Covers Services in East Leicestershire

Health & Social CareSignposting Directory

Issue 1

Your local spotlight on Health & Social Carecovers services in: LE7 • LE8 • LE13 • LE16 • LE17 • LE18

ContentS

DisclaimerThis Directory has been compiled to signpost primary health and social care providers throughout East Leicestershire.

Whilst we have taken every care in compiling this publication, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibilityfor any inaccuracies.

All listings are supplied via the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and NHS Choices. Neither Healthwatch Leicestershirenor HealthCare Publications can be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

All signposting services are up to date as of December 2014.A note on advertising: We offer businesses the chance to reach potential customers via this publication. It is our intention to clearly indicate that anadvertisement is being displayed and no endorsement or approval by the promoters of any product, service or supplier should be implied.

Healthwatch Leicestershire 1 – 5

Your Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) 6

Free NHS Health Check 7 – 8

Healthy Living 9

Choosing a GP 10

GP Surgeries 11

Pharmacies 12

Dentists 13

Opticians & Hearing Centres 14

Advice on Funding for Healthcare 15

Personal Health Budgets 16

Advice on Funding for Social Care 17

Direct Payments 18

Understanding the Care Act - New Law - April 2015 19 - 20

Independent Living 21 – 22

Are you a Carer? 23

Care in your own Home 24 – 26

Choosing between Residential, Nursing & Independent Living 27 – 28

Residential Care Costs 29 – 30

Residential & Nursing Care 31 -32

Help & Advice 33 - 36

Another quality publication by Healthcare PublicationsIf you require extra copies of this directory or are interested in advertising in future editions

please email Healthcare Publications on admin@healthcarepublications.org or visit www.hcpublications.org

1

HeALtHWAtCH LeICeSteRSHIRe

Helping you get the best out of your localhealth and social care servicesHealthwatch Leicestershire is the patient andpublic champion for health and social care serviceswithin the county.

Our purpose is to give the people of Leicestershirea stronger voice to influence and challenge howhealth and social care services are providedlocally.

Tell us your views and experiences ofhealth and social care services youreceive such as:• GPs and practices• Dentists• Mental health services• Hospitals• Social care • Community health services• Carers services• Children and young people services

We want to know what you like anddislike, what is good and badWe work on your behalf to ensure your views andexperiences are heard by those who run, plan andregulate local health and social care services.

We have seats on various health and social careboards in Leicestershire and it is here that wevoice the concerns of local people with an aim toinfluence and improve services locally.

To find out more visit:www.healthwatchleicestershire.co.uk

Get in touch: Tel: 0116 2574 999Email: info@healthwatchleics.co.ukTwitter: @HWLeicShire

Join usHealthwatch Leicestershire members have astronger voice to influence and challenge howhealth and social care services are providedlocally.

Join us today and be kept up to date with thelatest health & social care news, events andconsultations.

Sign up onlinewww.healthwatchleicestershire.co.uk/sign-up

Or complete the membership form andFREEPOST back to us. No Stamp needed.

FREEPOST LE 5328, Healthwatch Leicestershire, Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, PO BOX 30, Leicester LE1 7ZX

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Organisation (if applicable): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Telephone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postcode: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

By becoming a member you agree to complete theHealthwatch Leicestershire Annual Membership Survey.

2

HeALtHWAtCH LeICeSteRSHIRe

Leicestershire

Healthwatch Leicestershire’s Board ismade up of volunteers from across thecounty. The Board members representlocal people’s views and experiences atimportant meetings with health andsocial care leaders.Healthwatch Leicestershire’s vision and missionfocuses our work on what needs to be achieved toimprove health and social care services for localpeople.

Our Vision: Higher quality and more accessible health andsocial care services in Leicestershire through publicinvolvement.

Our Mission:To be an independent, influential consumerchampion of health and social care services inLeicestershire where people’s rights andresponsibilities in health and social care areunderstood and delivered.

We will achieve this by: • Understanding what matters most to people, especially those least included by always startingwith their needs and rights.

• Developing evidence-based local insight to share with local partners and Healthwatch England to inform national insight.

• Influencing those who have the power to change the design and delivery of services to better meet the needs and rights of users are better.

Find our more about our work on:www.healthwatchleicestershire.co.uk

“I recognise the importance ofpatients and the public having avoice in the way local healthand social care services areprovided. As HealthwatchLeicestershire we will championthe voice of local people tohealth and social care leadersin a bid to influence andimprove services for thefuture”.

Rick MooreChair Healthwatch Leicestershire

What powers does Healthwatch Leicestershire have?Healthwatch Leicestershire can requestinformation from local organisations,commissioners and providers. They then have 20working days to return the information requested.The trained members of Healthwatch (staff orvolunteers) are authorised to perform ‘Enter &View’. These are powers to enter publicly fundedhealth and social care premises to see and hearconsumer experiences about the service andobserve how the service is delivered.

Healthwatch Leicestershire has worked very hardto create partnerships and collaborativerelationships with local services and providers, inorder to discuss issues openly and effectively.

Healthwatch Leicestershire is one of148 community-focused localHealthwatch and together we formthe Healthwatch England network. We have the strength of the law andHealthwatch England behind us.Healthwatch is the first nationalchampion with independent statutorypowers to act on behalf of both adultsand children.

3

Get InVoLVeD

Drop-in and talk to us at a venue near youHealthwatch Leicestershire Drop-in Sessions areheld around the county at various venues such aslibraries and community centres. The drop-insessions are an opportunity for county residents totalk to a Healthwatch Advisor about their healthand social care services and find out informationon:

• Accessing local health and social care services • Care choice options available to local people• How to make a complaint about services

Look out for posters in your local area or visit ourwebsite to find out when the next Drop-in sessionis near you.

Become a volunteerHealthwatch Leicestershire’s volunteers are at thecore of all our work, carrying out many crucialroles. They are vital in listening to the public andpatients and representing their views to health andsocial care leaders and professionals.

Healthwatch Leicestershire is seekingvolunteers for the following roles:Community Champions make their community ahealthier place to live. They do this by attendingevents to listen to people’s experiences of healthand social care services as well as signposting localpeople to organisations that can support them withtheir well being.

Representatives are members of our workinggroups that work with health and social careproviders to inform solutions to identified issues.We have working groups for carers, social care,Leicester Hospitals and ambulance services.Representatives attend meetings and take anactive part in the representing local people.

Enter & View Authorised Representatives enterhealth and social care premises to observe thenature and quality of services being provided. They undertake training to be able to conduct the visits effectively.

Interested? To find out more about becominga volunteer for Healthwatch Leicestershire,get in touch:Tel: 0116 2574 999 Email: info@healthwatchleics.co.ukTwitter: @HWLeicShirewww.healthwatchleicestershire.co.uk

Become an invaluable part of a dynamic team

Healthwatch Leicestershire is currentlyrecruiting volunteers to become Enter & View Authorised

Representatives. This is your opportunity to join our team of

trained volunteers to conduct Enter & View visitsto health and social care premises. These visitsare undertaken within a supportive environment

and are observations not inspections.

As an Authorised Representative you will:• collect the views of service users, patients and residents• collect the views of carers and relatives of service users• collect the views of staff

• observe the nature and quality of services

• collate evidence-based feedback

This is a chance to meet new people, gain new insights into health & social care

services and develop your skills.

For details of how to apply to become an

Authorised Representative Contact us on: 0116 2574 999

or email: info@healthwatchleics.co.uk

Staff and volunteers capturing peoples views at A&E

4

YouR VoICe CountS

Hinckley• A walk in centre in the area would be useful• There is an imbalance between mental health services and physical health services

• More out of hours GP appointments to be available

Harborough• More health visitors for babies• Being able to get a GP appointment on the day that you call

• Better school education on healthy eating and dinners

Melton• Long waiting time to see a dentist• Melton hospital should be used for more services

• GP appointments to be more accessible especially to see your own doctor

Loughborough• I dislike repeating my case history to different hospital staff

• I attend the walk in centre because I can not geta GP appointment

• I never see the same midwife twice

Oadby & Wigston• The hospital complaints system should be easier• I am struggling to get an appointment with an NHS dentist

• Social services need to provide a consistent standard when delivering services

The My Voice Counts TourReport details all the views oflocal people and has beenshared with health and socialcare organisations. It isavailable to read atwww.healthwatchleicester.co.uk

The Healthwatch Leicestershire Team will be onthe road again over the winter and spring, checkout our website for details of when we are at anevent near you.

The Healthwatch Leicestershire teamtour the county listening to residentsabout their views and experiences oflocal health and social care services.

Here are some of the views of localpeople about the services within theirdistrict of Leicestershire.

Do you have a question for health andsocial care Chief Executives?Healthwatch Leicestershire are giving you theopportunity to submit a question to be asked tohealth and social care Chief Executives inmeetings that take place every three months.

Your question could be about:• Services at Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hospital or Leicester General Hospital

• Mental health services• Emergency ambulance services• Social services received from Leicestershire County Council

• Any other health service received at home or in the community

These meetings are a way for you to get aresponse from the people who make decisionsabout local health and social care services.

Separate meetings will be held with the ChiefExecutives of University Hospitals of Leicester,Leicestershire Partnership Trust, LeicestershireCounty Council and East Midlands AmbulanceService.

To submit your question:Call: 0116 2574 999Email: info@healthwatchleics.co.ukVisit: www.healthwatchleicestershire.co.uk

You can read all past questions and answerssessions with Chief Executives on our website.

5

LookInG AHeAD

Over the coming months Healthwatch Leicestershire will continue to be out in thecommunities of Leicestershire listening to local people’s views and experiences ofhealth and social care services.We are going to be visiting:• Universities and colleges to listen to young people• Social and community groups to listen to services users• A&E at Leicester Royal Infirmary to listen to patients• Libraries and community centres to listen to the general public

We are also holding:• Winter Wellbeing Fairs in Loughborough and Harborough to hear local peoples views and experiences of health and social care services• A Celebratory Event in the spring, this is an opportunity to the public, members and stakeholders to hear about the work of Healthwatch Leicestershire and our achievements during 2014/15

Check our website for full details for all the above activity: www.healthwatchleicestershire.co.uk

Better Care Together – transforming local health and social careBetter Care Together (BCT) is the biggest ever review of health and social care in Leicester, Leicestershire andRutland. BCT is a partnership of local NHS organisations and councils. It is driven by a shared recognition thatmajor changes are needed to ensure services can continue to meet the needs of local people.

The programme is looking at a number of crucial areas: • urgent care (including A&E) • long term conditions (such as diabetes and respiratory diseases) • frail older people • maternity and newborns • children’s services • learning disabilities • planned care • mental health provision

Why change anything?We are living longer and when we need care the most, we have more complex needs – this is putting strain onhealth and social care services. As more and more people age and have increasing needs, we need to ensurethat we plan for the future now to make sure people have access to high quality services in the future.

What will it mean for me as a service user or patient?By working together in partnership, all the health and social care systems will be easier to navigate through.There will be less reliance on hospital admissions, earlier prevention and more care in your community. Whenpeople need it most, there will be specialised acute services, better access to urgent care and more support forfrail and elderly people, for example.

Isn’t this all a ‘done deal’?By no means – everyone working on the plan has already listened to service users and patients, as well as thestaff delivering care, but there is still time to make sure your voice is heard. Many service changes will involvebetter ways of working and some may require formal consultation before changes are made. In both cases,everyone has the chance to have their say.

Express and opinion or to have a say about BCT either email: bct@eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk or contact: Healthwatch LeicestershireTel: 0116 2574 999Email: info@healthwatchleics.co.ukwww.healthwatchleicestershire.co.ukLearn more about BCT visit: www.bettercareleicester.nhs.uk

6

YouR CLInICAL CoMMISSIonInG GRouP (CCG)

East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG East Leicestershire and Rutland ClinicalCommissioning Group (ELR CCG) is responsible forcommissioning healthcare services for residents inBlaby, Lutterworth, Market Harborough, Rutland,Melton Mowbray, Oadby and Wigston and thesurrounding areas. The CCG is formed of 34 GPpractices serving around 315,000 patients.

We are led by a governing body made of electedGP members, a secondary care clinician, a leadnurse and independent lay member, supported byadvisers and a team of staff overseeing the dailybusiness of the CCG.

Our vision and values Our vision and values and strategic aims are basedon the views of our member practices, ourclinicians, our patients and carers, our staff andpartner organisations. We are committed toensuring that the patient and service user voice isat the heart of what we do and improving patientexperience is a key area of focus.

We know we live in challenging times for healthand social care. We have a population which isincreasingly living longer but year on year we areseeing higher numbers of people with increasinglycomplex health needs. To meet this challenge, weaim to improve health by meeting our patients’needs with high quality and efficient services, ledby clinicians, in partnership with patients andcarers, delivered closer to home.

Our communities, our partners across health andsocial care, our clinicians and our staff are centralto this vision. After talking and listening to peopleabout the local healthcare changes they would liketo see in their area, we aim to:

• Transform services and enhance quality of life for people with long-term conditions

• Improve the quality of care

• Reduce inequalities in access to healthcare

• Improve integration of local services

• Listen to our patients and public

• Live within our means

For more detail on our plans, please see our two year operational plan on our website:www.eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk

Get involvedWe are committed to listening to our patients andpublic and your feedback and views help informour commissioning decisions and improve healthservices, so why not get involved?

Patient Participation GroupsAnyone registered with a practice can helpimprove the delivery of health services and have asay on how their local GP surgery is run, throughsigning up to a Patient Participation Group (PPG).

PPGs are made up of volunteers interested inhealthcare issues, along with practice staff. Theymeet regularly to decide ways and means ofmaking a positive contribution to the services andfacilities offered by the surgery to its patients.We are working closely with our practices tosupport their PPGs and help them to set up groupsif they don't already have one. If you areinterested in joining your PPG, please contact yourpractice for more information as PPGs are alwayslooking for new members.

For more information visit:www.eastleicestershireandrutlandccg.nhs.uk/ppgsor call us on 0116 295 5105.

Become a member

East Leicestershire and Rutland ClinicalCommissioning Group Patient Membership Scheme

Our be healthy, be heard membership scheme hasbeen set up to provide people with healthy livingadvice and support and an opportunity to commenton how money is spent across local health services.

Becoming a member of the scheme is completelyfree and gives members the chance to get theirvoices heard and have their say about how the NHSservices are provided in East Leicestershire andRutland.

To find out more information on the scheme,including details of membership benefits, how tojoin and to access past editions of the membershipmagazine visit www.elrmembership.org or call uson 0300 555 5345.

7

FRee nHS HeALtH CHeCk

Everyone is at risk of developing heartdisease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease,and some forms of dementia. The goodnews is that these conditions can oftenbe prevented – even if you have a historyof them in your family. Have your freeNHS Health Check and you will be betterprepared for the future and be able totake steps to maintain or improveyour health.Why do I need an NHS Health Check?We know that your risk of developing heartdisease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease,and dementia increases with age. There are alsocertain things that will put you at even greaterrisk.

These are:

• Being overweight

• Being physically inactive

• Not eating healthily

• Smoking

• Drinking too much alcohol

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

Both men and women can develop theseconditions, and having one could increase your risk of developing another in the future.

• In the brain a blocked artery or a bleed can cause a stroke

• In the heart a blocked artery can cause a heart attack or angina

• The kidneys can be damaged by high blood pressure or diabetes, causing chronic kidney disease and increasing your risk of having a heartattack

• Being overweight and physically inactive can lead to type 2 diabetes

• If unrecognised or unmanaged, type 2 diabetes could increase your risk of further healthproblems, including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke

Who is it for?

The NHS Health Check scheme isavailable across Leicestershire.If a person is aged between 40 and 74 and hasn’talready been diagnosed with heart disease,diabetes, kidney disease, or had a stroke, theymay be invited by their GP for the NHS HealthCheck by letter, text or they may be offered theNHS Health Check when they are at their GP foranother reason.

Helping you prevent heart disease, stroke,diabetes, kidney disease and dementia

8

FRee nHS HeALtH CHeCk

Even if you’re feeling well, it’s worthhaving your NHS Health Check now.We can then work with you to lower yourchances of developing these healthproblems in the future.

What happens at the check?This check is to assess your risk of developing heartdisease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease,and stroke.

• The check will take about 20-30 minutes

• You’ll be asked some simple questions. For example, about your family history and choices which may put your health at risk

• We’ll record your height,weight, age, sex, and ethnicity

• We’ll take your blood pressure

• We’ll do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol level

What happens after the check?We will discuss how you can reduce your risk andstay healthy.

• You’ll be taken through your results and told what they mean. Some people may be asked to return at a later date for their results

• You’ll be given personalised advice on how to lower your risk and maintain a healthy lifestyle

• Some people with raised blood pressure will have their kidneys checked through a blood test

• Some people may need to have another blood test to check for type 2 diabetes. Your healthprofessional will be able to tell you more

• Treatment or medication may be prescribed to help you maintain your health

Questions you may have

Why do I need this check? I feel fine!The NHS Health Check helps to identify potentialrisks early. By having this check and followingthe advice of your health professional, youimprove your chances of living a healthier life.

But don’t these conditions run in the family?If you have a history of heart disease, stroke, type2 diabetes, or kidney disease in your familythen you may be more at risk. Taking action nowcan help you to prevent the onset of theseconditions.

I know what I’m doing wrong. How can the doctor help me?If you would like help, we will work with you tofind ways to eat healthily, reach your healthyweight, be more active, cut down your drinking, orstop smoking.

If I am assessed as being at ‘low risk’,does this mean I won’t develop theseconditions?It is impossible to say that someone will or won’tgo on to develop one of these conditions.But takingaction now can help you lower your potential risk.

Will everyone have this check?This check is part of a national scheme to helpprevent the onset of these health problems.Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 who hasnot been diagnosed with the conditions mentionedwill be invited for a check once every fiveyears. If you are outside the age range andconcerned about your health, you should contactyour GP.

Helping you prevent heart disease, stroke,diabetes, kidney disease and dementia

9

HeALtHY LIVInG

The choices we make about how we livecan have a significant effect on ourhealth. Eating a healthy diet, doingregular exercise, not smoking and notdrinking too much alcohol can help youstay well and enjoy a long life. Keeping fit and healthy can be a challenge if youare living with a long-term condition, but it willmake a big difference to your wellbeing. If you’vebeen thinking about making changes to yourlifestyle, such as stopping smoking, losing weight,eating healthily, drinking a little less alcohol, ordoing more exercise, there’s plenty of help andsupport available.

Talking to your GP and other healthcare workers,including pharmacists, is the first step. They’llhelp you look at your lifestyle and suggest changesthat are suitable for your condition and anytreatment you’re having. Your health or careworker can also let you know about local servicesthat can help you.

For example, if you want to start exercising butyou're unsure how to, your GP can put you on theExercise on Referral scheme. These schemes arerun with local gyms and fitness centres and caninclude swimming. Ask at your GP practice formore information.

Your GP can also help you if you want to stopsmoking, for instance by enrolling you in a clinicwhere you’ll get support from other people whoare also trying to stop. Nicotine replacementtherapy and other stop smoking treatmentsprovided by your GP can also help you resistcravings and boost your chances of quittingsuccessfully.

You're never too young or too old to switch to ahealthier lifestyle. Children who learn healthyhabits at a young age will benefit from themthroughout their life. And giving up bad habits canimprove your health at any age.

Stop Smoking for goodGiving up smoking is probably the best thing youcan do to improve your health. Research showsthat smoking is responsible for almost one in fiveof all deaths in the UK. This means that smokingcauses an estimated 110,000 deaths a year.

Smokers are almost twice as likely to have a heartattack as people who have never smoked. Smokingalso increases your risk of developing many cancersand lung disease.

Rethink your drinkingDrinking too much alcohol could increase your riskof getting 14 major diseases, including mouth andthroat cancers, liver cirrhosis, strokes and mentalhealth problems.

Alcohol is believed to be responsible for as many as22,000 premature deaths in England and Walesevery year. But it’s not just binge drinkers who areat risk: regularly drinking more than the recommendedlimit can cause significant health problems.

Get active, feel fitter, live longerWhatever your age, there's strong scientificevidence that being physically active can help youlead a healthier and even happier life.

Adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activityeach week. Young people (5-18) should do 60minutes every day.

If you do this, it can reduce your risk of heartdisease and stroke by up to 50% and lower your riskof early death by up to 30%.

10

CHooSInG A GP

Choosing a GP can seem a daunting task,especially if you have just moved into anarea and don't know anything about thelocal health services. But there are someeasy ways to find the doctor to suit you.It's important to be registered with adoctor because you'll need them to referyou for specialist hospital and communitytreatment services.

A surgery may refuse an applicationto join its list of patients if:You don't reside in the surgery area.

It has formally closed its list of patients, eg when apractice has more patients than it can deal with ornot enough doctors - this is less common than itused to be.

If your application is refused, the surgery mustwrite to you and give the reasons for this.

How do I find a surgery?Most surgeries operate a fairly strict catchmentarea system, and only those who live within thearea may be able to register.

This isn't to be awkward, but ensures a GP can visita person at home in an emergency in reasonable time.

How do I register?This is straightforward and far easier than mostpeople realise. Simply take your NHS medical cardalong to your chosen surgery. You will then beasked to sign a registration form.

Not all NHS trusts issue medical cards. If you don'thave one, the receptionist will give you form GMS1to fill in.

Once you've completed and returned the forms,your local NHS will transfer your medical recordsto your new surgery and write to you to confirmyour registration as a patient with the surgery.Many surgeries ask a new patient to attend a‘registration medical’ that checks your generalhealth.

What if I can’t get an appointment?If you can't get a doctor's appointment or have anon-urgent health problem or query, you cancontact a nurse by ringing 111 at any time.

What if I have a complaint or concernabout my GP or Practice?First raise it with the staff member concerned orthe Practice Manager.

It may just be an issue of poor communication.Ask at your practice for a copy of their Complaintsprocess to follow.

If you are not happy with how they respond to yourconcerns then you can write to NHS England andthey will allocate someone to look into yourcomplaint.

Write toNHS England PO Box 16738, Redditch, B97 9PT. Tel: 0300 311 22 33 Email: england.contactus@nhs.net

If you want to help improve services in your GPpractice you can join a Patient ParticipationGroup.

Ask at the practice for details of how to join yours.

11

GP SuRGeRIeS

Surgery Address Area Postcode Telephone

Getting a GP appointmentIf you want to see a doctor, you'll usually need to make an appointment. Most GP surgeries operateindependently and have their own booking routines. Your surgery should be able to offer you anappointment to see a GP or other healthcare professional quickly if necessary. However, if it is moreconvenient, you should also be able to book appointments in advance.

Familiarise yourself with your GP surgery’s appointment system, and try to plan in advance if you can. Forroutine appointments you may be able to book online, so check on the practice website or with the receptionist.

12

PHARMACIeS

Pharmacy / Chemist Address Area Postcode Telephone

Make sure you have repeat prescriptionsIf you or someone you care for requires medicines regularly, make sure you order and collect repeatprescriptions in good time to ensure you or your family have enough medicine to last i.e. weekends, Bankholidays and breaks away.

Many of the calls to out of hours health services are for emergency repeat prescriptions when people haverun out of their medication - a situation that could be avoided with some forethought and planning. Bythinking ahead for your regular medication you are helping our busy out of hour’s doctors and nurses.

13

DentIStS

Dentist Address Area Postcode Telephone

NHS Dentistry - Know your rightsYou're entitled to have all clinically necessary treatment on the NHS. This means that the NHS will provideany treatment that you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain. If your dentistsays you need a particular type of treatment, you should not be asked to pay for it privately. Your dentist isnot allowed to refuse you any treatment available on the NHS but then offer the same treatment privately.Also, any treatment provided on the NHS has to be of the same high quality as treatments providedprivately. Depending on what you need to have done, you should only ever be asked to pay one charge foreach complete course of treatment, even if you need to visit your dentist more than once to finish it. Youwill not be charged for individual items within the course of treatment.

14

oPtICIAnS & HeARInG CentReS

Opticians Address Area Postcode Telephone

Hearing Centres Address Area Postcode Telephone

Regular eye tests are important because your eyes don't usually hurt when something is wrong. A sight test isa vital health check for your eyes that can pick up early signs of eye conditions before you're aware of anysymptoms – many of which can be treated if found early enough. A sight test will show if you need to: Getglasses for the first time or change your current glasses.

A sight test will also include a general health check that can pick up early signs of eye disease beforeyou’re aware of any symptoms. Some health conditions can affect the eyes such as: Diabetes, MacularDegeneration or Glaucoma. It’s recommended that adults have their eyes tested every two years, unless theirophthalmic practitioner advises them to have a sight test more often than that.Your employer may pay forthis test for you so ask for advice on this, and if you are over 60 your test is free of charge.

15

ADVICe on FunDInG FoR HeALtHCARe

There are several options for funding care andunderstanding them, and which ones apply to youcan be complicated. These options depend on yourneed for care and support, as well as your personaland financial circumstances.

The main sources of support are the NHS and yourlocal Social Services department, depending onyour circumstances.

NHS careThe NHS is responsible for funding certain types ofhealthcare and equipment you may need. In somesituations, the NHS is also responsible for meetingcare needs. This is usually when someone’s need ismainly for healthcare rather than social care. NHScare could be provided in hospital but it can alsobe in someone’s own home or elsewhere in thecommunity.

When care is provided through the NHS there is nofinancial assessment and no care charges to pay.However, people are only eligible for NHS care incertain circumstances.

NHS continuing healthcareIf the person you care for has very severe andcomplex health needs, they may qualify for NHScontinuing healthcare. This is an ongoing packageof care that’s fully funded by the NHS.

Nursing careIf someone goes into a residential care home butneeds some element of nursing care, they’ll get apayment from the NHS to help pay for their nursingcare. This is called a registered nursing carecontribution (RNCC).

Intermediate careSome people can be eligible for intermediate carefrom the NHS. This is provided on a short-termbasis and is intended to help people recover froman injury or illness and stay independent.Intermediate care is often provided to elderlypeople who are being discharged from hospital,and may help someone to keep living in their ownhome rather than moving into a care home.

AftercarePeople who were previously detained in hospitalunder certain sections of the Mental Health Actwill have their aftercare services provided free.

16

PeRSonAL HeALtH BuDGetS

Personal Health BudgetsPersonal health budgets are being introduced bythe NHS to help people manage their care in a waythat suits them. They have been piloted in anumber of places across England and, from April2014, anyone receiving NHS continuing healthcare willhave a right to ask for a personal health budget.

What is a Personal Health Budget?A personal health budget is an amount of money tosupport your identified health and wellbeingneeds, planned and agreed between you and yourlocal NHS team. The aim is to give people withlong-term conditions and disabilities greater choiceand control over the healthcare and support theyreceive. Personal health budgets work in a similarway to the personal budgets that many people arealready using to manage and pay for their social care.Together with your NHS team (such as a GP) youwill develop a care plan. The plan sets out yourpersonal health and wellbeing needs, the healthoutcomes you want to achieve, the amount ofmoney in the budget and how you are going tospend it.

You can use a personal health budget to pay for awide range of items and services, includingtherapies, personal care and equipment. This willallow you more choice and control over the healthservices and care you receive.

You don’t have to change any healthcare orsupport that is working well for you just becauseyou get a personal health budget, but if somethingisn’t working, you can change it.

Who can have a personal health budget?The first group to be able to ask for a personalhealth budget, from April 2014, will be peoplegetting NHS continuing healthcare, which is NHS-funded long-term health and personal careprovided outside hospital. Local NHS organisationswill be free to offer personal health budgets toother people if they think an individual willbenefit. It is the Government’s long-term aim, tointroduce a right to a personal health budget forpeople who would benefit from it.

Can I have a personal health budget aswell as a personal budget for social careand support?Yes. If you already have a personal budget for careand support from social services and your NHSteam agrees, you can also have a personal healthbudget and ask for both to be combined.

Do I have to have a personal healthbudget?No. If having a personal health budget does notwork for you, your local NHS will provide the careyou need as it has always done.

What is the difference between apersonal health budget, a personalbudget, an individual budget and a direct payment?A personal health budget is for your NHShealthcare and support needs.

A personal budget is for your social care andsupport needs.

An individual budget includes your social care andsupport needs plus other funding, such asindependent living.

A direct payment is one way of managing thesebudgets, where you get the cash to buy the agreedcare and support you need.

Key points• Personal health budgets should help people get a better service from the NHS. They should not make things worse.

• You do not have to have a personal health budget if you do not want one.

• You should have as much control over decisions as you want.

• NHS and social care organisations should work in partnership with you and with each other.

• If you are not able to have a personal health budget, you can still speak to your NHS team about how your needs can be met in another way that is more personal to you.

17

ADVICe on FunDInG FoR SoCIAL CARe

If someone isn’t eligible for free care from the NHS, their main source of support will be social services. Inthis case, there are rules that determine whether or not they have to make a financial contribution. Theserules vary depending on whether the care is provided in a care home or in their own home.

Local authority community careIf you or the person you're looking after has difficulty with their personal care, they should consider gettingsupport from social services by having a community care assessment of their needs. Your income (includingany benefits) and capital will be taken into account when calculating whether you have to pay anythingtowards the care that you or they will receive.In some cases a person may have a mixed package of care,including some that is NHS-funded and some that is provided by social services, for which they may becharged. Normally, an assessment is carried out before a service can be provided by the social servicesdepartment of a local authority. However, if the services are needed urgently, the local authority canprovide a service without carrying out the assessment. The local authority uses the community careassessment to decide whether a person needs a community care service and, if they do, whether it can beprovided by the local authority. The assessment considers what types of services are needed by the personbeing assessed.

A wide range of services could be needed, from aids and adaptations in the person's own home to careworkers or residential care. Where there are disputes about the process of the assessment or the care plan,there are ways that decisions can be challenged. For more information on challenging decisions, speak toyour local Healthwatch team. The local authority is obliged to carry out a community care assessmentwhen they become aware that someone may be in need of community care services. This may mean that anassessment is offered even if you or the person you look after have not specifically requested one.

18

DIReCt PAYMentS

Direct paymentsIf you are assessed as needing community careservices and qualify for social services funding,they must offer you direct payments as an option.

If someone isn't able to manage their own directpayments, it's possible for another person tomanage the direct payments on their behalf.

Direct payments are part of a move towards‘personalised’ social care so that people have more choice and control over the support they get, letting you choose and buy the services youneed yourself, rather than having it arranged foryou by social services.

It's important to know that if you receive a directpayment to pay a care worker or personalassistant, you become an employer and have legalresponsibilities.

Direct payments can be made to:• Disabled people aged 16 or over (with short or long-term needs)

• Disabled parents for children’s services

• Carers aged 16 or over (including people with parental responsibility for a disabled child)

• Elderly people who need community care services

Choosing direct paymentsThe choice of direct payments is voluntary. If youdecide to have direct payments, you can changeyour mind about this at any time. If you no longerwant direct payments, contact your local socialservices and ask them to arrange services instead.

It's possible to try direct payments by asking socialservices for a direct payment for some of yoursupport while you continue to get your othersupport directly from social services.

Direct payments can only be spent on things thatwill meet the assessed needs of the person gettingthem. If you spend a direct payment on somethingthat doesn't meet your needs, social services canrecover the money from you.

Everyone who gets support from social servicesshould have their needs reassessed at least once a year.

To contact your Local Authority Department foran assessment, to be re-assessed or for furtherinformation please call:

Social Care Services Leicestershire County CouncilFor Adult Social Care, Customer Services is the firstpoint of contact for most enquiries. Tel: 0116 305 0004

For Children’s Social Care, the First ResponseChildren’s Duty is the first point of contact formost enquiries. Phone: 0116 305 0005 or email: childrensduty@leics.gov.uk

Leicester City Council Adult social care

Tel: 0116 454 1004

Lines are open Monday to Thursday 8.30am-5pmFriday 8.30am to 4.30pm

For emergencies only, outside of office hours andat weekends and bank holidays, telephone 0116255 1606.

Duty and AssessmentChildren and Young People's Service1 Grey Friars, Leicester, LE1 5PH

Tel: 0116 454 1004 Mon-Thur 8.30am-5pm, Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm Emergencies: 0116 454 1004 (outside office hours only, at weekends, etc)

19

unDeRStAnDInG tHe CARe ACt

What is the Care Act? The Care Act is a new law about care andsupport for adults in England that will come intoforce in April 2015, making one new law sayingwhat people can expect and what localauthorities will have to do.

The number of people in England who have healthproblems requiring both health and social care isincreasing. For example, in the next 20 years, thepercentage of people over 85 will double. Thismeans there are likely to be more people with‘complex health needs’ - more than one healthproblem - who require a combination of health and social care services.

Care and support is something that nearlyeveryone in this country will experience at somepoint in their lives; even if you don’t need careyourself, you will probably know a family memberor friend who does, or you may already care forsomeone. Until now it’s been almost impossible forpeople who need care, carers, and even those whomanage the care system, to understand how theprevious law affecting them worked. The Care Acthas created a single, modern law that makes itclear what kind of care people should expect.

To help make things clearer the government haveintroduced a minimum eligibility threshold acrossthe country - a set of rules that makes it clearwhen local authorities will have to provide supportto people. Until now, local authorities have beenable to decide this threshold themselves, meaningdecisions varied from place to place.

Most local authorities have had a one size fits allapproach to care. The focus has been on whatdisabilities someone has, or what services the local authority can provide, rather than on theindividuals needs. So for the first time the systemwill be built around each person -what they need,how they can best be cared for, and what theywant.

For the first time, the Act provides people with alegal entitlement to a personal budget, which is an important part of their care and support plan.The personal budget must be included in everyplan, unless the person is only receivingintermediate care or reablement support to meettheir identified needs.

The main themes of the Care Act arearound promoting:• Wellbeing: giving people greater choice and control to be independent and providing advice and support.

• Carers entitlements and rights: carers will be entitled to their own assessments to see if they are eligible for support.

• A lifetime cap on care costs: there will be a limit to the amount you will have to pay for care in your lifetime (this will not come into force until April 2016). The lifetime cap on care costs will be £72,000 for people aged 65+. Local authorities must also help people to benefit from independent financial advice, so that they can get support to plan and prepare for the future costs of care.

• Advocacy: the local authority must find you an independent advocate who will help you and represent your best interests to get the right services if you are unable to do so.

• Keeping adults safe: This is the first time there as been a law telling local authorities what to do to help keep adults safe from abuse or neglect.

20

unDeRStAnDInG tHe CARe ACt

How does the care act benefit carers?Currently, carers don’t have a legal right to receivesupport, although local authorities can providesupport at their discretion. This means that accessto assessment and the range of support on offercan vary considerably.

The Care Act gives local authorities a responsibilityto assess a carer’s needs for support, where thecarer appears to have such needs. This replacesthe existing law, which says that the carer must beproviding “a substantial amount of care on aregular basis” to qualify for an assessment. Thiswill mean more carers are able to have anassessment. The local authority will assess whetherthe carer has needs and what those needs may be.This assessment will consider the impact of caringon the carer. It will also consider the things that acarer wants to achieve in their own day-to-daylife. It must also consider other important issues,such as whether the carer is able or willing tocarry on caring, whether they work or want towork, and whether they want to study or do moresocially. If both the carer and the person they carefor agree, a combined assessment of both theirneeds can be undertaken.

Adults caring for disabled childrenAn adult caring for a disabled child can get supportthrough children’s services. This is usually the bestway to meet their needs, so they are not coveredby this Act.

However, there is provision in the Act for an adultcarer of a disabled child to ask for an assessmentof their caring needs before the child reaches 18.When a local authority carries out such anassessment, it has the power to provide support tothe carer, even though they are caring for a child,rather than an adult. This would, for example,enable a local authority to provide support that isavailable through an adult carers’ centre.

The Care Act and young carersThe Care Act does not deal with the assessment ofpeople under the age of 18 who care for others.However, young carers can be supported under thelaw relating to children. The Children and FamiliesAct gives young carers (and parent carers) similarrights to assessment as other carers have under theCare Act.

To view The Children and Familes Act in furtherdetail please visit:www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/contents/enacted

The RulesWell-being: Local Authorities must have services tomeet different people’s needs. They must alwaysthink about your wellbeing.

Information and advice: Local authorities willneed to provide comprehensive information andadvice about care and support services in theirlocal area. This will help people to understand howcare and support services work locally, the careand funding options available, and how people canaccess care and support services.

The Act clearly sets out what local authoritiesmust provide information on:

• what types of care and support are available – e.g. specialised dementia care, befriending services, reablement, personal assistance, residential care etc…

• the range of care and support services available to local people, i.e. what local providers offer certain types of services

• what process local people need to use to get care and support that is available

• where local people can find independent financial advice about care and support and helpthem to access it

• how people can raise concerns about the safety or wellbeing of someone who has care and support needs

Prevention: Local authorities must provide orarrange services that help prevent peopledeveloping needs for care and support or delaypeople deteriorating such that they would needongoing care and support.

Person-centred care and support: Person-centredcare is when people understand what is importantto you and give you the right care and support todo the things you want. The Local Authority mustinvolve you in writing and checking your plan.

Work and having a job: Local Authorities mustnow think about education, training and workwhen they look at the care and support you need.

To view The Care Act in further detail please visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-2014-part-1-factsheets

21

InDePenDent LIVInG

You could get a grant from your council if youare disabled and need to make changes to yourhome, for example to:

• Widen doors and install ramps• Improve access to rooms and facilities - eg stairlifts or a downstairs bathroom

• Provide a heating system suitable for your needs

• Adapt heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

How can I find out more about the aidsand adaptations that would help me?

Contact your social services department aboutwhat difficulties you are having at home. They will send an occupational therapist to carry out an assessment and provide advice on whichequipment or housing adaptation needs suit you best.

Suggestions for making life easy:

External Adaptations• Handrail at front or rear entrance of dwelling• Provision of whirly clothes line or path leading to clothes line

• Widening of paths around the property• Defining steps for people with visual impairments

• Outdoor lighting• Paved areas for wheelchairs

General Internal Adaptations• Additional stair rail• Changing door knobs to lever handles• Lowering of Yale locks• Re-siting of electrical sockets at a convenient level

• Additional power points• Provision of intercom & door unlock systems• Provision of rocker light switches• Adjustments to or additional lighting• Relocation of clothes hanging rails• Accessible window openings• Provision of letter cages or delivery shelves in entrance hall

Around one in five adults in the UK isdisabled, and more than 1 million ofthose live alone. With the right supportand facilities, leading an independent lifewith a physical or learning disability isnow more achievable than ever.

Aids and Adaptations If you or a member of your family has difficultyliving in your home due to a long-term illness ordisability, you may be able to get help by adaptingyour home to better meet your needs. You canapply to your local council for a disabled facilitiesgrant. The grant helps you adapt your home tomake it suitable for a disabled person. Dependingon your income, you may need to pay towards thecost of the work to the property.

22

23

ARe You A CAReR?

A carer is anybody who looks after a familymember, partner or friend who needs help becauseof their illness, frailty or disability. All the carethey give is unpaid and about one in ten of us is acarer. Many carers don't see themselves as carersand it takes carers an average of two years toacknowledge their role as a carer.

It can be difficult for carers to see their caring roleas separate from the relationship they have withthe person they care for, whether they are aparent, son, daughter, sibling or friend and manypeople do not see themselves as carers. Theysimply may think of themselves as a friend orfamily of the person they care for.

It is because of this that they often don’t realisethat there is help available to them as well,such as how to get:• Assessments• Direct payments• Home care• Housing adaptations• Funding for short breaks or respite

Some carers can suffer from poor health becauseof the demands of their caring role. For example,back pain can result from lifting or moving theperson being cared for. It may also be difficult tomaintain a healthy diet and exercise routine whilecaring.

Without the right support, being a carer can be anextremely stressful role.

• Ask for help: We all need help from time to time and carers are no exception. Help is out there, you only need to ask!

• Know your rights: It sounds simple, but knowing what you’re entitled to and what support is available can help a great deal.

• Tell your GP: Your GP practice can record that you are a carer to ensure you get your annual flu vaccination and additional support as a carer.

• Have an assessment: This can sound a little daunting at first, but ensuring that you and theperson you care for, get an assessment of your and their needs. Your local authority can give you access to a whole host of additional practical help and support.

• Be a little selfish! We all need time to ourselves, but it’s particularly important for carers. This could be as simple as setting some‘me’ time aside for a relaxing bath or a night out.

In Leicestershire there are over 105,000 familycarers and we help over 3,000 carers per year. As a highly valued organisation we receive manyreferrals from GPs, social workers, healthprofessionals, police and other charitableorganisations. We offer a range of free services to help both practically and emotionally.

We are a Leicestershire based charity anddedicated to supporting family carers acrossLeicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and workwith a diverse population with differing needs.

By giving family carers ongoing dedicated supportwe can help them cope with their situations withintheir own homes. Our work makes a hugedifference to carers struggling to cope withdisabled and critically ill loved ones.

CLASP The Carers CentreUnit 19, 4th Floor, Matrix House, Constitution HillLeicester LE1 1PLTel: 0116 251 0999Email: enquiries@claspthecarerscentre.org.ukWeb: www.claspthecarerscentre.org.uk

Get help finding the righthealth and social care services

I want toknow the careoptions for myelderly parents

Whatdiabetessupport

services arein my area?

I couldn’tsign up withmy GP ofchoice

Healthwatch Helpline0116 2574 999

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pminfo@healthwatchleics.co.uk

24

CARe In YouR oWn HoMe

Organising your own home careIf you are thinking about arranging your ownhome care it is a good idea to ask any agenciesyou approach the following questions

• Are there different rates for weekends/evenings?

• Are there any extra charges i.e. for the carer's travelling expenses?

• What sort of services do you provide?

• If you provide me with a service, can I contact you out of office hours? If so, how?

• Are your carers trained? Are you registered with the Care Quality Commission?

Home care isn’t for everyone but frequent visitsfrom carers and a few home modifications can helpyou retain your home comforts and independence.Receiving care in your home is an increasinglycommon alternative to staying in hospital ormoving into a care home.

Depending on your needs, you can receive help andsupport that allows you to stay in your own homeas long as possible. Not only do you avoid anyupheaval and stay in familiar surroundings, it canalso be a more economical alternative toresidential care.

What home care services are available?• Regular visits from home care workers to help with daily tasks and personal care

• Meals delivered to your home• Equipment and home modifications to help with mobility and accessibility, such as getting in and out of the bath, and getting up and down stairs

• Personal fall and panic alarms that are monitored around the clock

• Support for health needs, such as incontinence• Day care and transport to take you there• Gardening and handyman services

If you only need a few hours help a day and yourhouse can be adapted to your needs, care at homemay be the most practical and cost-effectivesolution.

How much you have to pay will depend on:• Your health and mobility• What level of help and support you require• The value of your assets

Your local authority may pay some or all the costs,but you might also have to pay for all the servicesyourself.

Make sure you claim all the benefits you’reentitled to – Attendance Allowance and DisabilityLiving Allowance (or Personal IndependencePayment) are the most common.

To check up-to-date informationon the providers of homecarevisit www.cqc.org.uk or scan the QR CODE with your Smartphone.

A list of the care agencies registered with the CareQuality Commission (CQC), who are located in WestLeicestershire can be found on the following page.

25

CARe In YouR oWn HoMe

Care Provider Address Area Postcode Telephone

Carers Direct helplineCall the Carers Direct helpline on 0300 123 1053 if you need help with your caring role andwant to talk to someone about what options are available to you. If you are busy at certain

times of day, you can send us a message to ask us to call you back for free at a time that is convenient toyou. The helpline is open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and from 11am to 4pm, at weekends. Thehelpline is closed on bank holidays. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles within the UK.

26

27

CHooSInG BetWeen ReSIDentIAL,

There are many types of residential care homesavailable. These include permanent care homes forolder people, homes for younger adults withdisabilities and homes for children. They may beprivately owned or run by the voluntary sector orlocal authorities. You may want to consider indetail the many options for residential care beforeyou make a decision.

Older peopleCare homes for older people may provide personalcare or nursing care. A care home which isregistered to provide personal care will offersupport, ensuring that basic personal needs, suchas meals, bathing, going to the toilet andmedication, are taken care of. In some homesmore able residents have greater independenceand take care of many of their own needs.Someresidents may need medical care and some carehomes are registered to provide this. These areoften referred to as nursing homes. Some homesspecialise in certain types of disability, forexample, dementia.

Adults aged 18-65There are also residential care homes that providecare and support for younger adults with, forexample, severe physical disabilities, learningdisabilities, acquired brain injury, progressiveneurological conditions or mental health problems.Care can be provided for adults with more thanone condition and some homes have expertise inproviding care for adults with alcohol or drugdependency.

These homes offer permanent residence or providecare for a temporary period until the adult is able to live independently or move to a different typeof accommodation.

Choosing between residential care andindependent livingSocial services normally encourage younger adultswho they assess for support to be as independentas their circumstances allow. The care plan foradults with disabilities will consider whatindependent tasks they can carry out and how theycan be helped to achieve more. Even if adults havevery severe disabilities their needs are reviewedfrom time to time to check whether residentialcare or a very high level of support is stillappropriate.Supported living may be an option foryounger adults. This allows people to liveindependently in the community but with basic

support. The support offered includes help withsetting up a home and managing finances, andassistance with cleaning and shopping.

For older people there are various alternatives toresidential care. These include sheltered housingand extra care housing schemes, which offerindependence with an increased level of care and support.

For many people there is also the choice of livingindependently at home with community caresupport.

Choice of accommodationThe law says that where the local authority isfunding accommodation it must allow the personentering residential care to choose which carehome they would prefer. Social services must firstagree that the home is suitable for the person’sneeds and that it would not cost more than theywould normally pay for a home that would meetthose needs. If the person chooses to go into amore expensive home, a relative or friend may be able to ‘top up’ the difference in cost.

Choosing a care homeCare homes may be arranged through the localauthority but many people will want to arrangethem independently. It is a good idea to visitseveral homes before making a choice. Make sure you spend enough time in each home to get a good idea of what it is like.

Respite and short term staysResidential care home stays don't necessarily haveto be permanent. Temporary stays can be arrangedfor respite care (in which you take a break fromcaring for somebody else), or as a trial periodbefore a permanent stay.

Temporary stays can give you flexibility whencovering unexpected events, such as:

• Palliative care (which manages or reduces pain) after a hospital stay or illness

• Support for newly disabled people and their carers• Enabling someone to continue living independently if they live alone and suddenly require care

• Giving someone a chance to try potential future homes

28

nuRSInG & InDePenDent LIVInG

What your choices areA list of all nursing and residential care homeswithin your locality can be found on the followingpages. Every care home in England must beregistered with the national regulatory body Care Quality Commission (CQC).

They inspect each care home on a regular basisand write an inspection report for you to read. It isadvisable to read this report before making a finaldecision.

All care homes vary in their quality, andit can be hard to know what qualities tolook for when choosing a home.

A good care home will probably do the following:• Offer new residents and their families or carers a guide (in a variety of accessible formats) describing what they can expect while they’re living there. Ideally, residents of the home wouldhave helped to produce the guide

• Have a majority of staff who've worked there fora long time. They know the residents well, and are friendly, supportive and respectful

• Involve residents, carers and their families in decision making, perhaps through regular meetings with staff

• Support residents in doing things for themselves and maximising their independence, including keeping contact with the outside community

• Offer a choice of tasty and nutritious food, which residents may have helped to prepare

• Take into account the needs and wishes of all residents, and provide a variety of leisure and social activities

• Be in a clean, bright and hygienic environment that's been adapted appropriately for residents, with single bedrooms available. A good environment encourages residents to personalisetheir room

• Have staff who respect residents’ privacy and knock before they enter someone’s room

• Be staffed by well-trained people, for example, nurses trained in dementia care

• Respect residents’ modesty and make sure that they look respectable, while recognising residents’ choice about what they wear

• Be accredited under the Gold Standards Framework for end of life care

To check up-to-date information on the Nursing and Residential care homes within your locality visit www.cqc.org.uk or scan the QR CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

29

www.ageuk.org.uk

www.carersuk.org

www.findmegoodcare.co.uk

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

www.societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk

ReSIDentIAL CARe CoStS

In some cases the residential care needed by theperson you're looking after may be paid for by theNHS under the NHS continuing care scheme. Thecare may also be provided free of charge becauseit is 'intermediate care'. It may be free because theperson you're looking after has previously been amental health inpatient. If this is the case, theservices are funded under the Mental Health Act.

Residential care is also free if the local authoritycould charge but decides not to do so. This canoccur if the stay in residential care is onlytemporary (normally less than eight weeks), or ifthe residential care is for a child. If none of theabove applies, the person you're looking after willbe given a financial assessment. This is also knownas a means-tested assessment. They will berequired to give information about their incomeand capital. There are rules that determine howincome and capital are treated. Some types,including benefits, can be disregarded. Thefinancial assessment will work out how much theperson you're looking after will be expected tocontribute towards the cost of their care home fees.

Owning PropertyThere are rules that explain how the property ofthe person you're looking after will be taken intoaccount In some cases it can be disregarded, this isthe case if a partner is still living in the property.

The capital limit for residential care is £23,250.Local authorities will investigate if they believethat the person you're looking after hasdeliberately reduced their capital to avoid payingcare home fees. There is a scheme called thedeferred payment scheme which allows someonewho goes into care to keep their property and stillget help from the local authority with paying carehome fees. The local authority recovers the feesfrom the proceeds when the property is sold. Thisscheme can also be used if there is a delay inselling a property.

Self-fundersAfter the means-tested assessment, the personyou're looking after may receive a decision thatthey will have to pay their own care home fees.People paying their own fees are referred to asself-funders. Self-funders will still receive adviceabout the arrangements for residential care. Oncea self-funder's capital reaches £23,250 the localauthority is responsible for helping out with thecare home fees. This will require another assessment.

Get personal advice on care fundingThe cost of care and support is likely to be a long-term commitment and may be substantial,particularly if you opt for residential care. If you ora member of the family need to pay for care in acare home, it’s important to seek advice tailoredto your individual needs.

The cost of your care will vary depending on itstype, intensity, specialisation, location andduration. For example, a place in a residentialcare home will cost hundreds of pounds a week.Decisions that have such financial implicationsshould be made with advice and only afterconsidering the costs of alternatives.

For example, the cost of a care home needs to beweighed against the cost of care and support thatmay help you remain in your existingaccommodation.

The costs of long-term care can be significant andhow you may wish to arrange to pay for it is a bigfinancial decision for most people. Cost can varyacross the country and different care homes willcharge different amounts based on the level ofcare needs, the quality of the accommodation, orthe area of England it is in.

Few of us will have the income or ready access tothe cash to pay for their ongoing care needs. Oftenpeople find that they need to sell or remortgagetheir home to pay for care or enter into an equityrelease scheme. Before taking such significantfinancial steps it is advisable to get properindependent financial advice. For advice on self-funding care, visit the Money Advice Service or theSociety of Later Life Advisers. You may also havepreviously arranged an investment or insuranceplan to fund your care. Again, it is worth takingindependent advice on these potentially significantfinancial arrangements.

Find out more about paying for care on thewebsites of:

30

As a resident in a care home, you should expect:

• The right to be treated politely and with dignity• The right to privacy for yourself, and your

relatives and friends when they visit• The right to deal with your own finances and

spend your money how you choose• The right to eat food that's prepared in line with

your faith, and to worship when and where you want to

• The right to choose the food that you eat, and to be given the time and space to relax and enjoy your meal

• The right to choose when you get up in the mornings and go to bed at night

• The right to complain if you're unhappy with your care

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

31

ReSIDentIAL & nuRSInG CARe

Residential Homes Address Area Postcode Telephone

32

Nursing Homes Address Area Postcode Telephone

nuRSInG & ReSIDentIAL CARe

33

HeLP & ADVICe

Trade Sexual Health is a health charity that provides free, confidential advice,information and support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.

We provide a range of services around health, safer-sex, STI & HIV testing,counselling and 1-2-1 support, a variety of social and support groups andvolunteering opportunities.

Trade Sexual Health, 15 Wellington St, Leicester, LE1 6HHTel: 0116 254 1747 • www.tradesexualhealth.com

LAMP provides community and independent mental health advocacy to people inLeicester, Leicestershire and Rutland including carers, older people and peeradvocacy.

LAMP provides quality mental health information, produces a Mental HealthServices Directory and manages the Community Mental Health website. It holdsthe Information Standard and Advice Quality Standard.

Tel: 0116 2556286 • Email: lamp@lampdirect.org.uk • www.lampdirect.org.uk

Had a stroke? Know someone who has? We’re here every step of the way with arange of ‘life after stroke services’ that can help you cope with the aftermath of astroke and support you as you work towards rebuilding your life.

Call the Stroke Association Help line for general advice/information on 0303 3033 100.

Or contact the Leicester coordinators to find out what Stoke support is availablelocally.

Jenny King: 07717 275710 Email: Jennifer.king@stroke.org.uk

Dolores Watters: 0116 2603030 or 07538 795269 Email: Dolores.watters@stroke.org.uk

LASS provide support, information and advocacy to people living with and affectedby HIV in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We provide free instant HIV testingin community venues and also training and awareness raising on HIV. We empowerpeople who are affected to live safe and fulfilling lives.

Michael Wood Centre, 53 Regent Rd, Leicester LE1 6YFTel: 0116 255 9995www.lass.org.uk

Dementia Adventure CIC and the Dementia Adventure Trust specialise inconnecting people living with dementia with nature and a sense of adventure.We are a national organisation based in Essex, but work in partnership with localorganisations. We provide information, training, research, and consultancyservices, as well as nature-based activities from park walks to sailing holidays - allwith nature in mind.

For information on projects in Leicestershire Tel: 01245 230661Email: info@dementiaadventure.co.ukwww.dementiaadventure.co.uk

34

HeLP & ADVICe

Leicester LGBT Centre provides a range of specific services to the LGBTcommunities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. This includescounselling, advice and information.

A number of support groups operate from the centre including Butterflys (TransSupport), Brotherhood (Trans Male Group), 1st Out Youth Group for 13 to 19 yrs,Allsorts 18 to 26yrs, Gray Pride for 50 plus individuals. Drop in cafe and bookshopplus the history museum.

Leicester LGBT Centre, 15 Wellington Street, Leicester LE1 6HH Tel: 0116 2547412 • www.leicesterlgbtcentre.org

Vista is an independent charity dedicated to improving lives for people with sightloss. Vista provides vital support and services to almost 6,000 blind and partiallysighted people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, from rehabilitation, socialgroups, befriending and residential services through to a dedicated store andhelpline.

Contact our helpline on: 0116 249 8839Email: info@vistablind.org.ukwww.vistablind.org.uk

Action on Hearing Loss provides support to deaf and/or deafblind people with awide range of needs including physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mentalillness.

Our staff support people to be as independent as possible with all aspects of dailylife such as making healthy lifestyle choices, managing your medicines to cooking,budgeting, learning new skills and getting involved in your local community.

For more information, to make a referral or arrange an appointment to discuss thesupport you, or someone you know.

Tel/Text: 01225 485761Email: referrals@hearingloss.org.ukOr fill in our online enquiry form at:www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/careandsupport

Network for Change is an award winning local voluntary sector organisation withover 25 years experience of providing specialist mental health services acrossLeicester and Leicestershire. Our services include Supported Housing, FloatingSupport, Community Outreach and Resource Centre groups and activities".

Please contact us to find out more about what we can offer or visit our websitefor more information.

Gabby Briner CEO - 0116 2470335 Email: gabby@networkforchange.org.ukwww.networkforchange.org.uk

VAL Online Directory lists over 2000 voluntary and community groups that areworking to improve people lives in Leicestershire.

If you are looking for support groups for any health or social care issue you mayhave visit VAL online directory.

www.valdirectory.org.uk

35

New Dawn Family Support Service provides counselling and support inLeicestershire, Leicester and Rutland for individuals and families where there maybe a child, young person or adult in the family who has a life-limiting, life-threatening or life-long condition. Contact us and we will see how we can help.

New Dawn Family Support Service, Woodgate Chambers, 70 WoodgateLoughborough, LE11 2TZTel: 0116 287 7335 or 07887 750 890Email: newdawnfamilyss@btinternet.comwww.newdawnfamilysupportservice.org

HeLP & ADVICe

Barnardo’s CareFree Young Carers’ Service supports young carers aged 18 andunder and their families living in Leicester and Leicestershire.

We offer:• Whole family assessments and support packages• Service co-ordination

Advocacy:• One to one work• Support with education/employment/training• Inclusion work• Group work• Grants

Tel: 0116 286 7182www.barnardos.org.uk/carefree

Worth-It are providers of positive psychology coaching, personal developmentinterventions that specialise in the promotion and protection of mental well-being. We help at risk young people aged 13-25 yrs through supporting them todevelop positive emotions and make positive changes. This way of workingdevelops mental wellbeing through building confidence, self-awareness andresilience.

Tel: 01530 835155Email: info@worth-itprojects.co.ukwww.worth-itprojects.co.uk

Soft Touch Arts has been creating brighter futures for disadvantage children aged 5 to 25 for 26 years.

We run a wide range of projects for children who lack opportunities or havechallenging lives. Each project targets different community needs, ages andabilities but all our use some kind of creativity: art, music, design, film, fashion,photography, cooking, drama.

The arts we use facilitate the development of creative, social and employabilityskills that gives children happier, healthier and more productive lives.

Tel: 0116 270 2706Email: info@soft-touch.org.ukwww.soft-touch.org.ukfacebook.com/softtoucharts

36

HeLP & ADVICe

Rainbows provide short breaks, symptom control and end of life care for childrenand young people from birth to 30 years of age with life limiting, or life-threatening conditions. We offer residential or day care, including medical care,therapies, and specialist play activities, family support services and out-patientfacilities.

For more information or to speak to a member of the Family Support Team call 01509 638000 www.rainbows.co.uk

VAL is a charity that gets people into volunteering and helps community groupsand organsiations to thrive.

We run the Volunteer Centre for Leicester and Leicestershire so individuals canfind the right volunteering opportunities for them

We provide support and information for voluntary and community organisations sothat they can carry out their work.

To find out more contact: 0116 258 0666Email: helpline@valonline.org.uk www.valonline.org.uk

ADHD Solutions is a Not for Profit charitable company that supports children,young people and adults diagnosed or suspected of having ADHD (Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder), their families and anyone that works with them. Wedeliver varied and quality services that support and empower our clients, allowingthem to take control of their situation and develop positive strategies.

ADHD Solutions CIC, St Gabriel’s Community Centre, Kerrysdale Avenue, Rushey Mead, Leicester, LE4 7GHTel: 0116 261 0711Email: info@adhdsolutions.orgwww.adhdsolutions.org