Watching our parents get older can be very difficult, but it’s important to remember that you’re by no means alone and there is plenty of support available to help you navigate their evolving needs, making life easier for all those involved.
At first, it’s likely that only a few small changes here and there will be required to help your parents age in place, with independent living a top priority for the vast majority of people over the age of 65.
But, as time goes on, both you and they may find it harder to manage and you may decide that you need increasing levels of support year on year.
If this is the case, it is advisable to get in touch with the social services department of your local council so you can have a care needs assessment carried out.
This will work out what kind of social care provisions would be best for your specific situation, whether that’s home adaptations, a private nurse, moving into a care home or something else.
How do I get a care needs assessment?
Give your adult social services department at the local council a call and request a free care needs assessment. No matter what income your parents are on, how much savings they have or what level of care they need, they are entitled to this assessment.
What does the assessment involve?
Typically, a social care worker will come to your home for an in-person meeting, but you can also have the assessment carried out online or over the phone. Factors taken into account when making decisions include living arrangements, support networks, cultural and religious backgrounds, general health, management of daily tasks and so on.
How to prepare for the care needs assessment
Think about the level of support that your parents will need and be as specific and as detailed as possible when talking to the social care professional. This could include, for example, reminders about medication, help with personal care such as bathing and getting dressed, wanting to visit a place of worship, wanting to visit relatives regularly and so on.
What happens after the care needs assessment?
If your council is going to contribute and meet the needs of your parents, a care plan will be agreed upon, detailing what the requirements are and what they’ll be covering. A financial assessment (or means test) will also be carried out to see if you’re eligible for help with care costs.
Note that if you disagree with the council’s final decision following the assessment, you can try and resolve it first with them and then, if you’re still not happy, you can raise a formal complaint.
If you’d like to find out more about adult social care services and how you can best go about accessing the care you need, get in touch with the Concept Care team today.
