Options Blackpool - A guide to care and independent living Spring 2016

OPTIONS A guide to care and independent living

Blackpool Spring 2016

Leaving hospital

FREE

guide

What’s next?

Together we care

CONTRIBUTORS: Age UK Blackpool & District Alzheimer’s Society Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS FT NHS Choices

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Contents The right place for your care ............................................................................................................................................. 4-5 Leaving hospital............................................................................................................................................................................6-7 Intermediate care.........................................................................................................................................................................8-9 When you leave hospital...........................................................................................................................................................10 NHS continuing healthcare.......................................................................................................................................................12 NHS continuing healthcare assessments.................................................................................................................12-13 What is NHS-funded nursing care?.................................................................................................................................... 14 Paying for your own care and support......................................................................................................................15-17 The Mobility Scheme.....................................................................................................................................................................17 Care services in your home...............................................................................................................................................18-19 How to use your health services.........................................................................................................................................20 The CQC Social Care, GP and Mental Health Top Tips...................................................................................21-23 Age UK Blackpool and District......................................................................................................................................25-27 Is your life affected by dementia? Alzheimer’s Society is here for you.............................................28-29 NHS hospitals and services in Blackpool......................................................................................................................30 Useful contacts.................................................................................................................................................................................31

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

OCTAGON DESIG N & M ARKE T I NG LT D

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The right place for your care Your local hospital in partnership with other hospitals in the region, and your local authorities, Blackpool Borough Council and Fylde and Wyre Councils, recognise and support each patient to receive the right treatment, at the right place and by the right professional.

An acute hospital Trust is a hospital that provides consultant led health services within the National Health Service. Acute care is for patients who require emergency medical or surgical services within a hospital environment.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides care for patients who require this level of care.

Hospitals are the right place to be when you are in need of specific medical or surgical treatment.

However, when your treatment has been completed, it is important that your stay is not delayed for the following reasons: ●

Beds are needed for people who are very unwell, and who may be waiting in the Accident and Emergency department for a bed to become available

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eople awaiting surgery, both P urgent and non-urgent, may have their operations cancelled if a bed is unavailable

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here is less risk of acquiring an infection T at home compared to busy public health buildings such as hospitals

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ome people find it harder to return home S the longer they stay in hospital.

It is good practice to start planning for your discharge as soon as you come into hospital or even before you arrive. This 4

means that we can begin to: ●

ssess what your needs are likely to be when A you are ready to leave

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I nvolve relevant staff who can help in meeting those needs (e.g. social worker, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, district nurse)

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ake arrangements for equipment or services M which need to be in place when it is deemed safe for you to be discharged

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ake sure that your carer is given any M information, help or advice that is needed to aid your recovery following your discharge.

All staff will work with you and your carer or relatives, as a team, in order to discuss your discharge with you.

Together we care We need to discuss any concerns you have at the earliest opportunity, e.g. your safety at home, managing your personal care or domestic arrangements, your ability to move around and any equipment you may need.

You will be given an expected date for discharge based on when it is expected that your treatment will be completed. It is important that everyone involved is aware of this date so that we can all work towards it, and so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Some of the arrangements may include: ●

ransport home. Patients are normally expected T to arrange their own transport

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uitable clothing and footwear if you are not S already using them in hospital

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Access to a key to your property

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Adequate food stocks

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Adequate heating in your home

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Adequate support for your carer or family members.

A supply of your current medication will be ordered from the Hospital Pharmacy and delivered to you.

If you have any questions or concerns about your medication please ask to speak to your pharmacist or a member of the nursing team. Relatives or carers coming to collect you can meet you or a member of the ward staff can escort you to the car park entrance.

Finally, we understand that any hospital stay can be stressful and we need to support you and your carer during your time in our care.

You can also help us by moving from hospital when you no longer need our services. We will discuss with you the sort of help you and your carer may need when you return home, to make the transition as easy as possible.

Your Hospital Discharge Coordinator is the member of the team who is available to meet you on the ward and, along with the ward staff will begin planning your discharge from hospital.

For most patients, being discharged from hospital to their home is straightforward. Some may need information and advice or may need the support of social services.

Some people have ongoing health and social care needs which require a more detailed assessment.

Staff from health and social care will work together to plan and deliver services to support such people after discharge.

This guide explains some of these processes and explains the role of the hospital and Social Care team in the hospital discharge process.

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Leaving hospital You will be transferred from hospital when your consultant led team decide that you are clinically ready to leave hospital and that you no longer require an acute hospital bed.

For the majority of patients, you will go home from hospital with no additional support required. In some cases you may require some extra support to regain your independence. Your hospital team will help you, your family and carers to access these services if you need them.

Your safe and timely transfer from hospital will also allow new patients who need acute hospital treatment to be admitted without delay.

We fully support your transfer out of hospital for the following reasons: 1. To support you to regain your independence 2. S ome people find it harder to return home the longer they stay in hospital 3. Acute beds are needed for people who are very unwell, and delays in transfer may result in patients waiting in the Emergency department for a bed to become available.

4. A lthough we work hard to ensure the highest standards of care there is a risk of acquiring infections in hospital. Leaving hospital as soon as you are fit and safe to do so means this is less likely and reduces the risk of any complication.

Your Hospital Team A Multi – disciplinary team which may include Hospital Discharge Coordinator, Consultant team, Matron and ward nurses, Therapists, and Social Workers will begin to plan your transfer from hospital as soon as you are admitted.

This team of clinical experts will explain their key roles to you if they are involved in your hospital care.

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Together we care The Assessment Process The assessment process will start with discussions with you and your family/carers. This process of information gathering and clarification of the situation will indicate which members of the multi disciplinary team need to be involved in your assessment.

The team will work with you and your relatives/carers to: â—? Identify care needs to ensure they can be met following your discharge â—? Provide you with information about services that could support you as you are discharged from hospital.

Therapies You may be referred to a therapist to assist in planning for your discharge from hospital.

This could be any of the following; a dietician, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or a speech and language therapist. They will discuss with you and assess what you are able to do; and what you might need more help with. They will then discuss with you what treatment, help or support is available to improve your independence.

The therapists will discuss with you and the other members of the hospital team their findings and together with you and your family make a plan for your discharge from hospital.

Out-patient appointments If your Doctor needs to see you in an outpatient clinic to review your progress following discharge, you will either be given a note of your appointment before leaving the ward or be notified by post. If you find that you are unable to make that appointment after discharge please let the appointments office know so that we can reschedule the appointment and offer your time to someone else.

(Telephone number is on the appointment card)

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Intermediate care Across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, we have access to services called Intermediate Care.

These services can support people who no longer require acute care, but still require some further support to ensure they are able to function with their daily activities.

This period of intermediate care can provide rehabilitation from Therapy staff or a period of reablement prior to returning home. Your hospital Team will work with you to assess your level of need and which intermediate care service would suit your needs should you require it.

All patients who no longer need acute care but cannot return home and do not require specialist care are eligible to enter the intermediate care pathway if they meet the following criteria: ●

Over the age of 18

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Resident of Blackpool, Fylde or Wyre or

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Registered with a Blackpool, Fylde or Wyre GP.

Intermediate care is provided under Health and Social Care joint Commissioning arrangements and is free of charge whilst you are on the intermediate care pathway.

People may enter onto the intermediate care pathway following an episode of acute care for a further short period of recovery and reablement. This can benefit patients and enables a more accurate assessment of your ongoing care needs prior to returning home or before long term care is considered.

Aiming to get you home The aim is to help you to relearn daily living skills so you do not need long-term support or go back into hospital.

You need to know what you want to achieve and how this 8

will be done to establish your reasons for going into Intermediate Care. The multidisciplinary team assessment will help you make this decision. First route out of hospital should always be your own home. If this is not possible, then Intermediate Care aims to get you home and to eliminate dependency on long term support. ●

The Assessment & Rehabilitation Centre - ARC

The Assessment & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) is based in a quiet residential area of Blackpool and offers social care rehabilitation for people who need a short period of intensive support in a 24-hour setting.

Eligibility Support is accessed via an assessment by one of the Hospital Discharge Team and is available for residents of Blackpool.

Type of Support Both social care and health professionals work to provide individually tailored support programmes for anything from a few days to six weeks to help people maximise their independence.

The ARC will help you try new ways of doing things, build up your strength, resilience and confidence and support you in accessing support solutions when you move on from our service.

The team involves rehabilitation support workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, falls prevention workers and nurses, who all work together to identify goals to promote independence.

At the end of your stay you will be given the information you need to make informed long term decisions about ongoing support at home.

The service is regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

Thornton House: Thornton House is owned by Lancashire County Council and managed by Care Services. It is registered to provide care for 44 older people with varying needs of care and support, including specialist dementia care.

All residential and domiciliary services provided by Care Services are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and comply with Lancashire County Council’s preferred provider requirements.

support services such as Community Matrons, District Nurses and Community Therapists if you require this over a longer period. The team will liaise closely with your GP if required.

The team, depending on your needs, will visit you once home for up to seven days to support you.

Family and carers involved in your care will also be supported where appropriate.

Patients suitable for Rapid Response team will be offered the service if the Hospital’s clinical team feel it is appropriate for you.

Our commitment to you ●

atients should receive the right P treatment, at the right place and by the right professional

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e place a high priority on keeping W your stay in an acute hospital bed to a minimum

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nce your consultant led team assesses O that you are medically fit for transfer, we will aim to transfer you from hospital on the same day

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ou will be transferred from the Y Blackpool Teaching Hospitals Trust when you are ready to leave hospital as there are more appropriate services and facilities available to you

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e will aim to transfer you from hospital W before 10am on your day of transfer and if you require transport, we will arrange this for you.

Residential Rehab: This service provides residential care with specialist support to help individuals regain capacity and independence as far as possible in their own home with or without direct therapy involvement.

The service can be up to 6 weeks and is available for people who are resident in Fylde & Wyre. Access is via assessment from the Hospital Discharge Team or your Social Worker.

Rapid Response Team: This is a team of experienced nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and clinical support workers. The services main role is to prevent hospital re-admission and to facilitate an early and smooth discharge home.

This is achieved by continuing your care at home in the first instance and by referring on to other

Useful contacts;

Alzheimer Society ● Age UK ● Carers organisations ● Healthwatch – Blackpool and Lancashire ●

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When you leave hospital It is important to know that the majority of patients will be transferred home directly from hospital.

If you no longer require consultant led care and there is a delay in the start of your care package or preferred community based placement, you cannot choose to remain in an acute hospital bed.

You will be transferred to a bed within a non hospital setting (within 48 hours) whilst this is arranged.

We will only transfer you when the appropriate placement has been identified and confirmed.

Giving the hospital feedback

Our Trust is committed to listening and responding to the views of our local population. Whether you are a patient who has received treatment with us, a carer, or an interested member of the public, it’s important you tell us what you think about our services - good and bad. So we know what we’re doing right and what we could do to improve.

There are several ways in which you can give us your feedback including The Friends and Family Test - Before you leave one of our sites you may be asked to fill in a very short survey called the ‘Friends and Family Test’ which asks if you would recommend our services to a friend or relative. You can also fill in this survey on our website or via telephone as long as it’s within 48 hours of your discharge.

Spot surveys - Patient experience volunteers may 10

approach you on the wards or in day clinics to find out if you are satisfied with your care so we can address any concerns you may have whilst you’re still receiving treatment.

Postal surveys - A paper questionnaire may be sent to you at home shortly after an inpatient stay, an outpatient appointment, an A&E attendance or a home visit. It will be sent with a free post envelope to return it to us.

Via staff: if you have a concern request to speak to the service or ward manager or the matron for the area if you are in hospital. For out of hours concerns please call the Trust switchboard on 01253 300000 and ask for the out of hours matron.

Via telephone: Contact the Patient Relations Team on 01253 65 5588 / 5589. The team offer impartial advice or support relating to any aspect of your care and deal with any concerns or complaints the Trusts receives.

Write in to: The Chief Executive, Trust Headquarters, Second Floor, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR. If you’re writing in with a complaint please list the areas of concern you wish us to investigate.

Digitally: members of our patient experience team can visit you in hospital or in the comfort of your own home to capture your experience on camera.

Contact 01253 306374 for further details.

Together we care 11

NHS

continuing healthcare

NHS continuing healthcare, also known as NHS continuing care or “fully funded NHS care”, is free care for outside of hospital that is arranged and funded by the NHS. This means that you will receive care and support to meet your assessed needs at no cost to you.

Where can NHS continuing healthcare be provided?

NHS continuing healthcare can be provided in a variety of settings outside hospital, such as in your home or in a registered care home.

Eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare NHS continuing healthcare is for adults. Children and young people may receive a ‘continuing care package’ if they have needs arising from disability, accident or illness that can’t be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

To be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you must be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals (a “multi-disciplinary team”) as having a “primary health need”. Whether or not someone has a primary health need is assessed by looking at all their care needs and relating them to: ● what help is needed

how complex these needs are ● how intense or severe these needs can be ● how unpredictable they are, including any risks to the person’s health if the right care isn’t provided at the right time ●

Your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare depends on your assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition. If your needs change then your eligibility for NHS continuing healthcare may change.

You should be fully involved in the assessment process and kept informed, and have your views about your needs and support taken into account.

Carers and family members should also be consulted where appropriate.

A decision about eligibility should usually be made within 28 days of it being decided that the person needs a full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare.

If you aren’t eligible for NHS continuing healthcare, you can be referred to your local authority who can discuss with you whether you may be eligible for support from them. If you still have some health needs then the NHS may still pay for part of the package of support. This is sometimes known as a “joint package” of care.

NHS continuing

healthcare assessments Clinical commissioning groups, known as CCGs (the NHS organisations that commission local health services), must assess you for NHS continuing healthcare if it seems that you may need it.

For most people, there is an initial checklist assessment, which is used to decide if you need a full assessment. However, if you need care urgently – for example, if you’re terminally ill – your 12

assessment may be fast-tracked.

Initial assessment for NHS continuing healthcare The initial checklist assessment can be completed by a nurse, doctor, other healthcare professional or social worker.

You should be told that you’re being assessed, and be asked for your consent.

Depending on the outcome of the checklist, you will either be told that you don’t meet the criteria for a full assessment of NHS continuing healthcare and are therefore not eligible, or you will be referred for a full assessment of eligibility. Being referred for a full assessment doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. The purpose of the checklist is to enable anyone who might be eligible to have the opportunity for a full assessment.

The professional(s) completing the checklist should record written reasons for their decision, and sign and date the checklist. You should be given a copy of the completed checklist.

Full assessment for NHS continuing healthcare Full assessments for NHS continuing healthcare are undertaken by a “multi-disciplinary” team made up of a minimum of two health or care professionals who are already involved in your care. You should be informed who is co-ordinating the NHS continuing healthcare assessment.

The team’s assessment will consider your needs under the following headings: ● behaviour ●c ognition (understanding) ● communication ●p sychological/ emotional needs ● mobility ●n utrition (food and drink) ● continence

● skin

(including wounds and ulcers)

● breathing ●s ymptom

control through drug therapies and medication ● altered states of consciousness ● other significant needs These needs are then given a weighting marked “priority”, “severe”, “high”, “moderate”, “low” or “no needs”.

The multi-disciplinary team will consider: ● what help is needed ● how complex these needs are ● how intense or severe these needs can be ●h ow unpredictable they are, including any risks to the person’s health if the right care isn’t provided at the right time If you have at least one priority need, or severe needs in at least two areas, you should be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare. You may also be eligible if you have a severe need in one area plus a number of other needs, or a number of high or moderate needs, depending on their nature, intensity, complexity or unpredictability.

In all cases, the overall need, and interactions between needs, will be taken into account, together with evidence from risk assessments, in deciding whether NHS continuing healthcare should be provided.

The assessment should take into account your views and the views of any carers you have. You should be given a copy of the decision documents, along with clear reasons for the decision.

Fast-track assessment for NHS continuing healthcare If someone’s condition is deteriorating quickly and they are nearing the end of their life, they should be considered for the NHS continuing healthcare fast track pathway, so that an appropriate care and support package can be put in place as soon as possible – usually within 48 hours.

NHS Choices has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does NHS Choices endorse any of the products or services.

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What is NHS-funded

nursing care?

NHS-funded nursing care is care provided by a registered nurse for people who live in a care home. The NHS will pay a flat rate contribution directly to the care home towards the cost of this registered nursing care.

Who is eligible for NHS-funded nursing care?

You may be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care if: ●

ou are not eligible for NHS continuing y healthcare but have been assessed as needing care from a registered nurse

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ou live in a care home registered to provide y nursing care

How will my needs be assessed?

You should be assessed for NHS continuing healthcare before a decision is made about whether you are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care.

Most people don’t need a separate assessment for NHS-funded nursing care. However, if you do need an assessment or you haven’t already had one, your clinical commissioning group (CCG) can arrange an assessment for you.

What is the rate of payment for NHS-funded nursing care?

NHS-funded nursing care is paid at the same rate across England. For 2015/16, the rate is £112.00 a week (standard rate).

Before October 1 2007, there were three different levels or bands of payment for NHS-funded nursing care – low, medium and high.

If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the low or medium bands, you would have been transferred to the standard rate from that date.

If you moved into a care home before October 1 2007, and you were on the high band, NHS-funded nursing care is paid at a higher rate. For 2015/16, the higher rate is £154.14 a week. You’re entitled to continue on this rate unless: ●

you no longer have nursing needs

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ou no longer live in a care home that y provides nursing

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our nursing needs have reduced y and you’re no longer eligible for the high band, when you would change to the standard rate of £112.00 a week, or

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ou become y entitled to NHS continuing healthcare instead

Outcome of the assessment If you’re eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, the NHS will arrange and fund nursing care provided by registered nurses employed by the care home.

Services provided by a registered nurse can include planning, supervising and monitoring nursing and healthcare tasks, as well as direct nursing care.

If you’re not eligible for NHS-funded nursing care and you don’t agree with the decision about your eligibility, you can ask your CCG to review the decision.

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All figures correct at the time of going to print.

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Paying for your own

care and support Many people who use care and support services will pay for all of the costs. This is known as being a “self-funder”.

The cost of your care will vary depending on its type, intensity, specialisation, location and duration.

For example, a place in a residential care home will cost hundreds of pounds a week.

To make decisions that have such major financial implications, you may want to seek independent financial advice and it’s always worth researching the costs of alternatives first. For example, if you are considering a care home place, the cost should be weighed against the cost of care and support that may help you remain in your current home, such as homecare.

How much will care cost?

If you are thinking about your future care needs or are facing immediate decisions about care options, it can be helpful to get an idea how much care can cost.

Inevitably, the price you would pay will depend on your particular circumstances and needs. The costs also vary depending on where you live. Unfortunately, care homes and homecare agencies tend not to provide this information publicly but you may find it helpful to search for and contact care services in your area to get some idea of likely costs.

The ‘cap on care costs’ Currently, it is not easy to plan for your future care needs, as it’s hard to estimate how long you will need care for and how your circumstances may change. From April 2020, a “cap” on the costs of meeting your eligible care needs (but not accommodation associated with care or nursing costs)

is being introduced. The cap means that, once reached, the local authority will take over paying the cost of their eligible care needs.

The cap will not cover your daily living costs. These costs include expenses such as rent, food and utilities and the costs you would face even if you did not have care needs. It is important to note that daily living costs will be a nationally set figure. This figure will be a “notional” amount rather than the actual costs. This is designed to support consistency and enable people to plan.

To benefit from the cap once it comes in, you will need to contact your local authority to see if your needs are eligible. If you are seen to have eligible care needs, the local authority will open a “care account” for you. This account records your progress (the amount of costs you have incurred) towards the cap.

The cap does not begin until April 2020 and any costs incurred before this will not count towards the cap.

The BBC’s care calculator can estimate how much you may have to pay for care services depending on where you live in England, once the new rules are in place. This will give you an idea of how the cap will work for you, but actual costs will vary to reflect your individual circumstances and needs and how they change over time.

For more information on how paying for care is changing from 2020, read about the changes in the Care Act.

Ask for help from your local authority It’s worth checking whether you’re eligible for means-tested support from your local authority or other financial support – for example, through a care needs assessment and a financial assessment.

Few of us will have the income or ready access to the cash to pay for our ongoing care needs, and you may need to look at selling or remortgaging any property you may own. The new Care Act means more people may be able to benefit from >> “deferred payments”.

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Paying for your own care and supp contd.

Deferred payments can help people avoid being forced to sell their home in a crisis in order to pay for their care by having the council temporarily cover the cost – usually until you sell your property.

Following the Care Act, every local authority in England has to make deferred payment agreements available.

As an alternative, you may be able to enter an “equity release scheme” with a financial organisation. Equity release can pay for the fees from the value of property you own. However, you should consider which of these options best meets your needs, and what the overall costs to you will be.

Before taking such significant financial steps as equity release, you might want to get independent financial advice. You can find information on equity release for care at home from Which?

Elderly Care or the Money Advice Service’s equity release information.

If you’re planning ahead, you may consider arranging an investment or insurance plan to fund your care. Again, it may be worth taking independent advice on financial arrangements before making major changes. Because of the new rules, there are likely to be more financial products emerging that are designed to help people pay for care.

You may also want to explore whether the NHS would meet some or all of your care and support costs, or you may have entitlement to benefits that may help you meet costs.

Advice on paying for care Even if your local authority is not able to help fund your care, it will be able to make an assessment of your care and support needs. From this, the local authority can provide you with access to a range of information and advice available locally.

You can also get independent advice from: ●T he Money Advice Service website: offers information on paying for care or the option to speak to an online adviser. You can call the Money Advice Service on 0300 500 5000. ●T he Society of Later Life Advisers: the society can also help you find advice on how to make financial plans for care in your old age. ●F ind Me Good Care: a website of the Social Care Institute for Excellence. It has advice on all aspects of planning and funding social care. ●A ge UK: has great advice for older people and 16

those planning for their later years.

UK: an excellent resource of advice for carers who need to help someone else. ●W hich? Elderly Care has a guide to financing care. ●C arers

Deferred payments if you are unable to pay for care services Care home fees are a big financial commitment, and the decision to go into a care home is often made at a moment of crisis or urgency, such as when being discharged from hospital. This can make finding the money to pay for fees (usually several hundred pounds a week) challenging for people funding their own care.

In particular, if you own property outright but have little in the way of savings, you may be expected to fund your own care but have little immediately available money to pay for it. Some people going to stay in a care home for a long time find that they have no option but to sell their property to pay the care home fees.

Your council may be able to help you if you are at risk of having to sell your home. Where there is a delay in selling the property, or you don’t want to sell the property immediately, you may be eligible to have your care fee payment “deferred”. This is where the local authority helps you to pay your care fees temporarily, and you repay the costs to the local authority at a later date.

If the local authority agrees to the deferred payment and pays the care home fees, it will take payment from the money raised once the property is sold. This can be: ●d uring your lifetime if you choose to sell your home ●o nce you die, the local authority can be repaid from your estate All councils must offer people the chance to defer payment if they meet a set of eligibility criteria.

A deferred payment scheme is only

port available if you don’t have enough income to cover your care home fees, and you have less in savings than £23,250. In these circumstances, the savings don’t include the value of your property, but does include money in bank accounts.

The local authority will put a “legal charge” (similar to a mortgage) on the property and will then pay the remaining care fees in full. You will then be assessed to see whether they are able to pay a weekly charge to the authority. Your ability to pay is based on your income less a set “disposable income allowance” (currently £144 per week).

Before considering deferred payments, you should look into whether the property will or won’t be counted in how your capital is calculated. For instance, it may be disregarded because your partner still lives there, and if it is a deferred payment agreement wouldn’t be necessary.

It’s wise to get independent financial advice before agreeing to a deferred payment, and it’s worth bearing in mind that choosing deferred payments can impact on some welfare benefits.

Protection for self-funders While you may have the savings in place to afford care services, if you lack the capacity to make the arrangements, the local authority can step in to help.

The local authority can also help people who lack capacity by negotiating fees with a care provider and paying them directly. The local authority will need to be reimbursed.

Anyone entering into a contract for care services should be given adequate information about the fees. Care providers should supply: ● i nformation about the fees charged for various services provided ●a rrangements for paying the fees ●t he fees charged for any additional services If your capital falls below the set levels for local authority funding (currently £23,250), you will be eligible for reassessment for help with funding your care.

All figures correct at the time of going to print.

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The Motability Scheme The Motability Scheme allows some disabled people getting DLA, PIP or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement to obtain a car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

The scheme uses some or all of your mobility benefit payments to cover the cost of “contract hire” or “hire purchase” of an appropriate vehicle. You can also pay an extra amount of money if you want a more expensive vehicle.

With hire purchase, the price of the car will be agreed directly with the Motability dealer, and you will own the vehicle outright at the end of the agreement.

With contract hire, you won’t own a vehicle, but you will get a new car every three years, full insurance for the driver and passengers, servicing, maintenance and repairs, vehicle excise duty, replacement tyres and breakdown cover.

Adaptations to the car can be made if needed, although there may be an extra charge for some adaptations. Under the Motability Scheme, cars can also be adapted for people in wheelchairs.

If you don’t need or want a car, you can transfer your allowance to lease a scooter or powered wheelchair.

NHS Choices has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does NHS Choices endorse any of the products or services.

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Contact Motability To find out more about the Motability Scheme, phone Motability on 0300 456 4566 (8am-7pm Monday to Friday 9am-1pm Saturday). If you have specialist Minicom equipment, call our textphone number on 0300 037 0100. www.motability.co.uk

17

Care services in

home on a long-term basis; these services, often known as “supported living services”, can include financial, help with medication, advocacy, social and practical support

If you need help around the home, a good option is to have a care worker come in to your home to help you.

Types of care and support Care and support comes in many forms and has many names used to describe it, including home help, care attendants and “carers” (not to be confused with unpaid family or friends who care for you).

Care and support can suit you if you need: ●

personal care, such as washing or dressing

●

ousekeeping or domestic work, such h as vacuuming

●

cooking or preparing meals

●

nursing and health care

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companionship

Care and support can be very flexible, in order to meet your needs, and the same person or agency may be able to provide some or all of these options for the duration of your care: ●

long-term 24-hour care

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s hort breaks for an unpaid family carer

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emergency care

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day care

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s essions ranging from 15-minute visits to 24hour assistance and everything in between

If you already know what you want, you can search NHS Choices directories for: ●

l ocal care and support services and agencies

●

list of national care and a support organisations

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s ervices that can help you stay safe and well in your

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your home

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place to live in a family who will care for a you, known as “shared lives services” or adult placement services

If you believe that you might benefit from some help at home, the first thing to do is to contact your social care department to ask for an

assessment of your care and support needs.

To contact social care, go to GOV.UK: find your local authority.

If you are eligible for care and support services, the local authority may provide or arrange the help themselves. Alternatively, you can arrange your own care, funded by the local authority, through direct payments or a personal budget.

If you have chosen direct payments or a personal budget, or you aren’t eligible for local authority help and want to get care privately, you can arrange it in several different ways.

Independent care and support agencies If you use an independent care and support agency, you or the person you’re looking after has to find the care agency and pay them.

The agency will provide a service through a trained team of care workers, which means you may not always have the same person visiting your home, although the agency will do its best to take your choices into account. Independent care and support providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Care and support agencies must meet CQC’s national minimum standards and regulations in areas such as training and record-keeping. The CQC has the power to inspect agencies and enforce standards.

Care and support agencies must vet care and support workers before engaging them by taking up references and carrying out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on potential employees. Care and support agencies can also: ●

●

t ake over the burden of being an employer – for example, payroll, training, disciplinary issues and insurance t rain their care and support workers through national qualifications and service-

NHS Choices has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does NHS Choices endorse any of the products or services.

specific training ●

replace workers when they are ill, on holiday or resign

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put things right when they go wrong

An agency will want to see you and the person you’re looking after so that they can assess your needs. This also means that a joint decision can be made about the most appropriate type of care and support.

Hiring a personal assistant You can hire a “personal assistant” to act as a care and support worker for you.

Personal assistants can offer you all that you’ll get from an agency worker, but you’ll also get the continuity, familiarity and ongoing relationship with your assistant.

However, if you employ a personal assistant, you will then have the legal responsibility of an employer. This will include arranging cover for their illness and holidays.

GOV.UK has more information on becoming an employer, while Which? Elderly Care also has advice on employing private individuals.

Employing a care worker on a private basis If you employ a care worker privately, you will not be obliged to use the DBS scheme, but you can use it if you choose to. You need to ask social care or the police to make the checks on your behalf. The care worker must have already applied to be vetted, and must consent to the check.

If you have concerns about the suitability of someone you employ privately as a personal assistant, you can ask Adult Social Care to look into the matter.

Content supplied by:

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How to use your health services There are a range of healthcare services available to help you find the right expert care to meet your needs. Choosing the service most appropriate to your symptoms means you get the right treatment in the right place.

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Choking.

Chest pain.

Suspected stroke.

Blacking out.

Severe bleeding.

For symptoms of serious illnesses and major accidents, choose A&E (Accident & Emergency).

Cuts.

Sprains.

Rashes.

Minor fractures.

For trips, falls, skin complaints and minor injuries, choose Walkin Health Centre or Minor Injuries Unit or Urgent Care Centre.

Vomiting.

Ear pain.

Feeling ill.

For infections and persistent symptoms or if your child has a high temperature, choose your GP.

Diarrhoea.

Minor infections.

Headache.

Bites and stings.

For tummy upsets, insect bites and stings, coughs and colds and travel advice, choose a pharmacist.

Unsure?

Confused?

Need help?

For absolutely any questions about your health, choose NHS 111 service.

Grazed knee.

Sore throat.

Cough.

For minor ailments, grazes, bruises and similar problems, choose self-care.

The Care Quality Commission is here to make sure health and adult social care services including hospitals, home and residential care as well as GPs in England provide people with safe, effective, high-quality care.

We publish independent inspection reports and ratings about services – information you can use when you’re choosing care for yourself, or a loved one.

You can use our website to search for services you might be interested in by geographical area, or by specialism. For example, a care home that might offer specialist care for someone who has dementia.

We also welcome your feedback on the care you have received – good or bad. We use this information to help inform our inspections and can alert authorities including local social services, if there are safeguarding concerns about care being provided.

You can visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk to find our inspection reports, or share an experience of care.

You can also call us to share an experience of care on 03000 61 61 61.

Here are some tips to help you choose your care.

Social care Top tips 1

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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers all care homes and home care agencies. You can find out which ones support specific groups of people, such as people with a learning disability or those living with dementia.

CQC’s Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe always uses ‘The Mum Test’: is a care home safe, caring, effective, responsive to people’s needs and well-led? In other words, is it good enough for my Mum (or anyone else I love and care for)?

Look for care homes and home care agencies where the staff involve people who use services and their families and carers, and treat individuals with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

Whether you are being cared for in your own home or in a residential setting, the staff looking after you need to be skilled, kind and supportive.

They should also be capable and confident in dealing with your particular needs. You should always feel that their support is helping you to live the life you want to.

A care home will be a home for you or your loved one. Residents should be treated as individuals with their likes and dislikes taken into account.

Think about whether a home is close enough to family, friends, and community facilities.

Look at how well-led and managed a home is. What does it have in place to ensure that it delivers high quality care? Does it promote meaningful activity and connect the home with the community?

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If you or a loved one needs help with day-today care, you can contact your local council’s social services department. They will ‘make an assessment of your needs’ and depending on circumstances, may be able to help you access financial help. For more advice visit Age UK’s website www.ageuk.org.uk /home-and-care.

If you would like to organise your care yourself, you can find a care worker or personal assistant through an agency. Your local social services department should be able to provide details of approved agencies.

CQC’s ratings will identify services as:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ● This will help you make informed choices around your care. There’s also useful advice on the Social Care Institute for Excellence’s Find me good care website www.scie.org.uk/findmegoodcare/

Safeguarding adults who receive social care

10 is everybody’s business. If you are concerned about the safety of a loved one receiving care, contact the service provider in the first instance. You can also contact social services at your local council. If you feel a crime has been committed, contact the police.

You can share your safeguarding concerns with us on our website or contact our National Customer Services on 03000 616161.

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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The Care Quality Commission is here to make sure health and adult social care services including hospitals, home and residential care as well as GPs in England provide people with safe, effective, high-quality care.

We publish independent inspection reports and ratings about services – information you can use when you’re choosing care for yourself, or a loved one.

You can use our website to search for services you might be interested in by geographical area, or by specialism. For example, a care home that might offer specialist care for someone who has dementia.

We also welcome your feedback on the care you have received – good or bad. We use this information to help inform our inspections and can alert authorities including local social services, if there are safeguarding concerns about care being provided.

You can visit our website at www.cqc.org.uk to find our inspection reports, or share an experience of care.

You can also call us to share an experience of care on 03000 61 61 61.

Here are some tips to help you choose your care.

GP Top tips

1

If you are new to an area you can find details of local GP services such as doctors’ practices, out-of-hours services and walkin centres in our online directory of care services www.cqc.org.uk/content/doctorsgps

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You can search any of these services by the name of the service, a place name or your postcode at www.cqc.org.uk

After an inspection, CQC publishes its findings in a report on its website. You can use these reports to check and compare services in your area.

Telephone: 03000 616161 • Web: www.cqc.org.uk

CQC rates all GPs to help people make choices about where they get treatment. This will be on a four-point scale:

Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ●

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There are already over 1,000 reports about GP practices published on the CQC website.

Last year, CQC launched its new-style inspection reports for GPs – looking at the five key areas SAFE, EFFECTIVE, CARING, RESPONSIVE and WELL-LED – you can use the reports to compare local GPs and choose services.

You can also use these new style inspection reports to find out more about local services and choose the one that is best for your needs.

9

CQC will also look at how specific population groups are treated and give a rating. For instance how well they serve: Mothers, children and young people, vulnerable older people (over 75s) and people with long-term conditions.

People will be able to choose a GP service that rates highly on the areas that matter to them.

We welcome your feedback (good and bad) on the services you, or a loved one, receives from your GP. You can share information with us online at http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-yourexperience-finder or call us on 03000 61 61 61.

/CareQualityCommission

@CareQualityComm

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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Mental health Top tips

1

2

3

4

5

If you are concerned about your mental health you should first visit your GP.

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Outstanding Good ● Requires improvement ● Inadequate ●

Your GP will assess you and offer appropriate advice or treatment. They can refer you to a psychological treatment service or a specialist mental health service for further advice or treatment.

Mental health services are free on the NHS but you will usually need a GP referral. If you don’t want to go to your GP you may also have the option of self-referral. This means you can go directly to a professional therapist. The NHS Choices website has a searchable directory of services which you can use to find a service near you.

If you are referred to a specialist mental health service, you can ask which other providers offer the same service in your local area and make a choice.

CQC rates mental health providers to help people make choices about where they get treatment.

They will use a four-point scale:

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CQC uses information from the public and holds listening events across the country where people can talk with inspectors about their experience of services.

You can look at our inspection reports and ratings for mental health services or share your experiences of care (good or bad) by visiting www.cqc.org.uk

Telephone: 03000 616161 • Web: www.cqc.org.uk /CareQualityCommission

@CareQualityComm

In April CQC launched its new-style inspection reports for mental health providers – looking at five key areas of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-Led – you can compare reports on CQC’s website to help choose a provider.

The Care Quality Commission has not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor does the Care Quality Commission endorse any of the products or services.

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Croft House

Residential Home For The Elderly

Tel: 01772 633981 • 24 hour care • Nurse Call System in every room • Central heating • Chairlift • Varied choice of menus • Special diets catered for • Three comfortable lounges • Library • Laundry • Single and double rooms • Bingo • Card games • Darts • Guest musicians • Regular visits from clergy of local churches • Sing-a-longs • Weekly visits by Physiotherapist Here at the Croft House Rest Home in the charming village of Freckleton, we provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment that promotes independence, dignity and freedom of choice. Our residents live in a beautiful Grade 2 listed property of great character that provides all the comfort, warmth and atmosphere of a welcoming home from home. The management and staff of The Croft House Rest Home are committed to the welfare of each of our residents; their well being and comfort are paramount.

Located amidst the friendly community of Freckleton in the pretty Lancashire countryside, our village is known for the flowers and music The Croft House Rest Home is a comfortable place that offers all that our residents could want; from the comfort, the location and staff through to the facilities, we ensure that The Croft House Rest Home is maintained at the highest levels.

The Small Home with the Big Heart We are situated in south shore Blackpool close to the Pleasure Beach and St Anne’s.

We have 17 bedrooms with 14 of them ensuite. All rooms are accessible for wheelchair users and the first floor is serviced via a lift again suitable for a wheelchair user.

There are 3 lounges with access to sky television in 2 of these. There is also a paved back garden fully accessible for all residents.

All food is cooked on the premises and a choice of menu is always offered.

Entertainment by different vocalists and outings are run very regular with lots of activities within the home offered on a daily basis. The home also has a visiting hairdresser, chiropodist and vision call Our staff undergo all types of training including Alzheimer’s/ Dementia, Stoke First Aid, Moving and Handling, Health and Safety and the safe management of Medications, Induction in the New Care Certificate and most have NVQ 2 AND 3 qualification.

We have vacancies for Permanent residential/EMD residents and also for respite care and day care.

Please look at our web page for an up to date CQC Report.

Contact Andrea Webster on 01253 403465 or email: care@napiercarehome.co.uk

We provide 24 hour personal care to elderly residents and maintain an excellent staff ratio throughout the day and night. All assistance that is required or requested by our residents, is taken care of, including washing, bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting. Our friendly, professional staff are happy to help.

www.napiercarehome.co.uk

HIGHBURY HOUSE

Permanent or Respite Care Choose the law firm which stands out from the crowd

Wills Writing a will is undoubtedly one of the most important things you can do.

Without one, the government decides who inherits your hard-earned property, money and possessions.

Make a will with Easthams Solicitors Limited, and protect your family and your assets.

Lasting Powers of Attorney Your will deals with your affairs after death.

But what happens if you’re unable to manage your affairs during your lifetime?

Appoint a trusted family member or friend under a Lasting Power of Attorney, and you choose someone you can count on to manage your personal and financial affairs if you can no longer do so.

Take control of your future today and choose Easthams Solicitors Limited for a first class service at a great price.

Continental House | 292/302 Church Street Blackpool | FY1 3QA 0800 032 1432 | info@easthams.co.uk

www.easthams.co.uk Authorised & regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

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Highbury House Residential Home has been run by its owners for over 27 years. Where the quality of care is as much a concern as the high standard of accommodation the home provides.

A wide range of menus are available at Highbury. Special dietary needs are catered for. All meals are freshly prepared daily by our resident cooks in our fully fitted kitchen.

All the residents at Highbury are ensured that they receive excellent care with the help of their own GP if required or a local GP alongside the district nurses. The home does provide 24hr care with a very skilled team of staff on duty at all times.

Because it is an enormous decision being made when going into care either from home or hospital, there are many questions to be asked. At Highbury we have staff experienced in answering all these questions in order to make this transitional period easier and less worrying.

580-582 Lytham Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 1RB

Tel: 01253 344401

www.blackpoolcarehomes.co.uk

DESIGN PRINT SUPPORT

SITUATIONS IN LIFE ARE RARELY BLACK AND WHITE

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M A RK E T I NG LT D

To advertise in this publication please call the sales team on 01302 714528 Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN10 6AB 01302 714528 | www.octagon.org.uk | info@octagon.org.uk

&

Age UK Blackpool District Welcome to Age UK Blackpool & District

Age UK Blackpool & District is an independent, local charity which is dedicated to providing support for adults, older people & carers in the area. Age UK Blackpool & District has provided a high standard of service provision since 1985.

Our main aim is to work to improve the quality of life for thousands of people across Blackpool helping them to retain their independence & get the most out of life. We offer a wide range of services & activities to help achieve this & this brochure gives full details, we hope you’ll find it both informative & useful.

The values that underpin the work of Age UK Blackpool & District are: Caring, Commitment & Honesty – all people engaging with the Charity will receive dedicated person centred support & information to benefit their individual needs. We aim to provide services that are fair, sincere & genuine in their principles, intentions & actions.

Empowering & Enabling - we support people in accessing opportunities that empower them to make their own choices & decisions to improve their quality of life, creating a culture of enablement, not dependency.

Inclusive & Equality – we aim to ensure that we are accessible for all members of the community, encouraging & valuing individual difference & diversity. It is our policy to be proactive in challenging all forms of inequality, discrimination, prejudice & social exclusion.

Non-Judgemental & Respectful – all staff, placements & volunteers practice in a non-

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judgemental, unbiased manner, free from personal standards & opinions. We aim to listen to, understand & respond to individual needs in a kind, caring & compassionate manner.

HOSPITAL AFTER CARE

Confidential & Professional – all information known about individuals accessing our services is kept both confidential & secure & we obtain permission & inform individuals of any circumstances under which confidentiality may be breached. We ensure that all staff, students & volunteers are prepared, trained & supported in their role & provided with opportunities to develop their skills & experience within a nurturing environment.

The service ensures that practical & emotional support is available for a limited period for adults (18+) who have been discharged from hospital & who otherwise would be left isolated & vulnerable.

The service also helps reduce the number of readmissions to hospital. Staff & volunteers provide assistance with practical tasks such as making a meal, emergency basic shopping, collecting prescriptions & referrals to other sources of support & information. The emotional support provided helps people regain confidence in doing those practical tasks for themselves.

INFORMATION & ADVICE

PATIENT EXPERIENCE

At first point of contact with our Single Point of Access Team, they will triage an enquiry or referral. This may result in the giving of information or signposting for further support with regard to practical help, more advice & other services for older people. We will ensure we suggest ways to solve difficulties or provide the details of people who may be able to help if we cannot.

Staff work with the Unscheduled Care Division to provide feedback & improve the experience the older person has of the Trusts services. Individual questionnaires are undertaken which includes how they feel they are being treated, if they understand the care & treatment given & if they felt supported with their hygiene & meals. Also what changes do they think may help & what are the best things they have experienced during their stay with the Trust. Weekly unannounced visits to the wards are undertaken when the atmosphere & culture of the clinical area is viewed. Using a combination of observation, talking to staff & talking to patients a report is provided on the findings of the review of care & the patient experience in that area. Work continues with the Division on implementing the recommendations set out in the reports of the unannounced visits.

Issues we can help you with include: welfare benefits, housing & property, money matters, residential & nursing care, social isolation & loneliness, leisure & social activities, family & personal matters, your rights, local services, health & wellbeing & other issues that affect your quality of life.

We may be able to assist in one telephone call or we may suggest that an appointment with one of our Advisors or Assessment Officers is more appropriate. For clients who are housebound, we can offer a home visit.

Via our Warmer Winters initiative, we are able to offer support to clients who are worried about keeping warm & safe as well as offering support to clients who may be worried by high fuel bills. We work with Trading Standards to promote access to the Safe & Secure Directory which provides details of a wide range of reputable contractors & ensures that older & vulnerable residents are confident & safe in employing traders & services around the home.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING TEAM Walking Football and Table Tennis We currently have Walking Football sessions for men over the age of 50, these sessions are held on Mondays & Thursdays. Our Table Tennis is held on a Wednesday. For up to date information on our Activity Sessions, please contact us.

Day Centres The Day Centres provide support, stimulation & opportunities for friendship & fun for people over the age of 50. People who use our day centres are free to participate in the many activities

available, including crafts, reading, listening to music, board games, sing-along entertainment, presentations & sit-down exercises to music.

nail cutting, mini pedicure/manicure & foot/hand massage & is provided by qualified staff. Basic podiatry equipment is provided for individual use.

The cost includes: the Day Centre session, breakfast, refreshments, a three course lunch & Rideability can assist with transport arrangements (if required & available). We have various Day Centre sessions across the Borough.

Financial concerns

AT HOME SUPPORT SERVICE The At Home Support Service is for people over the age of 50, disabled or carers who live in the Blackpool area. This service aims to support people to stay in their own home & maintain their independence by providing assistance with those tasks that they are unable to do alone. There is a charge for this service.

Example tasks: ●

eneral cleaning such as hoovering, mopping, G dusting, changing beds, cleaning reachable windows & emptying bins etc.

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Laundry & ironing

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Going shopping with or for the older person

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Collecting prescriptions

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Reading correspondence & writing letters

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Assistance with light meal preparation & cooking

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Escorting on health appointments, vets, church etc.

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Tea & chat

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Pet care – dog walking, clean out of cages etc.

SUPPORT TO CARERS Through our At Home service, our Senor Support Workers are able to offer support to carers of people with mild to moderate mental health issues to have short breaks from their caring role, have some time for themselves and be confident that the cared for person is well looked after in their absence. This service is very much person centred, addressing the needs of the cared for and the carer.

FOOT & HAND CARE SERVICE Our basic foot & hand care service is for clients over the age of 18 within Blackpool. The service includes

If you are worried about the cost of any of our fee based services, then a member of Age UK Blackpool’s Information & Advice team, specialising in benefits can discuss with you your possible eligibility for a benefit health check & find out if you may be entitled to receive benefits.

Charity Shops Our Charity Shops sell good quality clothing, accessories, books, CDs, DVDs & bric a brac at affordable prices with stock changing daily. All our Shops are staffed by a Manager & Volunteers who are dedicated to raising funds for the Charity.

Our shops rely on donations & goods are always welcome. So if you have any unwanted treasures, reusable items or clothing you no longer need please donate them to our shops!

Legacies Everyone who remembers Age UK Blackpool & District in their will is ensuring that at some time in the future, older people in Blackpool will get the help they need. Please contact us for a copy of our Legacy leaflet.

Disclaimer Neither Age UK Blackpool & District nor Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can recommend or endorse any products or services that the advertisers may supply.

All the information regarding our service portfolio is correct as at February 2016.

If you’d like more information about any of our services or have any other queries, please get in touch. You can also find out about the whole range of services we offer by visiting our website www.ageukblackpool.org.uk or contact us at: 89 Abingdon Street, Blackpool FY1 1PP Telephone: 01253 622812 Email: admin@ageukblackpool.org.uk

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Is your life affected by dementia?

Alzheimer’s Society is here for you.

We provide a range of support services for people with dementia, their families and their carers in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

Information We can provide you with detailed information on a range of issues including different types of dementia, care issues and understanding the needs of a person living with dementia. This information can be accessed by either contacting us directly or by visiting Alzheimer’s Society’s website: alzheimers.org.uk

Dementia Adviser Service Our Dementia Advisers provide information, advice and a signposting service to people with dementia and their carers. This service is tailored to the individual’s needs and promotes independence, choice and control.

Dementia Support Service Our Dementia Support Service provides emotional and practical support to people with dementia and their carers.

Singing for the Brain® Singing for the Brain® is a stimulating group activity, for people in the early to moderate stages of dementia and their carers, which can help with general wellbeing and confidence. Singing for the Brain® usually takes place once per week for up to ten weeks.

Dementia Cafés A place for people with dementia and their carers to share information and experiences, or to simply have a cup of tea and a chat. We often have guest speakers at our cafés who provide information about their services or of ways to support people affected by dementia. We currently have two Dementia Cafés which are held across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

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Carers Information and Support Programme (CrISP) Our Carers Information and Support Programme is a series of four workshops for people caring for a family member or friend with dementia. This programme aims to offer structured information to inform and support the caring role. Carers do not necessarily have to live with the person with dementia.

For information about our services, advice and support, please contact us: T: 01253 696 854 E: northlancashire@alzheimers.org.uk Alzheimer’s Society North Lancashire, Fylde & Wyre, The Rowan Suite, Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, 259 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool FY3 9JL We are open from 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday

National Dementia Helpline If you have concerns about dementia, Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia Helpline can provide information, support, guidance and signposting to other appropriate organisations.

The Helpline is usually open from: 9am - 8pm Monday to Wednesday 9am - 5pm on Thursday and Friday 10am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday T: 0300 222 1122

Other ways to get involved Fundraising Whether you’re interested in taking part in a fundraising event or would like to organise an event of your own, our network of Community Fundraisers would love to hear from you. Please contact 07590 000805 for more information.

Making Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre dementia-friendly Become a Dementia friend or Dementia Champion and gain the knowledge and confidence to help people living with dementia feel understood and included in your community.

an understanding of dementia and the small things you can do in your community to help. We want Dementia Friends in every community.

What is a Dementia Friends Champion?

What is a Dementia Friend?

A Dementia Friends Champion is a volunteer who encourages others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their community. They do this by running information sessions for Dementia Friends about the personal impact of dementia, and what they can do to help. Dementia Friends Champions attend a training course and receive support as and when they need it.

A Dementia Friend learns a little bit more about what it’s like to live with dementia. You’ll attend one of our information sessions and we’ll equip you with

To get involved visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk Alternatively, you can contact your local Alzheimer’s Society office for more information.

Dementia Friends is an England-wide initiative run by Alzheimer’s Society, which aims to improve understanding of dementia and make a positive difference to those affected by it.

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NHS Hospitals and services in Blackpool

FLEETWOOD

Newton House Mental Health Care 89 Abingdon Street, Blackpool FY1 1PP 01253 622812

THORNTON-CLEVELEYS

183 Newton Drive, Blackpool FY3 8NU 01253 304433

POULTON-LE-FYLDE

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

BLACKPOOL

The Rowan Suite, Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, 259 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9JL 01253 696 854

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LYTHAM ST, ANNES

Blackpool Victoria Hospital 38 Whinney Heys Rd, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 8NR 01253 300000

Useful contacts A

C

N

Action on Elder Abuse 020 8835 9280 We work to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults Action on Elder Abuse, PO Box 60001, Streatham SW16 9BY I www.elderabuse.org.uk I enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

03000 616161 National Correspondence, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PA I www.cqc.org.uk I enquiries@cqc.org.uk

National Osteoporosis Society

0845 450 0230 Advice, information and support group for people with osteoporosis.

I www.nos.org.uk

Carers UK 0808 808 7777 Prevents carers from becoming emotionally drained, and from forgetting to take care of themselves.

20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX I General enquiries: 0207 378 4999 I Advice line: 0808 808 7777 I www.carersuk.org I info@carersuk.org

Admiral Nursing Direct 0845 257 9406 This helpline has been set up to provide people with an opportunity to talk through their worries and concerns about themselves, friends or relatives with dementia. The lines are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 9pm. Callers can leave messages any Cruse Bereavement Care time and request a call back

0844 477 9400 I direct@fordementia.org.uk Cruse Bereavement Care is here to support you after the death of Age UK Blackpool & District

01253 622812 someone close.

An independent charity whose objective I www.cruse.org.uk I helpline@cruse.org.uk is to make the lives of older people in Blackpool as fulfilling as possible.

89 Abingdon Street, Blackpool FY1 1PP I www.ageuk.org.uk/blackpool I admin@ageukblackpool.org.uk Alzheimers Society 01253 696854 The UK's leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers.

The Rowan Suite, Blackpool Centre for Independent Living, 259 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9JL I www.alzheimers.org.uk I lancaster@alzheimers.org.uk Arthritis Care 020 7380 6500 Working with and for all people with arthritis to put them in control of their arthritis and their lives.

Arthritis Care, Floor 4, Linen Court, 10 East Road, London N1 6AD. I info@arthritiscare.org.uk

B Blackpool Citizens Advice Bureau

01253 308400 6-10 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9AQ I www.blackpoolcab.org.uk/

C CareAware 0161 707 1107 A one stop shop for free advice on care fee funding for older people.

I www.careaware.co.uk I enquiries@careaware.co.uk

D Disability Benefits Helpline – for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance 0845 712 3456 I Textphone: 0845 722 4433 I www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories DG_10011169

E

NHS 111

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P Parkinson's Disease Society

0800 800 0303 I www.parkinsons.org.uk

R Royal Voluntary Service 0845 608 0122 A volunteer organisation that enriches the lives of older people and their families across Britain. We support older people by giving time and practical help to help them get the best from life.

Royal Voluntary Service, Cardiff Gate, Beck Court, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff CF23 8RP I www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

S Stroke Association 0845 3033 100 Advice and information for stroke patients and their families.

I www.stroke.org.uk

T

The Department of Work and Pensions I www.dwp.gov.uk Elderly Accommodation Counsel

0800 377 7070 The Pension Service 0845 606 0265 The Counsel's aim is to help older people I www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/ make informed choices about meeting customerdelivery/the-pension-service their housing and care needs. It was founded in 1984 and became registered as a charity in 1985. It is now more commonly known as EAC. I www.eac.org.uk

I Integrated Care Council 01379 678243 (Formerly the National Homecare Council)

The Integrated Care Council is a body which brings together British public and independent sector organisations who commission or directly provide support for people living at home.

M Mind (National Association for Mental Health) 020 8519 2122 The leading mental health charity in England and Wales. We work to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

I www.mind.org.uk I contact@mind.org.uk

OCTAGON DE S IG N & M A R K E T I NG LT D

Every possible care has been taken to ensure that the information given in this publication is correct at the time of going to print. Whilst the publisher would be grateful to learn of any errors, it cannot accept any liability over and above the cost of the advertisement for loss there by caused. No reproduction by any method whatsoever of any part of this publication is permitted without prior written consent of the copyright owners.

Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd. ©2016.

Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, South Yorkshire, DN10 6AB. Telephone: 01302 714528 Options Blackpool is published by Octagon Design and Marketing Ltd with editorial contributions from Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the CQC, Age UK, the Alzheimer’s Society and NHS Choices. The editorial contributors have not vetted the advertisers in this publication and accepts no liability for work done or goods supplied by any advertiser. Nor do the editorial contributors endorse any of the products or services.

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Wynfield House, Home for the Deaf

We have been helping Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in the area since 1925.

We offer: • A Deaf Residential Home exclusively for the use of profoundly deaf residents.

• A warm friendly rest home with all cooking and baking home made • All staff trained in BSL • Good CQC reports • 5H rating on meals • Outreach and advice services for Deaf/Hard of Hearing people living in the local community.

Please contact us for further details regarding any of these matters or any other way that you think we may be able to help you.

Blackpool Fylde & Wyre Society for the Deaf Wynfield House, 115 Newton Drive, Blackpool FY3 8LZ Phone: 01253 392183 Fax: 01253 395617 Mobile: 07546 466338 Designed and Published by Octagon Design & Marketing Ltd, Hawks Nest Cottage, Great North Road, Bawtry, Doncaster South Yorkshire DN10 6AB. Tel: 01302 714528