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Help please! Advice on Continuing Health care and Social Care
- By Bumblebee
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Mon 11 Aug 2008 18:33
Hi all
Hopefully someone out there will be able to help me as trying to get information out of the directgov website and any others is proving fruitless at the mo!
My mother has PSP, a terminal disease but we have her at home at the moment with an ever evolving care package. We currently have a domicillary agency coming in to get her up and to put her to bed in the evening. We also have a private carer during the day and another during the night.
As Mum's condition has worsened (unfortunate nature of the disease) we have told that she is entitled to receive NHS Continuing Care - however we are very unsure if receiving this would affect the social care funding we receive ie reduce it. As Mum's conditions progresses, she is obviously in need to a more intense care package and is soon to have a PEG inserted, there will be soon be a need to have 2 carers.
Our main aim is to keep her happy and comfortable at home, where she wants to be. However, with this in mind, if anyone can give advice as to the Continuing Healthcare and the social services would be extremely grateful?
Many thanks
Leonie
Replies
- By BlueBelle
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Re: Help please! Advice on Continuing Health care and Social Care
Tue 12 Aug 2008 17:04Hi Leonie
Sorry I can't answer your question but it's nice to find a kindred spirit on here as my mum also has PSP. What a horrible illness it is.
We are currently going through a series of review and assessment meetings to try and keep up with her increasing needs.
I am also determined to keep mum at home as long as it is safely possible to do so.
Take care
Hazel
- By mel
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Re: Help please! Advice on Continuing Health care and Social Care
Tue 19 Aug 2008 12:59Hi Leonie,
Generally when it is identified that someone may be eligible for CHC, the district nurses or if the local health authority has a specific chc worker, needs to complete a full assessment identifying health needs, and the level and risks etc.
The social worker needs to ensure they have completed a comprehensive assessment, also identifying all needs and risks as if there wasnt any care or support going in (so needs are not hidden by support provided).The district nurse or lead health worker then needs to arrange a multi disciplinary meeting, where the GP, social worker and nurse need to attend (if OT or physio have had a lot of input they should be there also. They discuss the level of need, agree whether the person meets the criteria, and should call you / nok etc into the meeting to discuss their findings.
The social workers assessment will need to be thorough, and they will need to complete a care plan which highlights the services the person will need. this is what health initially base the care package on when they take it over.
basically, health will take over the calls the carers cover and will either pay the agency going in at the moment (they cant buy local authority carers tho only agency) or will put in health workers, depends on the area.
this means that you will not have to pay for the services going in. as far as i know benefits from benefit agency do not change.
if you are having direct payments from social services this will stop as the care is not being purchased by you, it is free from nhs.when health take over the care, social services will likely close the file, but you need to make them aware if you need a carers assessment, and any suport such as shopping and domestic as they are still able to provide those services. They are just not able to provide services to those that have a very high health need and need professional care staff.
the district nurse or the social worker should give you the leaflets telling you all about it, theres a leaflet for patients and families as well as staff.
contact your local health board (try the gp receptionist if you cant find number they should know it) and ask them to send you leaflets and the eligibility criteria.
go on the department of health website and type in continuing nhs healthcare, see what comes up. failing that, contact my local health board and get them to point you in the right direction for your area or send you info, it should all be the same whatever area. complexcare@torfaenlhb.wales.nhs.uk they cover all of gwent in wales.
feel free to ask any questions, and i'll do my best to find out for you.
mel.
- By mel
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Re: Help please! Advice on Continuing Health care and Social Care
Tue 19 Aug 2008 13:18This site may be helpful in relation to PSP
www.ltnc.org.uk have done a report : Defining the palliative care needs of people with late stage Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple System Atrophy and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
read with a glass of wine!