Personal health budgets A personal health budget is an amount of money to support a person’s identified health needs. It is planned and agreed between the person and their local NHS team.
The aim is to enable people with long-term conditions and disabilities to have greater choice, flexibility and control over the healthcare and support they receive.
Services for carers Who is a carer? Carers regularly look after, help or support someone who wouldn’t be able to manage everyday life without their help. A carer doesn’t have to be living with the person they care for, and the help they give doesn’t have to be physical. The carer may be caring for a partner, another relative, a friend or a neighbour. For example, it may be someone who:
• has a long-term health condition; or
• is over 60;
• eating or taking medicines;
• is living with dementia;
• getting about at home or outside;
• has a physical or learning disability or a mental health condition;
• practical help at home and keeping someone company; or
• has sight, hearing or communication difficulties;
• emotional support or communicating.
• misuses drugs or alcohol. The carer may be helping with: • personal care, such as washing and dressing; • going to the toilet or dealing with incontinence;
Having a carers’ assessment Anyone who provides, or intends to provide, regular unpaid support to someone who could not manage without their support has the right to have their own needs assessed, even if the person they care for has refused support services or an assessment of their own needs. A carers’ assessment is an opportunity for people to tell their local council what they need as a carer, and to find out what support might be available. The assessment is an essential first step for carers to get the support they may need. It looks at: • the care the carer provides and how this affects their life; • any support they are getting now and what else would help; and • what they would like their support to achieve. The assessment can also give lots of information about other services that might help, and other
ideas for support. The carer’s assessment will show if the carer qualifies for support from Adult Social Care. To arrange a carers’ assessment, speak with the social worker of the person being cared for, or contact Carers Bucks or the Milton Keynes Council Adult Access Team – details are on page 14. Carers’ Personal Budgets If, following an assessment, the carer is found to be eligible for council support, it will work with them to develop a support plan, this will include information on any Personal Budget they may be eligible for. A carers’ Personal Budget is the amount of money which has been agreed to meet the carer’s identified needs. The carer can request some or all of their local council’s contribution to the Personal Budget as a Direct Payment, a payment that can be used towards the cost of something specific that
Visit www.carechoices.co.uk for further assistance with your search for care
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