If you have noticed a decline in yourself or a family member’s health and are starting to spot signs of them struggling to cope at home, then it could be time to seek professional guidance. Via your local Adult Social Services team, you can request a care needs assessment.
An overview
Care needs assessments are a free service that will assess and identify if someone needs care and if so, what level of support is required for them. This method can also help people find the services they need to maintain their independence and wellbeing.
The assessment will evaluate the care services that could support your needs, such as homecare packages or relocating to a care home and are typically the first step to accessing care services or financial support for that care.
Anyone who feels they may need help due to physical or mental health issues is eligible including:
- Adults: anyone that is over 18 and appears to need care or support.
- Young people: anyone under 18 who is likely to need adult care and support after turning 18.
- Carers: anyone over 18 who is providing unpaid care and support.
The assessment
Someone from your local Social Care team will either come to your home or speak to you on the phone to get an idea of how you are coping and what your day-to-day looks like. The procedure could simply be asking questions around how well you cope with daily tasks such as washing yourself, dressing and meal preparation. They will listen and take note of your concerns therefore it’s important that you share as much detail as you can. Where possible, try to be specific about what you need. For example: “I need help with getting myself ready for the day”.
Based on the findings, the local authority will determine whether the individual qualifies for care services. If eligible, a care and support plan will be developed, outlining the type and level of care they need, such as homecare visits, equipment or placement in a care home.
A care plan will outline what care is needed and how this care will be delivered as well as how much the local authority will pay towards this. To find your local authority, use this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Generally speaking, you will be expected to pay for your own care. If the outcome of the assessment means that you need help, then a further financial assessment will be undertaken to find out whether or not you are entitled to financial help towards the cost of the care.
Another unknown and important topic to note is that if you are a carer you may be eligible for a carers assessment .
This can help you to identify any help and support you need to make the role easier for you to manage. This support could include respite care, signposting to support groups, equipment to help you around the home and more…
At GoodOaks, we understand the worries and strains of caring for a loved one. Through our You Are Not Alone campaign, we are providing FREE downloadable resources to help you support your loved ones at home. Click HERE to find out more