Ask Angela

Able Community Care has been in the same family for nearly four decades and now provides livein care services throughout the UK.

Since 1980 we have provided care and have met with thousands of families who are seeking an alternative to moving into a residential care home.

Meeting people inevitably leads, either at the time of an assessment or even years later, to questions for which people are looking for answers.

Information around all aspects of care is available but the road to fi nding out, especially at a time of crisis, about specifi c factors can be diffi cult and stressful. Able Community Care receives calls and emails on a regular basis with people asking if we can help with their search for information.

Recently these questions have been asked of us...

Question: How do I write my will and ensure that it is valid and legal and where are wills kept? Answer: To write a legally valid you will need: • To be over the age of 18 and of sound mind. • To make it voluntarily and not under duress. • To make your will in writing. • To ensure your will is signed in the presence of two witnesses who are both over the age of 18 and • To have two witnesses sign the document in your presence. Wills can be kept by a solicitor, a bank or with companies that offer will storage facilities. Otherwise, you can keep it at home. Question: What is a personal wheelchair budget and who is eligible? Answer: Personal wheelchair budgets were introduced as part of a range of measures to improve current wheelchair service provision, to ensure people have better experiences of care and to give people greater choice over the wheelchair provided.

The personal wheelchair budget model has been developed to include people who are referred and meet the eligibility criteria of their local wheelchair service and receive a face-to-face assessment with a clinician. People who are already registered with the wheelchair service will be eligible when they require a new wheelchair, either through a change in clinical needs or in the condition of their current chair.

For further information contact your local NHS Wheelchair Service or your GP Surgery.

Angela Gifford, Ask Angel Managing Director of Able Community Care answers your questions...

Question: What is the 'Tell Us Once Service' that can be used when someone dies? Answer: The Tell Us Once Service is a free service which enables you, on the death of a person, to report in one go the death to all government and local council services. This includes the person’s pension, any benefi ts they are receiving, passport if they have one, Blue Badge if they have one, council rates, etc. At the time of registering a death the registrar will advise you of the service and will help you by giving you a unique reference number which you can use online or via the phone if you prefer. There is provision for a person registering a death if they have a disability themselves with a video relay service and Relay UK. This service must be used within 84 days of receiving your unique reference number. Question: I think I may be entitled to the Attendance Allowance, but I do not have access to the internet and no close relatives. Can I get help from any organisation to receive and complete an application? Also, how long will it take to get a decision as to whether I am eligible? Answer: Both Citizens Advice (CAB) and Age UK offer help to fi ll in Attendance Allowance application forms, so give these organisations in your local area a call. You will normally get a 'decision letter' in around 6 weeks - this will tell you whether you'll get the Attendance Allowance. It will also tell you how much you will receive and how long your Attendance Allowance will last for.

ABLE COMMUNITY CARE LTD T: 01603 764567 E: info@ablecommunitycare.com www.ablecommunitycare.com