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Wakefield Council – helping you stay independent and healthy
Helping you to find
extra care and support
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Following a stay in hospital, you might find you need extra care and support to manage your life and daily tasks to help you remain independent. Adult social care services in the Wakefield district can support you to stay independent and healthy.
Care needs assessment
You may have had a conversation about your care and support needs whilst in the hospital and have a care plan in place. However, if you feel your care needs have changed contact Social Care Direct on 0345 8 503 503. Care needs assessments are carried out to find out what help and support are needed. It will seek to find out what is happening in your life, such as the help you have now and what help you think you may need. The assessment might also include putting you in touch with other services that can help you.
Reablement when you get home from the hospital
If you are recovering from an illness or injury, you may have been offered temporary care also known as ‘reablement’. The reablement service aims to help you: • Look after yourself rather than have someone care for you • Stay as independent as possible • Avoid any unnecessary hospital stays Reablement workers will help you to do things yourself rather than doing them for you. Reablement care is free for up to 6 weeks, however, most people receive this care for around 1 or 2 weeks.
If you need ongoing care
You may need care for longer than 6 weeks to help you cope with daily life. Home care services across the district may be able to help. Though this care isn’t free, the service can be provided by either adult social care or by outside providers.
Paying for care
Care arranged by your local council isn’t usually free. Following a care needs assessment there will be a financial assessment where the council will look at your income, savings, and property to calculate how much you can afford to contribute towards the cost of your care and support.
Caring for someone
There is support available for carers through Carers Wakefield and District. Whether you’re looking for someone to simply listen and talk things over with, or gain advice on groups or services, call 01924 305544 or visit www.carerswakefield.org.uk. As an adult carer, you are entitled to a carers assessment. The assessment takes place as a conversation between you and a social worker and looks at how caring affects your life, including, for example, your physical, mental, and emotional needs, and whether you are able or willing to carry on caring. Following this conversation, you will be given recommendations of services and actions that may help you as a carer. Not all services recommended from your carers assessment are free, although you may be eligible
for a carer personal budget to give you a break from your caring role or to buy something that makes your life easier. It is not means tested and if your application is successful, you have a wide choice about how the money is spent. Talk to the social worker that is working with the person you care for (if they have one) or phone Social Care Direct and ask for a carers needs assessment.
Equipment and adaptations
Several services can assist with equipment and adaptations to your property such as wet rooms, grab rails, ramps, and stair lifts – with differing eligibility criteria. The services available are: • Adaptations Service • Wakefield District Housing Special Needs and
Disability Service • Community Occupational Therapy Service • Integrated Community Equipment Store To ensure you access the correct service, contact Social Care Direct.
How to get mobility equipment
The council’s equipment service delivers equipment to people who meet agreed eligibility criteria on a loan basis. You’ll be assessed by a health or social care professional such as an occupational therapist or district nurse who will request the most suitable equipment. This must be returned when no longer required so that it can go on to support other people in need. DIAL also have small pieces of equipment available such as zimmers, rollators, walkers, and portable ramps that can be loaned for short periods. Call DIAL on 01977 723933 to enquire.
Wheelchair service
The council’s wheelchair service can provide manual and powered wheelchairs and specialist seating to help people with clinical needs for posture and mobility. Speak to your GP or other healthcare professional about making a referral for you.
Stay Healthy
when and where they take a break, with peace of mind that the person they look after is safe and receiving good care.
Falls prevention
Falling as you get older is quite common, and although most falls don’t cause serious injury, they can be distressing. Positively, there are lots of things you can do and small changes you can make in the home to help you stay steady on your feet. The Aspire Health Referral Service provides access to a free exercise programme which is tailored to you to improve your strength and balance and reduce your risk of having a fall. This may include seated exercises. For more information call 01924 307811 or email aspirereferral@wakefield.gov.uk.
Out and about
Find details of activities and local groups at wakefield.connecttosupport.org. Nova Wakefield also has a useful directory of local community groups available across the district at communitywakefield.org. Just don’t forget – for help with travelling around, West Yorkshire Metro offers discounted and free passes. Visit www.wymetro.com.
Care link
Care Link can improve and maintain wellbeing, self-esteem, and independence, letting people live safely and securely at home, by providing an alarm connected to a call centre should they fall. Telephone 01977 788000 or email carelink@wdh.co.uk.
Healthy housing
The Wakefield Healthy Housing Pathway assists with issues around fuel poverty, problems with inefficient heating systems, and cold or damp homes. In some cases, there may be grants and loans available to help, particularly if you are: • Aged over 60 • Have a child aged under 16 in your household • Have a condition or illness that is made worse by cold or damp living conditions To find out more email healthyhousing@wakefield.gov.uk.
