Author Archives: Maureen
Project aims to make a Norfolk Town Dementia friendly
New project aims to make Swaffham a dementia-friendly town
Don Saunders is the new manager of the Iceni Partnership in Swaffham. Picture: Ian Burt.
Martin George Monday, April 15, 2013
7:00 AM
A new project hopes to bring together businesses, charities, care homes and youth groups to make Swaffham a dementia-friendly town for the increasing numbers of people with the condition. A meeting last Thursday came up with aims that include creating dementia-friendly buildings, training town centre businesses in how to help those affected, creating reminiscence packs at the library and holding music and sing-a-long sessions.
The groups already involved also plan to co-ordinate current services that are already offered in the town, to increase awareness of what is in place and identify gaps in current provision.
New PIP report form for GPs
GPs to be paid £33 per patient to assess eligibility for new disability benefit
GPs will be paid £33 to fill out a new form determining whether patients are eligible for the Government’s new personal independence payment (PIP), a scheme the GPC has warned may ‘harass’ patients with a health condition or disability.
The PIP replaced the disability living allowance this week and GPs will be required to give details of the diagnosis, history, variability, treatment and the impact of the condition on the patients’ life, for which they will be paid £33.50 per form.
But the GPC has voiced concern that patients with long term conditions might be periodically ‘harrassed’ under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the new PIP assessment.
Carer raises fears over changes to social care funding
Skipton carer raises fears over changes to social care funding
7:00am Friday 12th April 2013 in News By Matt Cornish, Editor
A Craven carer has met with a Government minister to discuss changes in adult social care funding.
From April 2016, the Government is intending to place a £72,000 cap upon what any individual has to pay for their social care costs.
But Tim Quelch, a Skipton carer, believes that the proposed changes could divert precious resources away from poorer social care users, placing extra financial pressure on unpaid carers – spouses, partners, families and friends.
The Government’s plan follows pressure from families whose loved ones have been forced to sell their homes to pay for their care costs, typically when they are admitted to care homes in later life.
