Relatives and carers are also reassured, safe in the knowledge that, should an incident occur, they will know about it. Some devices can also help monitor particular health conditions and reduce the need for hospital admission. You can buy telecare and assistive technology
from private companies and organisations or, if you’re eligible through an assessment (see below), Cornwall Council may be able to provide support to help you access equipment. For further information, please visit www.cornwall.gov.uk/alfilifeline
Support from the council The way councils provide services to eligible adults and their carers is called personalisation. This term is used to describe a number of ways in which eligible adults can receive a mixture of local authority and Government money to pay for the care services
they need without direct council involvement. If you approach the council for social care support, your needs and finances will be assessed. If you have a carer, they can be involved and have their needs assessed too.
Your assessment If you appear to have care or support needs, you have the legal right to an assessment of your care needs and finances. Councils are statutorily obliged to provide this to you, regardless of whether you access their services. The assessment (which is free) will consider: • how you can best be supported to live as independently as possible; • your home and how you are coping in it; • your emotional wellbeing; • your diet; and • any health and medical treatments you need. You will need to contact Adult Social Care to arrange
an assessment. Call 0300 1234 131. Once Adult Social Care has an understanding of your care and financial needs, the next stage is to determine what services you may be eligible for and who will pay for them. The council will give you more information on eligibility and the national eligibility criteria it uses at the time of your assessment. Information on paying for care can be found at www.cornwall.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/ adult-social-care/paying-for-adult-social-care or on page 32 if you are receiving home care and www.cornwall.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/ adult-social-care/choosing-to-live-in-a-care-home or on page 42 if you are moving into a care home.
Personal Budgets If you are eligible for support from the council, you may be given a Personal Budget. A Personal Budget is the amount of money that the council calculates it will cost to meet the support needs of eligible people. If you are eligible for a Personal Budget, the actual amount you receive will depend on your eligible needs and your finances. The money should be spent in line
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with a support plan that has been agreed by both you and the council and can be either a full or a partial contribution to such costs. You may also choose to pay for additional support on top of the budget. Any eventual contractual agreement for services is between you and your care provider, not the council. If you are eligible, a Personal Budget may be taken:
Se a rch f or ca r e a t www. ca re c h o i c e s .c o .u k t o fi n d s u p p o r t i n y o u r are a
