is traceable proof of the request
you have the right to have records corrected and updated added to before you use them in any benefit claim
this also includes records held by care homes and social services used in assessing care
any benefit already claimed you can reapply with updated notes if needed this may result in care being reassessed and moving into a more suitable care home
Contact the ICO for advice or to make a complaint.
ICO Telephone: 0303 123 1113 Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm
properties & financial affairs attorney
As a property and financial affairs attorney, you make or help the person make decisions regarding financial matters and expenditure if the person becomes incapable of making a decisions their wishes can then be protected you will need to register with the persons financial institutions as their lasting power of attorney you can have more than one power of attorney listed the first person registered as an attorney becomes the person all others attorneys need to go through you should make a list of assets to include banks, properties, loaned out items , land, ect,
trace lost accounts age concern 0800 055 6112.
Tell Us Once Central government a service that lets you tell multiple government organisations at once about a death. on 0800 085 7308
as an lpa you would be required to inform goverment benefit departments
Make a lasting power of attorney - GOV.UK
"always seek legal advice"
last will & testament
"it is important to have a will so your wishes are fulfilled”
“it’s important for someone who has died to leave behind specific gifts and messages ”
To a friend or family member or a charity they associated with solicitors often act on behalf of such charities they wave their fee for a donation to said charity if you do not have a will your assets are dealt with according to laws of 'intestacy' and may not go to any of the persons you wish them to go to
"your power of attorney for properties and financial affaires should help you make your will as a priority"
"you can make a will after a person is deemed incapable"
"say if a letter found states i want billy to have my train set"
"always seek legal advise"
find your family
searching for family and any other persons mentioned in a will if there was no will and the estate goes intestate you would need to trace spouses and children or common law and children if not married & no children descendants of donors grandparents
"always seek legal advice"
click contact on home page we will respond by return email
disability medical access
access medical
Medical access cards use staff toilets public places not always disabled access
radar keys
radar keys access public buildings to use their disabled toilet facilities
blue badge parking
free disabled parking available from your local council
DISABLED RAIL PASS
call 0345 605 0525 7am-10pm mon-sun 1/3 off for you and carer
bus pass
available from your local council free bus service may have time restrictions
carers passport
experience and knowledge of carers help treatment and stay in hospital more comfortable usually allows 24/7 access for carer
metro gold card
If you have a Concessionary Travel Pass (CT Pass), you can buy a Metro Gold Card which gives you a year’s travel on Metro, the Shields Ferry and on Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland. 0191 20 20 747 Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
vat free medical equipment
If you qualify for medical equipment as a disabled person
you may not have top pay vat
entertainment
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entertainment
Salvation army 07809134698
Age uk 01325 302832
cea cinema cards
cards for you and a carer to go to the cinema carer goes free
"grants and help"
this section is available help from other groups
this book is written by people living with dementia for people living with dementia
legal aid
call citizens advise bureau 0800 1448848
free legal advice
disabled grants
Apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant - GOV.UK
adaptations when staying in your own home
subject access request (sar)
A person may ask you for the information you hold about them.
"you have the right to also have data erased" corrected or updated anytime Contact the ICO for advice or make a complaint.
ICO Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
vat free medical equipment
SUBSCRIPTION PURCHASE FROM AMAZON FIVE ITEMS FOR MEDICAL NEEDS UP TO 15% OFF
utility companies
register with utility companies as a vulnerable person
you should register with any utilities provider as a vulnerable person
you can register your lpa for finance as first point of contact
help schemes such as winter fuel payment warm front along with utilities providers which may have their own scheme with other offers
usually requires direct debit arrangement and bills paid up to date once you enter a care home you should ask you lpa for finance to arrange full and final bills to be paid
Continuing Healthcare
CHC apply Appeals Legal Support
Fully NHS-funded – No cost to eligible individuals Not means-tested – Income and assets don't effect eligibility
All ages – Available for adults of any age with complex health needs
Flexible settings – Care at home, care homes, nursing homes, or hospices
Call us on 0333 987 5118
patient transport service
Non-emergency patient transport services
These services provide free transport to and from hospital for people including:
- those whose condition means they need additional medical support during their journey
- those who find it difficult to walk
- parents or guardians of children who are being transported
PTS may not be available in all areas. To find out if you're eligible for PTS and how to access it, you'll need to speak to your GP or the healthcare professional who referred you to hospital.
hospital travel costs
contact the hospital cashier office
you can recover travel costs to hospital
when referred by a doctor or health care official
You can claim hospital travel costs if you, or those you depend on, get at least one of the following:
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance (income-based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
- Guarantee Pension Credit
If an adult or dependant child has to travel to your treatment with you for medical reasons, you can claim their travel costs too.