Did You Know?

(Able Community Care is a national Live- In, Care Provider and frequently we are asked questions about the care sector by clients, carers and members of the public, some examples below).

Question – I have read that most hospitals have a PALS office, but what exactly do they do?

Answer – PALS, stands for Patient Advice and Liaison Service. It is an English NHS Service which provides and offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. It is a point of contact for patients, their relatives and carers. (There are similar organisations in Scotland and Wales).

PALS are there if a person has any concerns about the service being received in hospital, have a complaint, or would like to give a compliment about service received. Usually, the PALS team have an appointment system which can be booked by ringing your local hospital.

Question –My parents are thinking of moving into a retirement home and we are looking to find out as much as we can about them, costs to buy or to rent, maintenance charges and what else is available on site for social activity etc. Where should we begin to look for information?

Answer – A good place to begin is to visit Lottie.org. This organisation offers a free service that helps families and retirees find the UK's best elderly care homes and retirement living communities. Another organisation which can help is the Elderly Accommodation Council, a national charity with a mission to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care www.eac.org.

Question – I have two elderly relatives and I am their only ‘younger’ generation relative. When sadly they pass away, I will have to make the arrangements that are needed. Where can I find some information that will tell me what I must do?

Answer – In November 2022 Age UK produced a comprehensive guidebook titled ‘When someone dies’.

This guide gives practical information about where to start and what to get done first, how to register the death and how to arrange a funeral. It also covers who to tell about the death and offers advice about financial and emotional support that might be available. The guide is forty-four pages long and can be downloaded from the Age UK website or you can call your local Age UK office and request one to be sent to you.

Question - I am disabled but would like to see if it is possible for me to ride a motorbike? Where can I go for advice?

Answer – NABD is the association for disabled riders. It was set up in 1991 and now has over nine thousand members.

Visit their website at www.nabd.org.uk or give them a call on 0844 415 4848 for further information.

Angela Gifford CEO www.ablecommunitycare.com

T: 01603 764567

E: info@ablecommunitycare.com