Options Birmingham & Solihull - A guide to care and independent living Winter 2018

OPTIONS Birmingham & Solihull

Winter 2018

A guide to care and independent living

Leaving hospital What’s next?

NHS continuing healthcare Who’s eligible?

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SOCIAL CARE

tips

CONTRIBUTORS: Age UK Birmingham Alzheimer’s Society Heart of England NHS FT NHS Choices Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Healthcare services Choosing the right one

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• Personal care / washing / bathing / showering / dental hygiene / dressing • Medication assistance & administration • Household tasks / light domestic & laundry • Cooking / preparing meals • Shopping / companionship / outings / holidays • Sleepovers / waking nights • Help with getting up and going to bed • Sitting service & respite care • Accompanying clients to hospital / doctors’ visits

98%

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We specialise in:

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Contents Keeping well this winter........................................................................................................ 4 When should you go to Hospital?......................................................................................... 5 Preparing for a Hospital stay.............................................................................................. 5-6 During your Hospital stay...................................................................................................... 7 Leaving Hospital..................................................................................................................... 8 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council – After your stay in hospital......................... 12-13 NHS continuing healthcare............................................................................................. 14-16 Personalised care............................................................................................................. 16-17 What is NHS-funded nursing care?..................................................................................... 18 The Motability Scheme........................................................................................................ 19 Paying for your own care and support.......................................................................... 20-21 Care services in your home............................................................................................. 22-23 The Care Quality Commission Social Care and GP top tips........................................... 24-25 Going home from hospital? Age UK Birmingham are here to help............................ 26-27 Alzheimer’s Society Services in Birmingham.................................................................. 28-29 NHS Hospitals and services in Birmingham and Solihull.................................................... 30 Useful contacts..................................................................................................................... 31 If you need medical help fast, but it is not life threatening - call 111............................. 32

Welcome and

introduction

This guide is intended to help you, your carer and your relatives understand how your local health services can help you after discharge from hospital. Also information to help you to live independently or access support and care services in your area.

OCTAGON DESIG N & M AR K E T ING LT D

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Introduction Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest hospital Trusts in England, serving a diverse population of 1.2 million across Birmingham East and North, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and South Staffordshire. It includes Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, along with community healthcare services for Solihull residents and Birmingham Chest Clinic. There are also satellite renal units to serve patients who live in the surrounding area, including Castle Vale, Balsall Heath, Solihull, Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield. Last year we: • Received 267,793 A&E attendances • Supported 10,242 births • Fulfilled 856,556 outpatients appointments Heart of England has a workforce of 10,565 staff and is recognised as a centre of excellence for thoracic surgery, vascular, bariatric and pathology services, as well as the treatment of infectious diseases. The Trust specialises in treating a range of conditions including heart and kidney disease, cancer and HIV/AIDS. It is also home to the West Midlands Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre and a nationally renowned weight management clinic and research centre.

Keeping well this winter Now the winter months are upon us, follow these top tips to help you stay warm and well and to help you beat the winter bugs, seasonal flu and sickness viruses: • Have regular hot drinks and eat at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps 4

keep energy levels up during winter.

• If you have reduced mobility, are 65 or over, or have a health condition such as heart or lung disease, you should keep your home well heated. Use a thermometer to check rooms are at least 18°C and make sure gas heaters and boilers are serviced.

• If you get a cold or even flu, you can prevent germs spreading by using a tissue when you sneeze. Once used, put the tissue in the bin and wash your hands to remove germs.

• The cold weather becomes a breeding ground for cold and flu and can make people very sick.

If you are 65 or over, pregnant or suffer from a chronic disease you can protect yourself from the flu virus by having a vaccination, available from your GP or local pharmacy/supermarket.

If you have a long-term respiratory condition, shortness of breath can get worse in the winter, so you need to have the jab.

• Your local pharmacy can also give you advice and over the counter remedies for diarrhoea, minor infections, headaches, coughs, colds and flu.

• Regularly washing your hands with soap and water, will help avoid bugs, sickness and diarrhoea. Washing fruit and veg before eating or cooking will also help wash any germs away, as well as providing your five a day!

• If you need to travel, remember that pavements and roads can be slippery in the winter weather. Take extra care if you go out, and wear footwear with good grip on their soles. If you’re travelling by car, you should wait until the roads have been gritted.

• Check on your neighbours to make sure they are warm, well and safe. If you are worried about your health or that of someone you know ask your GP or pharmacist.

When should you go

to Hospital?

Patients should receive the right treatment at the right place and by the right professional.

Hospitals are the right place to be when you are in need of specific medical or surgical treatment.

Acute hospital services are for people who require emergency, medical or surgical treatment within a hospital environment.

Preparing for a

Hospital stay

Within three days before coming to hospital Please call the number on your admission letter to discuss whether you are well enough for treatment if you have had any of the following in the three days running up to your admission date: • exposure to an infection such as chickenpox, measles, mumps or rubella • signs or symptoms of such infections • a cough or a cold, or other breathing or chest problems • any other illness, such as sickness or diarrhoea Make sure you also check your admissions letter for all the details you may need to know such as where to go when you arrive and for any special instructions, for example not eating or bringing a urine sample.

It is a good idea to phone the hospital on the number on your appointment letter to make sure everything is ready for your arrival. Bring your admission letter with you and if you have any questions or concerns, write them down and bring them with you too.

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Planning your journey There are good public transport links to the hospital. Disabled parking is available to blue badge holders but it is limited. Other car parking is available and also limited and our parking tariffs are available at www.heartofengland.nhs.uk We encourage travel by public transport and bus routes are also available on our website. We also have bike shelters that can be used by patients and visitors on all our sites too.

On the day Please check you have: - the name, address, postcode and telephone number of your GP - small amounts of money for newspapers, television or telephone - nightclothes, dressing gown and slippers - comfortable day clothes/clothes you can wear on your journey home - your glasses/contact lenses (labelled with your name) - toothbrush (not electric) and toothpaste - a brush or comb, flannel and a towel. You will not need to bring body and hair wash as this will be provided by the hospital - Your medicines - you might take a lot of different medicines, both prescribed and bought from retail outlets and pharmacies. They can often change, especially when you visit the doctor, have a hospital admission or visit the pharmacy. Bring all of the medicines you are currently taking or using with you. You may receive a green bag either from your GP, in one of our hospitals via our emergency departments or in an ambulance.

Please use the bag to keep all of your medicines in. It will also help us to see what medicines you are already taking.

You may be seen by the consultant in charge of your care, or another doctor who works on the consultant’s team. Ask the consultant or doctor to explain anything that you don’t understand, and discuss anything that is worrying you.

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Any proposed treatment will be clearly explained to you, so that you can find out any risks or alternatives before you decide whether to agree to it.

If you are staying with us, you will usually be on a ward that specialises in the care of the condition or illness you have. The other people in your bay will be the same sex as you; however, the ward may have people of different sexes in it.

There are toilets and bathrooms nearby that are for people of your sex only.

During your Hospital Patient safety video on all patient bedside screens As part of our on-going commitment to harm free care, we have a patient safety briefing video available to any patient registered on the hospedia bedside system.

The video includes advice about simple things

stay

that patients can do whilst in hospital to reduce avoidable complications – such as blood clots, pressure ulcers, or falls. To watch the video, simply click on the yellow main menu button on the hospedia screen and click on the information tab.

How to reduce the risk of catching or spreading an infection in hospital • Use the body and hair wash provided by the Hospital when you are admitted. Our wash contains octenidine which is proven to prevent hospital acquired infections and MRSA from being carried on the skin.

• Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands before you eat a meal. If you cannot get out of bed, ask a member of staff for help in cleaning your hands.

• Make sure you always wash your hands after using the toilet. If you use a commode ask for a bowl of water to wash your hands afterwards.

• Try to keep the top of your locker and bedside table free from clutter. If you or your visitors see something that has been missed during cleaning, report it to the nurse in charge and ask for it to be cleaned.

• Always wear something on your feet when walking around in hospital.

Dementia Support If you have dementia, our hospital staff will provide support for you and your relatives and carers. You will receive a document called ‘All About Me’ which asks for details about your specific needs and personal preferences.

Open visiting forms part of the Trust’s aim to make the hospitals more dementia friendly by giving more flexibility for relatives and carers to visit their loved one at a time that suits them and have an active role in their care.

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Here to help If you or your family has any questions, concerns or wish to understand more about what is happening at any stage during your stay, please speak to your nurse, doctor or other member of staff involved with your/their care.

Leaving Hospital Patient discharge - getting you back home We aim for patients to be discharged as soon as possible on the day they are to be discharged. This means you may move to one of our discharge lounges. These are located within our Hospitals and staffed by nurses.

or family in order to discuss your discharge with

Relatives or carers coming to collect you can meet you in the discharge lounge or a nurse can escort you to the main reception area.

treatment will be completed. It is important that

All staff will work with you and your carer and/

arrangements to get you home can be made.

you. We can discuss any concerns at the earliest opportunity such as your safety at home or mobility. You will be given an expected date for discharge based on when it is expected that your everyone involved is aware of this date so that we can all work towards it and so the necessary

Beat the bugs this winter With winter in full swing, the diarrhoea and vomiting bug, known as norovirus, starts to circulate in the local community. Norovirus is airborne and highly contagious and, although you may feel fine after suffering from the vomiting bug, you are still highly infectious and passing on germs to others for 48 hours after your last symptom.

The virus can be caught through direct contact and it also travels through the air which makes public areas such as buses, hospitals and nursing homes perfect breeding grounds. To avoid norovirus, wash your hands with soap and water, keep surfaces, objects and fabrics clean, and do not eat raw or unwashed food.

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If you have suffered from sickness, diarrhoea, a cold or flu please do not come in to visit anyone at hospital until 48 hours after your last symptom.

You will still be highly contagious and can pass your germs on to poorly patients.

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Caremark (Solihull) • 0121 733 8355 221 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3AH www.caremark.co.uk/solihull • solihull@caremark.co.uk

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Community Advice Hub

After your stay in hospital we want to help you regain your independence, manage your own care as much as possible and help you to find appropriate support if you need it. We are also here to help if you’ve become a carer for the first time for a family member and want to know about the support available to you.

In this article you’ll find information about a range of services available in Solihull. A great place to start is the Solihull MyLife website, which includes a new section for carers. If you don’t have access to a computer at home, you can visit your local library to use one. Library staff can also offer support in using the internet and advising where to search.

If you would prefer to speak to someone over the phone or face to face then contact one of our Community Advice Hubs.

Solihull MyLife Solihull MyLife is a website run by Solihull Council which provides advice and information to help you live a healthy and independent life in Solihull. Topics include a new digital resource for carers, care and support choices, and health and wellbeing. All the services listed below can be found on Solihull MyLife. solihull.mylifeportal.co.uk solihull.mylifeportal.co.uk/digitalresource (for carers)

Community Advice Hubs There are two Community Advice Hubs in Solihull, based at The Core (formerly Solihull Central Library) and Chelmsley Wood Library.

The Hubs are run by Age UK Solihull, on behalf of Solihull Council, and are a partnership of local voluntary organisations. They provide high quality information, advice and support for you or the person you care for.

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You can drop in or make an appointment by phone or email. Opening times are below.

Email: admin@solihullcommunityhub.org.uk Phone: 0121 705 3588 Visit the Hub at Chelmsley Wood Library, 10 West Mall, Chelmsley Wood, B37 5TN Opening Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 2:00pm Visit the Hub at The Core, First Floor, The Core, Solihull Library Building, Solihull B91 3RG Opening Hours: Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm (10:00am - 3:00pm on Wednesdays)

Solihull Connect Solihull Connect is the Council’s customer contact centre. There is a dedicated number for adult social care enquiries so you can talk directly to one of our customer service advisors and explain your situation.

The advisors can help if you want to request a needs assessment or discuss other topics, including living in your own home, getting out and about, housing options and carer support.

Email: ccadults@solihull.gov.uk Phone: 0121 704 8007 Opening hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10.00am - 5.00pm Wednesday

Better Living Centre The Better Living Centre provides free and impartial advice from trained staff and demonstrations of useful gadgets, adaptations and equipment. Visit the

‘demonstration house’ to try before you buy.

You can contact the Better Living Centre by: Phone: 0121 329 0909 Email: blc@solihull.gov.uk Or visit the Better Living Centre from Monday to Friday (9:00am to 5.00pm) at Unit 4, Elmdon Trading Estate, Bickenhill Lane Solihull B37 7HE

Carers Trust Solihull Carers Trust Solihull is the lead organisation for carers in Solihull with an extensive range of services to help support carers of all ages and backgrounds, through expert information and advice. solihullcarers.org Email: centre@solihullcarers.org Phone: 0121 788 1143 Carers Trust Solihull is based at: Solihull Fire Station Annexe, 620 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull B91 1QY

Or visit the SCH pages on Solihull MyLife: solihull.mylifeportal.co.uk/schwellbeingservice/

Home Safety Check Solihull Community Housing also works with West Midlands Fire Service to provide a free service to check your home for fire safety. Home safety checks are available to anyone and take about 30 minutes.

Firefighters from your local fire station will visit your home to reduce the risk of fire.

To arrange your fire safety check call the Fire Safety in the Home freephone telephone number 0800 389 5525.

If you are deaf, deafened or, hard of hearing, BID Services Solihull offer referrals to the Fire Service for Home Safety Checks and appropriate equipment such as flashing or vibrating fire alarms. See useful contacts.

Solihull Community Housing (SCH) Healthy living at your local library Working in partnership with Solihull Council, SCH Wellbeing delivers a range of services designed to keep you happy, healthy, independent, and safe in your own home.

These services are available to SCH tenants, private paying customers and referrals from Solihull Council. They include: home adaptations, home support, Safe and Sound pendant alarms and Home Hazard Assessments.

To find out which services could be suitable for you please get in touch: Email: wellbeing@solihullcommunityhousing.org.uk Phone: 0121 717 1515 Better Living Centre

Solihull has 13 libraries, which are located throughout the borough, each offering a range of services, advice, help and information to support you. These services include health information kiosks, Reading Well books on prescription and Dementia books on prescription.

For more information visit

solihull.gov.uk/libraries

Dementia support Alzheimer’s Society in Solihull provides help, advice and guidance. The Society support groups operate across the borough, with dementia cafes and other events regularly taking place.

Email: birminghamandsolihull@alzheimers.org.uk Phone: 0121 706 4052 Alzheimer’s Society Birmingham & Solihull Local Office Unit 7-9 Olton Wharf Richmond Road, Solihull B92 7RN You can contact the Alzheimer’s Society via the Community Advice Hubs (see above).

Solihull MyLife provides online advice and information to help you reduce your dementia risk; learn about different types of dementia and the care and support you need to live with dementia and care for someone with the condition.

You will also find links to the Dementia Information Pack which supports people with Dementia, and their families, after diagnosis. solihull.mylifeportal.co.uk/dementia 13

NHS continuing healthcare NHS continuing healthcare, also known as “fully funded NHS care”, is free care outside of hospital that is arranged and funded by the NHS. This means that you will receive care and support to meet your assessed needs at no cost to you.

Where can NHS continuing healthcare be provided?

NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in a variety of settings outside hospital, such as in your home or in a registered care home.

Eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare NHS continuing healthcare is for adults. Children and young people may receive a “continuing care package” if they have needs arising from disability, accident or illness that can’t be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you must be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals (a “multidisciplinary team”) as having a “primary health need”. Whether or not someone has a primary health need is assessed by looking at all their care needs and relating them to: • what help is needed • how complex these needs are • how intense or severe these needs can be • how unpredictable they are, including any risks to the person’s health if the right care isn’t provided at the right time Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition. If your needs change then your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare may change.

You should be fully involved in the assessment process and kept informed, and have your views about your needs and support taken into account. Carers and family members should also be consulted where appropriate.

A decision about eligibility should usually be made within 28 days of it being decided that the person needs a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare.

If you aren’t eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you can be referred to your local authority who can discuss with you whether you may be eligible for support from them. If you still have some health needs then the NHS 14

may still pay for part of the package of support. This is sometimes known as a “joint package” of care.

NHS continuing healthcare assessments Clinical commissioning groups, known as CCGs (the NHS organisations that commission local health services), must assess you for NHS continuing healthcare if it seems that you may need it.

For most people, there is an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment.

However, if you need care urgently – for example, if you’re terminally ill – your assessment may be fast-tracked.

Initial assessment for NHS continuing healthcare The initial checklist assessment can be completed by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or social worker. You should be told that you’re being assessed, and be asked for your consent.

Depending on the outcome of the checklist, you will either be told that you don’t meet the criteria for a full assessment of NHS continuing healthcare and are therefore not eligible, or you will be referred for a full assessment of eligibility.

Being referred for a full assessment doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The purpose of the checklist is to enable anyone who might be eligible to have the opportunity for a full assessment.

The professional(s) completing the checklist should record written reasons for their decision, and sign and date the checklist. You should be given a copy of the completed checklist. You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare checklist from GOV.UK. Full assessments for NHS continuing healthcare are undertaken by a “multidisciplinary team” made up of a minimum of two health or care professionals who are already involved in your care. You should be informed who is co-ordinating the NHS continuing healthcare assessment.

The team’s assessment will consider your needs under the following headings: • behaviour • cognition (understanding) • communication • psychological/emotional needs

• mobility • nutrition (food and drink) • continence • skin (including wounds and ulcers) • breathing • symptom control through drug therapies and medication • altered states of consciousness • other significant needs These needs are then given a weighting marked “priority”, “severe”, “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “no needs”.

The multidisciplinary team will consider: • what help is needed • how complex these needs are • how intense or severe these needs can be • how unpredictable they are, including any risks to the person’s health if the right care isn’t provided at the right time If you have at least one priority need, or severe needs in at least two areas, you should be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. You may also be eligible if you have a severe need in one area plus a number of other needs, or a number of high or moderate needs, depending on their nature, intensity, complexity or unpredictability.

In all cases, the overall need, and interactions between needs, will be taken into account, together with evidence from risk assessments, in deciding whether NHS continuing healthcare should be provided.

The assessment should take into account your views and the views of any carers you have. You should be given a copy of the decision documents, along with clear reasons for the decision.

You can download a blank copy of the NHS continuing healthcare decision support tool.

Fast-track assessment for NHS continuing healthcare If someone’s condition is deteriorating quickly and they are nearing the end of their life, they should be considered for the NHS continuing healthcare fast track pathway, so that an appropriate care and support package can be put in place as soon as possible – usually within 48 hours.

Care and support planning If you are eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, the next stage is to arrange a care and support package that meets your assessed needs.

Depending on your situation, different options could be suitable, including support in your own home and the option of a personal health budget. If it is agreed that a care home is the best option for you, there could be more

than one local care home that is suitable.

Your CCG should work collaboratively with you and consider your views when agreeing your care and support package and the setting where it will be provided.

However, they can also take other factors into account, such as the cost and value for money of different options.

NHS continuing healthcare reviews If you are eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, your needs and support package should normally be reviewed within three months and thereafter at least annually.

This review will consider whether your existing care and support package meets your assessed needs. If your needs have changed, the review will also consider whether you are still eligible for NHS continuing healthcare.

Refunds for delays in NHS continuing healthcare funding CCGs should normally make a decision about eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare within 28 days of getting a completed checklist or request for a full assessment, unless there are circumstances beyond its control.

If the CCG decides that you are eligible, but takes longer than 28 days to decide this and the delay is unjustifiable, they should refund any care costs from the 29th day until the date of their decision.

If your CCG decided that you weren’t eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, but then revised this decision after a dispute, it should refund your care costs for the period between their original decision and their revised decision.

If you are not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare If you are not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, but you are assessed as requiring nursing care in a care home (in other words, a care home that is registered to provide nursing care) you will be eligible for NHSfunded nursing care. This means that the NHS will pay a contribution towards the cost of your registered nursing care. This is known as NHS-funding nursing care and is available irrespective of who is funding the rest of the care home fees.

NHS England has issued guidance on how people can be compensated following eligibility disputes and delays in receiving NHS continuing healthcare.

Frequently asked questions about NHS continuing healthcare I have a local authority support package that works well. I am now eligible for NHS continuing healthcare – will my support package change?

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If you are concerned about changes to your care package because of a move to NHS continuing healthcare, your CCG should talk to you about ways that it can give you as much choice and control as possible. This could include the use of a personal health budget, with one option being a “direct payment for healthcare”.

If you’re still not satisfied, you may want to complain.

Can someone refuse an assessment for NHS continuing healthcare? If they do refuse, will they be able to get services from their local authority?

An assessment for NHS continuing healthcare can’t be carried out without someone’s consent, so it is possible to refuse. However, if they do refuse, although they will still be entitled to an assessment by the local authority there is no guarantee that they will be provided with services. This is because there is a legal limit on the type of services that a local authority can provide.

If you refuse to be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare, the CCG should explore your reasons for refusing, and try to address your concerns. If someone lacks the mental capacity to consent to or refuse an assessment, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act will apply and in most circumstances an assessment will be provided in the person’s best interest.

My relative is in a care home and has become eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The CCG says the fees charged by this care home are more than they would usually pay, and has proposed a move to a different care home. I think a move will have a negative effect on my relative. What can we do?

If there is evidence that a move is likely to have a significantly detrimental effect on your relative’s health or wellbeing, you should discuss this with the CCG who will take your concerns into account when considering the most appropriate arrangements.

If the CCG decides to arrange an alternative placement, they should make efforts to provide a reasonable choice of homes.

Is it possible to pay top-up fees for NHS continuing healthcare?

No, it is not possible to top up NHS continuing healthcare packages, like you can with local authority care packages.

The only way that NHS continuing healthcare packages can be topped up privately is if you pay for additional private services on top of the services you get from the NHS. These private services should be provided by different staff and preferably in a different setting.

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Personalised ca If your local authority agrees to pay for some or all of your home care needs, it must offer you choice over how to meet your needs – this is known as personalisation of your care and support.

A good assessment of your needs will help you begin to think about the kinds of things you may want to do to meet you care and support needs. Following this, you will be involved in planning out how you would like to meet your needs, and be given a personal budget, and can choose to take a direct payment.

Self-directed support through good planning, personal budgets and direct payments is often called “personalised support” or “personalisation”. It gives you choice and control over how your needs are met, and enables you to do the things you value the most.

Personal budgets A personal budget is the amount of money the local authority allocates for your care, based on its assessment of your needs.

You can be put in charge of this “budget” either by telling the local authority how you would like it spent, or by the council giving you the money so that you can directly pay for your own care (a direct payment).

It could also be given to a separate organisation (such as a user-controlled trust) that will spend the money on your care as you see fit, if you prefer. These are commonly known as Individual Service Funds.

Additionally, you can choose a combination of the above (for example, a direct payment with some council-arranged care and support), often called a mixed package.

Direct payments Direct payments give you the most control over your care, and mean that if you are unhappy with the services you’re getting, you can decide to change who gives you the care services without the process of going through the local authority.

However, with this freedom comes the responsibility of accounting for how the budget is spent to ensure it is meeting your needs, and additional responsibilities if you decide to become an employer and hire a personal assistant with your direct payment.

The Money Advice Service has a guide to using direct payments.

are What does personalised support mean for me?

Personalisation means that you will have to spend some time and effort thinking about your care and support needs, the outcomes you wish to achieve, and how you may want to meet your needs.

Depending on the choices you make, there may be some additional responsibilities. For example, if you decide to request a direct payment to cover the cost of homecare, you could use the payment to hire an individual, giving you the responsibilities of an employer.

Alternatively, you could hire careworkers through an agency, which removes the legal obligations of being employer, but may potentially add costs and may remove some of the benefits of having the same person provide your care.

Read more about how to choose care services.

Discuss these options with your social worker or carer and consider which option is best for you. If someone else will be looking after your money, you may need to create a “decision-making agreement”. A decision-making agreement should state how they will look after your money and what decisions they can and can’t make on your behalf.

The local authority may want to check what you do with your money, to make sure you’re spending your budget appropriately and that your care and support needs are being met. You may need to keep receipts where possible (especially for large purchases), so that you can show them you’ve spent your money responsibly. If you choose a direct payment, the council will give you a direct payment agreement that will set out the terms and conditions.

If you’re struggling to manage your money, the local authority should advise you on how to make your money work best for you.

How does personalised care and support work?

Checking your care plan is meeting your care and support needs

You and your social worker or care manager will work together to create a care and support plan. This plan details your care and support needs, and will be used to work out the value of your “personal budget”. Your support plan should consider: • what’s important to you, including your interests, lifestyle, personal tastes and the people in your life • your hopes for the future, such as whether you’d like to study or take on more hobbies outside the home • what limitations you currently have and how you want to change • what you want to achieve by managing your own support Ensure that you include information about how you’ll manage your money and what you’ll spend the money on (including personal assistants, transport, housing adaptations, therapists and respite services).

You will need to clarify how you will manage your money.

If you choose to receive your personal budget as a direct payment, the local authority may pay the money straight into a bank account that you control (you must set up a new bank account to do this) or they may give you a prepaid card.

Alternatively, you may prefer your personal budget to be managed by the local authority or by someone else, such as: • a friend or family member (the local authority must agree to this) • a broker, independent social worker or an advocate • your care manager or social worker

You should meet with your local authority at least once a year to discuss whether your care plan is working. This is an opportunity to discuss whether your needs are being met in the best way, and it’s also your chance to talk about changes you want to make for the future.

You don’t have to wait for a review meeting to change the way in which you spend your budget. You can change things as you go along. If you want to make a big change, consult your care manager or social worker, who may arrange a review.

You can ask for a review meeting about your care plan at any time. To prepare for a review, you should provide any receipts you’ve kept since you were awarded a personal budget. If someone is managing your funds for you, get them to join the review meeting.

Disagreements about care plans and personal budgets If you’ve been informed that you’re not eligible for services, or you don’t agree with the amount allocated to you in your personal budget, you can request a reassessment.

Speak to your social worker or care manager about being reassessed, or phone your local authority social services department and request a complaints form.

Find out how direct payments and personal budgets work.

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What is NHS-funded nursing care?

NHS-funded nursing care is care provided by a registered nurse for people who live in a care home. The NHS will pay a flat rate contribution directly to the care home towards the cost of this registered nursing care.

Who is eligible for NHS-funded nursing care?

You may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care if: • you are not eligible for NHS continuing healthcare but have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse • you live in a care home registered to provide nursing care

How will my needs be assessed?

You should be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare before a decision is made about whether you are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

Most people don’t need a separate assessment for NHS-funded nursing care.

However, if you do need an assessment or you haven’t already had one, your

clinical commissioning group (CCG) can arrange an assessment for you.

Outcome of the assessment If you’re eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided by registered nurses employed by the care home. Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care.

If you’re not eligible for NHS-funded nursing care and you don’t agree with the decision about your eligibility, you can ask your CCG to review the decision.

What is the rate of payment for NHS-funded nursing care?

NHS-funded nursing care is paid at the same rate across England. In April 2017, the rate was set at £155.05 a week (standard rate).

Before October 1 2007, there were three different levels or bands of payment for NHS-funded nursing care – low, medium and high.

If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the low or medium bands, you would have been transferred to the standard rate from that date.

If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the high band, NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a higher rate. In April 2017, the higher rate was set at £213.32 a week. You’re entitled to continue on this rate unless: • you no longer have nursing needs • you no longer live in a care home that provides nursing • your nursing needs have reduced and you’re no longer eligible for the high band, when you would change to the standard rate of £155.05 a week, or • you become entitled to NHS continuing healthcare instead.

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The Motability Scheme The Motability scheme allows some disabled people getting DLA, PIP or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement to obtain a car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

The scheme uses some or all of your mobility benefit payments to cover the cost of “contract hire” or “hire purchase” of an appropriate vehicle. You can also pay an extra amount of money if you want a more expensive vehicle.

With hire purchase, the price of the car will be agreed directly with the Motability dealer, and you will own the vehicle outright at the end of the agreement.

With contract hire, you won’t own a vehicle, but you will get a new car every three years, full insurance for the driver and passengers, servicing, maintenance

and repairs, vehicle excise duty, replacement tyres and breakdown cover.

Adaptations to the car can be made if needed, although there may be an extra charge for some adaptations. Under the Motability scheme, cars can also be adapted for people in wheelchairs.

If you don’t need or want a car, you can transfer your allowance to lease a scooter or powered wheelchair.

Content supplied by:

Contact and Support We are here to answer any questions you may have about the Mobility Scheme. You can contact our Customer Services team directly or one of our Scheme partners depending on the nature on your enquiry.

Tel: 0300 456 4566. Opening times: 8am-7pm Monday to Friday, 9am-1pm Saturday.

Monday 9am-11am is our busiest period. You may find it easier to call outside these times.

If you have specialist Minicom equipment, call our textphone number on 0300 037 0100 or speak to us through a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for Deaf customers who have an enquiry about the Motability Scheme.

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Paying for your own care

and support

Many people who use care and support services will pay for all of the costs. This is known as being a “self-funder”.

have incurred) towards the cap.

The cost of your care will vary depending on its type, intensity, specialisation, location and duration. For example, a place in a residential care home will cost hundreds of pounds a week.

The BBC’s care calculator can estimate how much you may have to pay for care services depending on where you live in England, once the new rules are in place. This will give you an idea of how the cap will work for you, but actual costs will vary to reflect your individual circumstances and needs and how they change over time.

To make decisions that have such major financial implications, you may want to seek independent financial advice and it’s always worth researching the costs of alternatives first. For example, if you are considering a care home place, the cost should be weighed against the cost of care and support that may help you remain in your current home, such as homecare.

How much will care cost?

If you are thinking about your future care needs or are facing immediate decisions about care options, it can be helpful to get an idea how much care can cost.

Inevitably, the price you would pay will depend on your particular circumstances and needs. The costs also vary depending on where you live. Unfortunately, care homes and homecare agencies tend not to provide this information publicly but you may find it helpful to search for and contact care services in your area to get some idea of likely costs.

The ‘cap on care costs’

The cap does not begin until April 2020 and any costs incurred before this will not count towards the cap.

For more information on how paying for care is changing from 2020, read about the changes in the Care Act.

Ask for help from your local authority It’s worth checking whether you’re eligible for meanstested support from your local authority or other financial support – for example, through a care needs assessment and a financial assessment.

Few of us will have the income or ready access to the cash to pay for our ongoing care needs, and you may need to look at selling or remortgaging any property you may own. The new Care Act means more people may be able to benefit from “deferred payments”.

Deferred payments can help people avoid being forced to sell their home in a crisis in order to pay for their care by having the council temporarily cover the cost – usually until you sell your property.

Currently, it is not easy to plan for your future care needs, as it’s hard to estimate how long you will need care for and how your circumstances may change.

From April 2020, a “cap” on the costs of meeting your eligible care needs (but not accommodation associated with care or nursing costs) is being introduced. The cap means that, once reached, the local authority will take over paying the cost of their eligible care needs.

Following the Care Act, every local authority in England has to make deferred payment agreements available.

The cap will not cover your daily living costs. These costs include expenses such as rent, food and utilities and the costs you would face even if you did not have care needs. It is important to note that daily living costs will be a nationally set figure. This figure will be a “notional” amount rather than the actual costs. This is designed to support consistency and enable people to plan.

Before taking such significant financial steps as equity release, you might want to get independent financial advice. You can find information on equity release for care at home from Which? Elderly Care or the Money Advice Service’s equity release information.

To benefit from the cap once it comes in, you will need to contact your local authority to see if your needs are eligible. If you are seen to have eligible care needs, the local authority will open a “care account” for you. This account records your progress (the amount of costs you 20

As an alternative, you may be able to enter an “equity release scheme” with a financial organisation. Equity release can pay for the fees from the value of property you own. However, you should consider which of these options best meets your needs, and what the overall costs to you will be.

If you’re planning ahead, you may consider arranging an investment or insurance plan to fund your care.

Again, it may be worth taking independent advice on financial arrangements before making major changes.

Because of the new rules, there are likely to be more financial products emerging that are designed to help people pay for care.

You may also want to explore whether the NHS would meet some or all of your care and support costs, or you may have entitlement to benefits that may help you meet costs. Read about other ways of funding care.

money raised once the property is sold. This can be: • during your lifetime if you choose to sell your home • once you die, the local authority can be repaid from your estate

Advice on paying for care

All councils must offer people the chance to defer payment if they meet a set of eligibility criteria.

Even if your local authority is not able to help fund your care, it will be able to make an assessment of your care and support needs. From this, the local authority can provide you with access to a range of information and advice available locally.

You can also get independent advice from: • The Money Advice Service website: offers information on paying for care or the option to speak to an online adviser. You can call the Money Advice Service on 0300 500 5000.

• The Society of Later Life Advisers: the society can also help you find advice on how to make financial plans for care in your old age.

• Find Me Good Care: a website of the Social Care Institute for Excellence. It has advice on all aspects of planning and funding social care.

• Age UK: has great advice for older people and those planning for their later years.

• Carers UK: an excellent resource of advice for carers who need to help someone else.

• Which? Elderly Care has a guide to financing care.

Deferred payments if you are unable to pay for care services Care home fees are a big financial commitment, and the decision to go into a care home is often made at a moment of crisis or urgency, such as when being discharged from hospital. This can make finding the money to pay for fees (usually several hundred pounds a week) challenging for people funding their own care.

In particular, if you own property outright but have little in the way of savings, you may be expected to fund your own care but have little immediately available money to pay for it. Some people going to stay in a care home for a long time find that they have no option but to sell their property to pay the care home fees.

Your council may be able to help you if you are at risk of having to sell your home. Where there is a delay in selling the property, or you don’t want to sell the property immediately, you may be eligible to have your care fee payment “deferred”. This is where the local authority helps you to pay your care fees temporarily, and you repay the costs to the local authority at a later date.

If the local authority agrees to the deferred payment and pays the care home fees, it will take payment from the

A deferred payment scheme is only available if you don’t have enough income to cover your care home fees, and you have less in savings than £23,250. In these circumstances, the savings don’t include the value of your property, but does include money in bank accounts.

The local authority will put a “legal charge” (similar to a mortgage) on the property and will then pay the remaining care fees in full. You will then be assessed to see whether they are able to pay a weekly charge to the authority. Your ability to pay is based on your income less a set “disposable income allowance” (currently £144 per week).

Before considering deferred payments, you should look into whether the property will or won’t be counted in how your capital is calculated. For instance, it may be disregarded because your partner still lives there, and if it is a deferred payment agreement wouldn’t be necessary.

It’s wise to get independent financial advice before agreeing to a deferred payment, and it’s worth bearing in mind that choosing deferred payments can impact on some welfare benefits.

Protection for self-funders While you may have the savings in place to afford care services, if you lack the capacity to make the arrangements, the local authority can step in to help.

The local authority can also help people who lack capacity by negotiating fees with a care provider and paying them directly. The local authority will need to be reimbursed.

Anyone entering into a contract for care services should be given adequate information about the fees. Care providers should supply: • information about the fees charged for various services provided • arrangements for paying the fees • the fees charged for any additional services If your capital falls below the set levels for local authority funding (currently £23,250), you will be eligible for reassessment for help with funding your care.

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Care services in If you need help around the home, a good option is to have a care worker come in to your home to help you.

Types of care and support Care and support comes in many forms and has many names used to describe it, including home help, care attendants and “carers” (not to be confused with unpaid family or friends who care for you).

Care and support can suit you if you need: • personal care, such as washing or dressing • housekeeping or domestic work, such as vacuuming • cooking or preparing meals • nursing and health care • companionship Care and support can be very flexible, in order to meet your needs, and the same person or agency may be able to provide some or all of these options for the duration of your care: • long-term 24-hour care • short breaks for an unpaid family carer • emergency care • day care • sessions ranging from 15-minute visits to 24-hour assistance and everything in between If you already know what you want, you can search NHS Choices directories for: • local care and support services and agencies • a list of national care and support organisations • services that can help you stay safe and well in your home on a long-term basis; these services, often known as “supported living services”, can include financial, help with medication, advocacy, social and practical support • a place to live in a family who will care for you, known as “shared lives services” or adult placement services If you believe that you might benefit from some help at home, the first thing to do is to contact your social services department to ask for an assessment of your care and support needs. To contact social services, go to GOV.UK: find your local authority.

If you are eligible for care and support services, the local authority may provide or arrange the help themselves.

Alternatively, you can arrange your own care, funded by the local authority, through direct payments or a personal budget.

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your home

If you have chosen direct payments or a personal budget, or you aren’t eligible for local authority help and want to get care privately, you can arrange it in several different ways.

Independent care and support agencies If you use an independent care and support agency, you or the person you’re looking after has to find the care agency and pay them.

The agency will provide a service through a trained team of care workers, which means you may not always have the same person visiting your home, although the agency will do its best to take your choices into account.

Independent care and support providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Care and support agencies must meet CQC’s national minimum standards and regulations in areas such as training and recordkeeping. The CQC has the power to inspect agencies and enforce standards.

Care and support agencies must vet care and support workers before engaging them by taking up references and carrying out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on potential employees. Care and support agencies can also: • t ake over the burden of being an employer – for example, payroll, training, disciplinary issues and insurance • t rain their care and support workers through national qualifications and service-specific training • r eplace workers when they are ill, on holiday or resign •p ut things right when they go wrong An agency will want to see you and the person you’re looking after so that they can assess your needs. This also means that a joint decision can be made about the most appropriate type of care and support.

You can find out more from the UK Homecare Association.

What are the disadvantages of using a care and support agency?

The main disadvantage is the cost of using an agency. The agency will charge a fee on top of the payment made to the care worker to cover their running costs and profit.

You normally have to make a regular payment to the agency, which includes both the worker’s earnings and the agency’s fee.

Questions to ask when using a care and support agency The fees some agencies charge can be quite high. Before deciding to go ahead with an agency, you should ask questions about the fee and what it covers, including: • Does the agency check references?

• What training and supervision do they provide?

• What is their complaints policy?

• Who will be responsible for insurance?

• Is there any out-of-hours or emergency contact if needed?

• Will they be able to provide staff if your own care worker is ill or away? (If an agency contracts to provide care every day, it must ensure that it does.)

Hiring a personal assistant You can hire a “personal assistant” to act as a care and support worker for you.

Personal assistants can offer you all that you’ll get from an agency worker, but you’ll also get the continuity, familiarity and ongoing relationship with your assistant.

However, if you employ a personal assistant, you will then have the legal responsibility of an employer. This will include arranging cover for their illness and holidays.

GOV.UK has more information on becoming an employer, while Which? Elderly Care also has advice on employing private individuals.

Care and support from charities Charities such as Age UK and Carers Trust can provide home help and domestic assistance services. The Carers Trust supports carers by giving them a break from their caring responsibilities through care and support services.

Marie Curie Nurses can provide practical and emotional support for people near the end of their lives in their own homes.

Safeguarding vulnerable groups The DBS makes decisions about who is unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults or children. It makes this decision based on information held by various agencies and government departments.

The service decides who is unsuitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults or children.

If someone who is barred from working with children or vulnerable adults is working, volunteering or trying to work or volunteer with these groups, they are breaking the law.

They could face a fine and up to five years in prison.

Employers must apply for an enhanced DBS check (formerly known as a CRB check) when taking on new

employees or volunteers to work with vulnerable adults or children. This includes a check of the barred lists. If an organisation fails to make the relevant checks, they can be penalised.

If an organisation dismisses an employee or volunteer for harming a child or vulnerable adult, they must tell the DBS. The DBS must also be notified if any employee or volunteer harms a child or vulnerable adult, but isn’t dismissed because they leave voluntarily. If their organisation does not tell DBS, they will be acting illegally.

Questions can be answered by the DBS call centre on 0870 909 0811, or by email.

Employing a care worker on a private basis If you employ a care worker privately, you will not be obliged to use the DBS scheme, but you can use it if you choose to. You need to ask social services or the police to make the checks on your behalf. The care worker must have already applied to be vetted, and must consent to the check.

If you have concerns about the suitability of someone you employ privately to work with a vulnerable adult or child, you can ask social services to investigate the matter. They can refer the worker to the ISA on your behalf.

Manual handling If you need help to move, or you need someone to lift you (such as getting out of bed or getting on to the toilet), this can put the person doing the lifting at risk of injury.

This “manual handling” can result in back pain and in the most serious cases, permanent disability if not done correctly.

The law says that employers must take reasonable precautions to ensure their employees don’t do any manual handling that carries a risk of them being injured. This applies to you if you directly employ a personal assistant to care for you (but most likely will not if you hire someone through an agency). It is particularly important to consider insurance in this situation. This would cover any risk of the care worker injuring themselves, as well as any risk of them causing an injury.

There are rules around the risk assessments you need to carry out, and the Health and Safety Executive produces advice on safe manual handling.

Editorial content for pages 14-23 & 32 supplied by: NHS Choices have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does NHS Choices endorse any of the products or services. All information and figures correct at the time of going to print.

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The Care Quality Commission is here to make sure health and adult social care services including hospitals, home and residential care as well as GPs in England provide people with safe, effective, high-quality care.

We publish independent inspection reports and ratings about services – information you can use when you’re choosing care for yourself, or a loved one.

You can use our website to search for services you might be interested in by geographical area, or by specialism. For example, a care home that might offer specialist care for someone who has dementia.

We also welcome your feedback on the care you have received – good or bad. We use this information to help inform our inspections and can alert authorities including local social services, if there are safeguarding concerns about care being provided.

You can visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk to find our inspection reports, or share an experience of care.

You can also call us to share an experience of care on 03000 61 61 61.

Here are some tips to help you choose your care.

Social care Top tips

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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers all care homes and home care agencies. You can find out which ones support specific groups of people, such as people with a learning disability or those living with dementia.

CQC’s Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe always uses ‘The Mum Test’: is a care home safe, caring, effective, responsive to people’s needs and well-led? In other words, is it good enough for my Mum (or anyone else I love and care for)?

Look for care homes and home care agencies where the staff involve people who use services and their families and carers, and treat individuals with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

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Whether you are being cared for in your own home or in a residential setting, the staff looking after you need to be skilled, kind and supportive.

They should also be capable and confident in dealing with your particular needs. You should always feel that their support is helping you to live the life you want to.

A care home will be a home for you or your loved one. Residents should be treated as individuals with their likes and dislikes taken into account.

Think about whether a home is close enough to family, friends, and community facilities.

Look at how well-led and managed a home is. What does it have in place to ensure that it delivers high quality care? Does it promote meaningful activity and connect the home with the community?

If you or a loved one needs help with day-today care, you can contact your local council’s social services department. They will ‘make an assessment of your needs’ and depending on circumstances, may be able to help you access financial help. For more advice visit Age UK’s website www.ageuk.org.uk /home-and-care.

If you would like to organise your care yourself, you can find a care worker or personal assistant through an agency. Your local social services department should be able to provide details of approved agencies.

CQC’s ratings will identify services as:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ● This will help you make informed choices around your care. There’s also useful advice on the Social Care Institute for Excellence’s Find me good care website www.scie.org.uk/findmegoodcare/

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Safeguarding adults who receive social care is everybody’s business. If you are concerned about the safety of a loved one receiving care, contact the service provider in the first instance. You can also contact social services at your local council. If you feel a crime has been committed, contact the police.

You can share your safeguarding concerns with us on our website or contact our National Customer Services on 03000 616161.

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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GP Top tips

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If you are new to an area you can find details of local GP services such as doctors’ practices, out-of-hours services and walkin centres in our online directory of care services www.cqc.org.uk/content/doctorsgps

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You can search any of these services by the name of the service, a place name or your postcode at www.cqc.org.uk

After an inspection, CQC publishes its findings in a report on its website. You can use these reports to check and compare services in your area.

Telephone: 03000 616161 • Web: www.cqc.org.uk

CQC rates all GPs to help people make choices about where they get treatment. This will be on a four-point scale:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ●

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There are already over 1,000 reports about GP practices published on the CQC website.

Last year, CQC launched its new-style inspection reports for GPs – looking at the five key areas SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIVE and WELL-LED – you can use the reports to compare local GPs and choose services.

You can also use these new style inspection reports to find out more about local services and choose the one that is best for your needs.

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CQC will also look at how specific population groups are treated and give a rating. For instance how well they serve: Mothers, children and young people, vulnerable older people (over 75s) and people with long-term conditions.

People will be able to choose a GP service that rates highly on the areas that matter to them.

We welcome your feedback (good and bad) on the services you, or a loved one, receives from your GP. You can share information with us online at http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-yourexperience-finder or call us on 03000 61 61 61.

/CareQualityCommission

@CareQualityComm

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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Going home from hospital?

Age UK Birmingham are here to help.

When you’re ready to go home, if you are over 50 and live in Birmingham we are here to help and support you.

Information and advice Often after a spell in hospital it is more difficult to cope with everyday tasks. If you find this is true you may qualify for extra financial help.

Our team of advisors are there to provide expert advice and information including welfare benefit calculations, and help to complete forms. They can also answer a wide range of queries or refer you to someone who can help you directly.

Whenever you want to find anything out from a trustworthy source – give us a call.

Handyfix We offer a citywide Handyfix service that covers the whole city. With one phone call to 0121 437 0033 people over 50 or their relatives, friends and carers can book a Handyperson to do those jobs around the house that need fixing.

Age UK Birmingham staff will agree whether “Handyfix” can help, what needs doing, how long it’s likely to take and then book a day and time that best suits the customer.

All the work will be carried out only by Age UK Birmingham Handyfix’s highly trained, reliable and trustworthy, in-house team of staff.

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curtain rails, joinery and plumbing • Safety – locks, doors, window locks, door chains, key safes • Moving furniture around the house For just £35 customers will get an hour’s worth of work completed around the home. So if the first task is finished quickly then the friendly “Handyfix” staff will be happy to be given some other odd jobs to complete in the hour. The work is tailored exactly to the customers needs.

For example: • Home from hospital improvements

Here is a selection of some of the other services we provide:

• Personal safety – grab rails etc

• Day Care

• Disabled adaptations •M ost basic odd jobs around the house

• Lunch Clubs with delicious fresh meals cooked meals

• S mall repairs to: plastering, electrics, carpets,

• Wellcheck / Befriending

For further information please contact us: Telephone: 0121 437 0033 • Independent living advice and equipment – disability aids, stair lifts, pendant alarms, hearing aid batteries, etc

Telephone: 0121 270 2990 (Trading)

• Day Trips, clubs and social activities

Email: info@ageukbirmingham.org.uk

• Extend Exercise classes (seated) • Toenail Care

Web: www.ageukbirmingham.org.uk

• Tai Chi

Volunteering For Age UK Birmingham Volunteering for Age UK Birmingham is a great way to meet new people and be part of a team.

We have lots of opportunities to suit everyone, whatever skills, abilities and free time you can spare. We have roles ranging from helping in our shops and day centres to helping us fundraise so we can continue to provide products and services for the over 50’s.

In return you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a real contribution to our clients “loving later life”. Whilst you are supporting the over 50’s we will be supporting you by giving you training and helping you enjoy volunteering! Our volunteers also get discount on home and car insurance!

For further information please call our Volunteer Coordinator or pop into our office on the Alcester Road opposite Sainsburys, call us on 0121 437 0033 or email: volunteers@ ageukbirmingham.org.uk You can also find out more about our opportunities at do-it.org.uk or the local BVSC in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Charity number: 1138240 Age UK has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does Age UK endorse any of the products or services.

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Dementia Friends Programme Dementia Friends is a national initiative run by the Alzheimer’s Society. Funded by the government, it aims to improve people’s understanding of dementia and its effects.

Through the Dementia Friends programme, we aim to change the way the nation thinks, talks and acts to create ‘dementia friendly’ communities.

How does it work?

A group of volunteers will be trained to spread the word about what dementia is and what action individuals can take in their community, and recruit Dementia Friends.

What is a Dementia Friend?

A Dementia Friend learns about what it is like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action.

What is a Dementia Friends Champion?

Dementia Friends Champions are volunteers who, after attending a training course, run information sessions where they talk to people about being a Dementia Friend in their communities.

How can I get involved?

It’s easy – just log on to www.dementiafriends.org.uk and book on to a Dementia Friends Information session. Alternatively, contact your local Alzheimer’s Society office for more information.

The Alzheimer’s Society have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Alzheimer’s Society endorse any of the products or services.

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Taking o dement togethe

on tia er

Alzheimer’s Society Services in Birmingham If you think you may have a form of dementia, or are caring for a person who has dementia, there are many ways that the Alzheimer’s Society in Birmingham can help.

Support from Dementia Support Workers Dementia Support Workers can offer advice on accessing professional help.

We are in contact with a wide range of services and other advice centres, so we can put you in touch with specialists who can help you if your concerns are outside of our expertise. We can also refer you, or the person you care for, to services which provide for people with dementia – particularly if you are having trouble accessing this yourself.

Home visits We can arrange for a Dementia Support Worker to visit you in your own home and provide information, advice and support.

Dementia Cafés Are places for people with dementia, their families and friends to meet other people in a similar situation for support, information and social interaction.

Singing for the Brain Is a service provided by Alzheimer’s Society which uses singing to bring people together in a friendly and stimulating social environment.

Singing is not only an enjoyable activity – it can also provide a way for people with dementia, along with their carers, to express themselves and socialise with others in a fun and supportive group.

Information We can provide a wide range of advice sheets, which include specific information on different types of dementia, care issues and understanding the needs of the person with dementia.

What should I do now?

For information, advice and support please contact one of our advisors on 0121 706 4052 between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Email: birminghamandsolihull@alzheimers.org.uk Alternatively you can visit us at: Alzheimer’s Society, Waterside House, 7-9 Olton Wharf, Richmond Road, Olton, Solihull B92 7RN. 29

NHS hospitals and services

in Birmingham & Solihull SUTTON FOUR OAKS

Good Hope Hospital, Rectory Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B75 7RR. Tel: 0121 424 2000 SUTTON SUTTON TRINITY

Birmingham Chest Clinic Hospital 151 Great Charles Street, Queensway, Birmingham B3 3HX Tel: 0121 424 2000

COLDFIELD SUTTON VESEY OSCOTT

Heartlands Hospital East, Birmingham B9 5SS. Tel: 0121 424 2000

KINGSTANDING

SUTTON NEW HALLGreen Bordesley

PERRY BARR STOCKLAND GREEN

PERRY BARR

The Onneley Centre, 109 Court Oak Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9AA Tel: 0121 437 0033

ERDINGTON

HANDSWORTH WOOD

TYBURN

LOZELLS AND EAST HANDSWORTH HODGE HILL

ASTON SOHO

City Hospital

LADYWOOD

HARBORNE

NECHELLS

NORTHFIELD

Living Centre, Unit 4, Elmdon Trading Estate, Bickenhill Lane Solihull B37 7HE SHELDON

SOUTH YARDLEY YARDLEY

HALL GREEN

LYNDON

ACOCKS GREEN

OLTON

HALL GREEN

SELLY OAK

SILHILL BILLESLEY

ST ALPHEGE

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Waterside House, 7-9 Olton Wharf, Richmond Road, Olton, Solihull B92 7RN. Tel: 0121 706 4052

KNOWLE

SOUTH SHIRLEY

BLYTHE

Carers Trust Solihull (based at) Solihull Fire Station Annexe, 620 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull B91 1QY

SOLIHULL

EAST SHIRLEY WEST SHIRLEY

KINGS NORTON

BICKENHILL

ELMDON

Community Advice Hub at The Core, First Floor, Solihull Library Building, Solihull B91 3RG

MOSELEY AND KINGS HEATH

BOURNVILLE

KINGSHURST & FORDCHELMSLEY BRIDGE WOOD

STECHFORD Better

SPRINGFIELD

WEOLEY

NORTHFIELD LONGBRIDGE

SHARD END

BORDESLEY GREEN

EDGBASTON

BRANDWOOD

Royal Orthopaedic Hospital

SMITH’S WOOD

WASHWOOD HEATH

Queen Elizabeth Hospital SPARKBROOK

SELLY OAK

Community Advice Hub at Chelmsley Wood Library, 10 West Mall, Chelmsley CASTLE BROMWICH Wood, B37 5TN

HODGE HILL

LADYWOOD

EDGBASTON QUINTON

Kings Heath Office, BARTLEY GREEN 55 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JG. Tel: 0121 437 0033

ERDINGTON

Solihull Council, Council House, Manor Square, Solihull, West Midlands B91 3QB. Tel: 0121 704 8001

Solihull Hospital & Community Services, DORRIDGE & LodeHEATH Lane, Solihull B91 2JL. HOCKLEY Tel: 0121 424 2000

Useful contacts A

C

Action on Elder Abuse 020 8835 9280 We work to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults. Action on Elder Abuse, PO Box 60001, Streatham SW16 9BY I www.elderabuse.org.uk I enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care 0844 477 9400 Cruse Bereavement Care is here to support you after the death of someone close.

I www.cruse.org.uk I helpline@cruse.org.uk

Admiral Nursing DIRECT 0845 257 9406 This helpline has been set up to provide people with an opportunity to talk through their worries and concerns about themselves, friends or relatives with dementia. The lines are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 9pm. Callers can leave messages any time and request a call back I direct@dementiauk.org

DIAL (Disability Information Advice Line) 0121 770 0333 DIAL Solihull provide information and advice to disabled people, their family and professionals on all aspects of living with a disability.

DIAL Solihull, 67 The Parade, Kingshurst, Solihull, B37 6BB I www.dialsolihull.org.uk

Age UK Birmingham Kings Heath Office – 55 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JG The Onneley Centre – 109 Court Oak Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9AA Tel: 0121 437 0033 Tel: 0121 270 2990 (Trading) I info@ageukbirmingham.org.uk Age UK Solihull

0121 704 7840

Alzheimer’s Society 0121 706 4052 Waterside House, 7-9 Olton Wharf, Richmond Road, Olton, Solihull B92 7RN I birminghamandsolihull@alzheimers.org.uk Arthritis Care 020 7380 6500 Working with and for all people with arthritis to put them in control of their arthritis and their lives.

Arthritis Care, Floor 4, Linen Court, 10 East Road, London N1 6AD I info@arthritiscare.org.uk

B Better Living Centre

0121 329 0909

BID Services Solihull Telephone: 0121 246 6100 Textphone: 0121 246 6101

Birmingham Carers Hub 0333 006 9711 If you are caring for someone who lives in Birmingham, The Carers Hub is here to help you to quickly and easily access the right support services and resources for you.

I info@birminghamcarers hub.org.uk I www.birminghamcarershub.org.uk Birmingham Carers Association 0121 675 8176 159-161 Pitman Building, Corporation Street, Birmingham B4 6PH I bhamcarers@gmail.com I www.b-c-a.org.uk

C CareAware 0161 707 1107 A one stop shop for free advice on care fee funding for older people.

I www.careaware.co.uk I enquiries@careaware.co.uk Care Quality Commission (CQC) 03000 616161 National Correspondence, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PA I www.cqc.org.uk I enquiries@cqc.org.uk Carers Trust Solihull 0121 788 1143 Carers Trust Solihull is based at Solihull Fire Station Annexe, 620 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull B91 1QY I www.solihullcarers.org Carers UK – Birmingham branch 0121 355 1006 Prevents carers from becoming emotionally drained, and from forgetting to take care of themselves.

Community Hub, Farthing Lane, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B72 1RN I enquiries@carersukbirmingham.org I www.carersukbirmingham.org Community Advice Hubs (Solihull)

Disability Benefits – for Disability 0845 712 3456 Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance I Textphone: 0845 722 4433 I www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories DG_10011169

E Elderly Accommodation Counsel 0800 377 7070 The Counsel's aim is to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs. It was founded in 1984 and became registered as a charity in 1985. It is now more commonly known as EAC. I www.eac.org.uk

H Home safety checks

0800 389 5525

I Integrated Care Council 01379 678243 (Formerly the National Homecare Council) The Integrated Care Council is a body which brings together British public and independent sector organisations who commission or directly provide support for people living at home.

M

Mind (National Association for Mental Health) 020 8519 2122 The leading mental health charity in England and Wales. We work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

I www.mind.org.uk I contact@mind.org.uk

N

Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureau Registered office: Ground Floor, Gazette Buildings, 168 Corporation Street, Birmingham B4 6TF Tel: 03444 77 1010 (Advice) – Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Tel: 18001 03444 111445 (Textphone) Tel: 03454 040506 (Consumer Service) I enquiries@bcabs.cabnet.org.uk I www.bcabs.org.uk

MERIDEN

D

0121 705 3588

National Osteoporosis Society 0845 450 0230 Advice, information and support group for people with osteoporosis.

I www.nos.org.uk NHS 111

111

P Parkinson's Disease Society I www.parkinsons.org.uk

0800 800 0303

R Royal Voluntary Service 0845 608 0122 A volunteer organisation that enriches the lives of older people and their families across Britain. We support older people by giving time and practical help to help them get the best from life. Royal Voluntary Service, Cardiff Gate, Beck Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RP I www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

S SCH Safe and Sound Service

0121 717 1515

Solihull Connect

0121 704 8007

Stroke Association 0845 3033 100 Advice and information for stroke patients and their families.

I www.stroke.org.uk

T The Department of Work and Pensions I www.dwp.gov.uk The Pension Service 0845 606 0265 I www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/customerdelivery/the-pension-service Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is correct at the time of going to print. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without prior written consent of the copyright owners.

Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. ©2018. Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN10 6AB. Telephone: 01302 714528 Options Birmingham & Solihull is published by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd with editorial contributions from the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, the CQC, Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society and NHS choices. The editorial contributors have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor do the editorial contributors endorse any of the products or services.

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Content supplied by:

Wyndley Grange 2 Somerville Road, Sutton Coldfield B73 6JA

Recently Extended Nursing Home Providing Care For The Elderly ❙ En-suite Facilities ❙ Passenger Lift ❙ Disabled Facilities ❙ ❙ 24hr Nursing/Dementia Care ❙

0845 099 5001 www.homecroft-ltd.co.uk

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The Limes Care Home Providing a high standard of care and accommodation for people aged 40+.

Placement may be private/social care funded

n Specialist in dementia and

• Not for profit registered charity, providing high quality residential care in Alexandra House and ‘extra care’ housing at Alexandra Court, in Olton, Solihull.

• Respite facilities are available at both schemes.

• Modern, purpose built facilities, registered with CQC and staffed by qualified, highly professional teams, providing 24 hour care.

• Our complete affordable service provides all care, meals, laundry and cleaning.

• Attractive private gardens, spacious communal areas and regular social activities, close to local amenities and public transport links.

• If you would like to know more, why not visit us? You will always receive a warm welcome.

Enquiries: 0121 245 1002

DESIGN PRINT SUPPORT

www.sjmt.org.uk

Please contact: Home Manager Jennie Roberts tel: 0121 458 1831 50 Ivy House Road, West Heath B38 8JZ http://www.limesch.com anita@firstcareservices.co.uk

DESIGN PRINT SUPPORT

Residential and Extra Care Services in Solihull

mental health n Various Lounges n Visiting Chiropodist and Hairdresser n Large Secure Garden

34

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M A R K E T I NG LT D

To advertise in this publication please call the sales team on 01302 714528 Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB 01302 714528 | www.octagon.org.uk | info@octagon.org.uk

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M A R K E TI NG LTD

To advertise in this publication please call the sales team on 01302 714528 Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB 01302 714528 | www.octagon.org.uk | info@octagon.org.uk

35

Abbey Park Coventry

Abbey Park Humber Road Coventry CV3 4FE

02476 506045 AbbeyPark@mha.org.uk

Part of MHA, the award-winning charity care provider, Abbey Park now offers a life-enhancing range of care options in the heart of Coventry. Whether you or a relative need personal care and support or specialist dementia or nursing care, Abbey Park offers a range of high quality services: The Sherbourne Suites: Newly refurbished, self-contained Care Suites, double-sized with lounge / kitchenette, bedroom and en-suite facilities.

The Meadows Dementia Care: Dementia care and support provided by specialist staff trained in providing high quality dementia care, High quality nursing also available.

Allesley Hall Coventry

Allesley Hall Allesley Hall Drive Coventry CV5 9AD

02476 679977 AllesleyHall@mha.org.uk

Allesley Hall provides residential and nursing care and is situated within acres of its own landscaped gardens at the end of Allesley Hall Drive in Coventry.

Our highly trained, dedicated members of staff will always be on hand to provide your care and support in the way that best suits you, in the comfort of your own room with en-suite facilities.

Herondale/ Kingfisher Birmingham

Herondale/Kingfisher Nursing Homes 171-175 Yardley Green Road Birmingham B9 5PU

0121 753 0333 HerondaleKingfisher@mha.org.uk

At Kingfisher and Herondale Nursing Homes we recognise everyone as a unique individual, and this extends to their nursing care needs. A person’s requirements may be complex and multi faceted. Our nurses are experienced, dedicated and highly clinically skilled. Along with our care team, they can provide personalised, high quality care for people living with both physical and mental health conditions, which includes residents living with advanced Dementia and complex physical care needs. All rooms are single occupancy with ensuite facilities.

www.mha.org.uk Designed & Compiled by Octagon Design and Marketing Ltd., Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528