Carer For My Dad - Where To Start ?

Carer For My Dad - Where To Start ?

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Discussion

KTMsm

Original Poster:

27,709 posts

270 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Dad is 82 and hasn't recovered fully after recent illness, it's been 3 months and Mum is struggling to cope - I've had to go around a few times because he can't get up etc

They are both still hoping it's a blip but I think he's at the stage for a stair lift and carer etc

Can anyone tell me what the situation is with carers ?

Do I just approach an Agency, is it simply £/hr or is a contract required etc

Really he just needs someone for an hour in the morning - it can take my Mum 3 hours to get him up and dressed


NorthDave

2,414 posts

239 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Having been through this recently I would recommend talking to Age UK. They are a great source of advice.

If you are happy to self fund then I guess you could just approach agencies but, certainly in our area, there is a shortage of carers. Age UK might be able to point you in the direction of grants or funding - certainly worth asking.

I would recommend Acorn stairlifts.

Muzzer79

11,071 posts

194 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Talk to yours/his GP.

They (should) be able to recommend how to get an assessment on what he needs, which will then lead you to suitable options as to who can help.

Important that it's someone on your wavelength as a family. We were lucky and found a local woman who was worth her weight in gold.

Mark Benson

7,811 posts

276 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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NorthDave said:
Having been through this recently I would recommend talking to Age UK. They are a great source of advice.

If you are happy to self fund then I guess you could just approach agencies but, certainly in our area, there is a shortage of carers. Age UK might be able to point you in the direction of grants or funding - certainly worth asking.

I would recommend Acorn stairlifts.
Be aware though that Age UK carers are private companies entirely separate from the charity but who use their branding and as far as I can tell are introduced by Age UK, though they don't tell you this. We had a terrible time with my uncle (dementia) because of the local Age UK branded carers, my sister is still trying to get to the bottom of what went on.

Planet Claire

3,349 posts

216 months

Monday 7th March 2022
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Obviously money comes into this because if your dad has more than, approximately, £23k in savings, he will have to pay the full cost of his care, otherwise Social Services could pick up some or all of the bill.

It may be worth giving them a call. The majority of social services departments now run something called 'reablement', which aims to get people back on their feet. This is mainly used for people coming out of hospital but can be used to maximise someone's independence before they assess for long-time care and support. Even if your parents are self-funders then they can get the council to assess and commission services on their behalf (if they do a financial assessment then they often check that all benefits eligible for are being received).

Have a look on the council's website, many have 'care directories' you can look at to see which providers operate in your parents locality, and then it's a case of phoning up and seeing who and do what and at what price that is acceptable to them

KTMsm

Original Poster:

27,709 posts

270 months

Monday 7th March 2022
quotequote all
Thanks all

He was released from hospital before Christmas and we had a bit of a steep learning curve and then found out there was lots of help he should have been given

Mum's been liaising but I've found that she maybe isn't as able as I thought so I'm trying to learn what's going on whilst being informed that they can cope and aren't stupid

The joys of elderly parents biggrin