Your family agree, Mum, Dad, Gran or other loved one needs care at home. Now what?
This is a simple guide for how to access and pay for care. In Scotland we are very lucky, because every adult is entitled to a personal care allowance, if it is agreed that you cannot meet these needs by yourself anymore. This is regardless of your age, income, assets, or marital status. You need a care provider.
Where do I start?
Firstly you or your loved one should contact your local adult social services. Tell them of your loved ones circumstances, what has changed, and ask for an assessment. A social worker should be assigned to your loved one, and they will contact you to arrange an assessment. They will attend the home of your loved one and speak with them. If they are not able to advocate for themselves, any family or other representatives will be invited. Visit the government website for more information on accessing care.
They will then report this back for a decision to be made. People often refer to a “twice daily package of care”, or a “four times daily package of care”, but what does that mean? It is as it sounds, 2 visits or 4 visits a day respectively. However the length of each visit can be different for each person. For example if you only need some help with medication and take it 4 times daily, this is unlikely to be more than a 15 minute visit each time. Whereas somebody who needs assistance with personal care (eg showering, teeth brushing, hair brushing) and medication, could have a twice daily package of care for 1.5 hours in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening = 2 hours daily. Every local authority pays a different rate per hour of care. It is usually around £20 per hour near us in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
So now you know how much you are entitled to, how do I access the care?
There are a few options with how to proceed. If you don’t have any personal funds, the social worker may find or recommend a company who has availability to provide the care you need. Alternatively, they will give you a list of companies to contact. Currently most companies have waiting lists which can be from a few months to a year, or in some cases even longer. As we know, you have come to this point, you likely need the care to start now, not next year!
Can I choose the care provider?
Yes. You always have this choice if you can contribute financially or not! If you are willing and able to contribute financially, you have more options. You are still entitled to the allowance that has been assessed for, but you can open your search to private companies. The local authority cover what they are willing to pay, and you, your loved one, or your family will “top up” to cover the difference.
Who pays the bill?
If you request Direct Payment, the funds will be sent to you every month or every 4 weeks. You are then invoiced by the care company and settle the bill directly. Alternatively you can have an option 2, which means the care company invoice the local authority for their share, and they invoice you directly to pay your share.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch.