Choosing the Right Support for You
Where Do I Start?
This information gives you some short cuts to help you get
started. It is based on the most common questions people contact us
about.
More and more older or disabled people want to arrange
their own care and support and need advice and information
to help them do this. For example:
- People who are not entitled to services from Social
Services because of the level of their savings (usually
called ‘self funders’) therefore pay for their support
themselves.
- People who are not eligible for support from Social
Services because their needs are classified by the Council
as ‘moderate’ or ‘low’.
- People who already receive support from Social Services
but who want more information about different options for providing
the support they need. (For example, people with a support package,
a direct payment, or an individual budget).
- Friends and relatives who want more information about
what is available on behalf of someone else.
Getting Advice and Information
Working Out What You Need
If you are an older or disabled person you can ask for a
Community Care Assessment (CCA) from Social Services - whatever
your financial circumstances.
An assessment can help identify any assistance you may need (for
example, help with your personal care or meals) and suggest ways to
maintain your independence at home, including advice on benefits,
community meals or equipment.
Tel: 01225 477000 and ask for Adult
Social Services Duty
Or if you are in hospital and need an assessment of your needs
before you come home, ask the ward staff to contact The
Hospital Social Work Team.
General Advice and Information
Age Concern provides a drop-in information and advice
service, Mon - Fri 9.30am-12.30pm and advice sessions by
appointment Tues, Weds and Thurs 1.30pm-4.30pm
Tel: 01225 466135 www.acbanes.co.uk.
There is also a national advice line and website
Tel: 0800 00 99 66 www.ageconcern.org.uk
Purple Pages is a local free helpline that aims to put
you in touch with the services you need.
Tel: 0808 808 5252
Counsel and Care is a national organisation that helps
older people to get the advice and information they need.
Tel: 0845 300 7585 www.counselandcare.org.uk
Older Peoples Directory on-line -
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathnes/healthandsocial/servicesforolderpeople/OlderPeopleDirectory.htm
Help For You In Your Home
Home Care Agencies
The Council can give you information about private agencies
which offer domestic help and personal care.
Tel: 01225 477000 and ask for Adult Social
Services Duty.
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/healthandsocial/HowtoContactSocialandHousingServices.htm
Employing A Personal Assistant
More and more people are employing a Personal Assistant (PA) to
help them manage at home.
The National Centre for Independent Living provides
detailed information on employing a care worker
Tel: 0207 587 1663 www.ncil.org.uk
Advice about Equipment and Aids
Living (formerly the Disabled Living Centre) in Bristol
provides assessments and advice on equipment and aids, including
scooters and powerchairs and has a showroom where you can try out
different products.
Tel: 0117 965 3651 www.dlcbristol.org
The Independent Living Centre in Semington near
Trowbridge offers a similar service
Tel: 01380 871007 www.ilc.org.uk
The Disabled Living Foundation is a national organisation
which provides information about disability equipment and mobility
products.
Tel: 0845 130 9177 www.dlf.org.uk
Handyperson Scheme
Care and Repair offers a free advice service to older and
disabled people who are home owners and can provide help with
repairs or improvements to your home for a charge. They can also
advise on tradesmen or builders for bigger jobs, if
necessary.
Tel: 01225 396109
Help from the Council
Disabled Adaptations If you would like advice about
disabled adaptations and an assessment of your needs contact
Adult Social Services Duty and ask for
Occupational Therapy. They also have lists of approved
stairlift suppliers and builders.
Tel: 01225 477000
The Council also runs a Community Alarm scheme which
means vulnerable people can telephone for help in an emergency.
There is a charge for this service.
Tel: 01225 477892
Improvements and Repairs The Council can provide low cost
loans to help enable you to undertake essential repairs or
adaptations to your home, such as repairing a roof, rewiring or
thermal insulation. Contact the Housing Improvement Team
on
Tel: 01225 396216
Thinking Of Moving?
Housing Options
The Council can provide advice on all types of housing (not just
what used to be called 'Council Housing')
Housing Advice Tel: 01225 396296.
The Elderly Persons Accommodation Council is a national
organisation which also has an advice line.
Tel: 020 7820 1343 www.housingcare.org
Residential and Nursing Care Homes
The Council can give you information about approved care homes
which have been checked for quality.
Tel: 01225 477000 and ask for Adult Social Services
Duty.
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/healthandsocial/HowtoContactSocialandHousingServices.htm
The Commission for Social Care Inspection produces
inspection reports on all care homes, whether independent or
Council run, and offers advice on how to find good
care.
Tel: 0845 015 0120 www.csci.org.uk
Money Matters
The Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) can help with legal
problems, money problems and benefit claims.
Bath CAB Tel: 0844 848 7919 www.bathcab.org.uk
North East Somerset CAB Tel: 01761 418 599 www.nescab.org.uk
SWAN (South Wansdyke Advice Network) covers the Bath and
North East Somerset area and can help with benefit
claims. Tel: 01761 437176 www.swan.btik.com
Age Concern is a designated alternative office for the
Pension Service. They are able to provide help with pension and
benefit applications and to verify and copy original documents.
Tel: 01225 466135 www.acbanes.co.uk
Government Department of Work and Pensions
Did you know? Disability Living Allowance (for disabled
people under 65) and Attendance Allowance (for disabled
people over 65) are the state benefits for people who need help
with personal care and / or mobility (DLA only) because they
are physically or mentally disabled. They are not means
tested, which means that you can still receive them, even if you
have savings or are in work.
Government Benefit Enquiry Line Tel: 0800 88 22
00
Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Tel: 08457 12 34 56
Support To Carers
As a carer, you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs
quite separately to the person you care for.
Tel: 01225 477000 Adult Social Services Duty.
The Care Network is a local organisation which offers
information and support to carers. Tel: 01761
431388 www.thecarenetwork.co.uk
Questions about the NHS
If you need advice about local health services please contact
the NHS Patient Advice & Liaison Service
(PALS) Tel: 01225 831717
Need More Information?
Ask for a copy of the Directory of Services for Older
People Tel: 01225 477983 or see the website
http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathnes/healthandsocial/servicesforolderpeople/OlderPeopleDirectory.htm
www.bathnes.gov.uk
www.direct.gov.uk
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This leaflet can be made available in a range of community
languages, large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible
formats from the Information Officer in Social Services &
Housing Tel: 01225 477 983 Minicom 01225 477043
information_officer@bathnes.gov.uk |
