Author Archives: Maureen
Carers’ rights: what you need to know
What advice and information can professionals working in the sector give to people caring for older or disabled loved ones?
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Emily Holzhausen
- Guardian Professional,
The theme for carers rights day, which takes place on Friday 30 November, is getting help in tough times. To mark the day, there are three things that are pivotal for carers to receive help.
Get a carer’s assessment
Older or disabled people needing care should always have a community care assessment for their needs, but carers also have the right to request a carer’s assessment from their local council. Importantly, they don’t need to be caring full-time to have an assessment of their needs.
Mental health service failing thousands in crisis every year
Mental health services in England are failing thousands of people in crisis every year, because they are understaffed, under resourced, and overstretched, says the charity MIND.
Caroline White
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
The charity bases its conclusions on three separate pieces of research: Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to mental health trusts; a service user survey of almost 1000 people; and preliminary research by University College London.
The findings show that four out of 10 mental health trusts (41%) in England have staffing levels that are well below established benchmarks, and access to crisis care varies widely.
One in 10 crisis teams still fails to operate services 24/7, despite recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Only half (56%) of crisis teams accept self-referrals from known services users and just one in five (21%) from service users that aren’t already known to them. This is despite NICE guidance that crisis teams should offer self-referral as an alternative to emergency services.
‘Pay £80 more or go into a home’
Anne Fisher has seen her home-care fees go from £18 a week to £134
By Karen Jordan
November 27, 2012
A 90-year-old Second World War veteran has been told she must cover a more than 600 per cent increase in her home care costs or go into a nursing home.
Anne Fisher, from The Coombe in Streatley, who operated aircraft searchlights in the war, does not want to leave her home of 60 years.
But with just £8,000 in savings and a state and widow’s pension to live on, her son Chris says she cannot afford to pay the latest increase in charges from West Berkshire Council.
Mr Fisher, 53, was devastated to receive a letter last week from the local authority saying his mother had to pay an additional £80 per week – from £54 to £134 – if she wanted to continue to be cared for at home.
Mr Fisher, who lives with his mother but can’t care for her full time as he needs to continue his work as a postman, said: “Where is she supposed to get this extra money from?
