HCE Carers

HCE Carers • Define a carer & be able to give the number of carers in the UK. Carer - one who looks after another due to physical / mental illness or activity limitation 6% of 16-29s 10% of 30-44s 20% of 45-64s 13% of 65+ 6 million in total (3.4m women, 2.6m men) 90% of them are caring for a relative, friend or neighbour 2 million spend 20hrs a week 1.5 million spend 50hrs a week (4000 of whom are over 90) Save the economy £57 billion annually (£10,000/carer) Types of care Personal - ADL, washing Domestic – cleaning, shopping, cooking Auxilliary – financial management, collecting pensions (potential for abuse) Social support – trips out Carers feel Under appreciated Neglected Under trained (moving, handling, feeding etc) Carers want Training Support - respite, financial (carers allowance is limited – only available if caring >35hrs/week, under 65yrs old & not in full time education) Support Available Domcilliary care services – home-care assistants = cook, clean, shop, personal care Meals-on-wheels – usually hot meal at lunchtime 2-3 times weekly, often practical problem so frozen, microwavable meals provided instead Luncheon Clubs – usually run by voluntary groups – get people out, to meet others and have a hot meal Day centres – similar to luncheon clubs but longer duration and can offer classes for fall prevention etc. • Be able to list the key features of legislation in this field: the Carers Act. Community Care Act 1990 Aimed to keep people in their own homes for as long as possible and remove any perverse incentives to admission to institutional care Has reduced admissions to care homes But targeting to those in greatest need has demoralised many with lesser needs & denied modest interventions which might preserve independence for longer The delayed admission to care homes lead to increased dependency of those in homes National Care Standards Committee 2002 To improve standards in care homes and regulate private care homes & agencies Introduce national standards of care Standardise charging policies (limit post code lottery) NB: if > £18,500 get no financial support for care home fees National Service Framework for Older People (March 2001) To ensure NHS services provided regardless of age Ensure person centred care Intermediate care services to avoid unnescessary hospitl admission Aim to have all elderly on specialist ward Increase stroke prevention Increase falls prevention Improve mental health services for older people Promotion of health and active life in older age • Be able to describe, in principle, the following benefits in terms of the value and eligibility.: Basic state pension (+ Christmas bonus + winter fuel payments) – if necessary NI contributions have ben made Social Fund (community care grants) – loans for replacement of clothing, repairs to home, redecoration, bedding & furniture Housing benefit – If low income due to disability and in rented accomodation Income support – savings must be minimal, value of home not included but any other property is Carers allowance – paid to the carer if: >35hrs care / week (& not in full time education or < 16yrs) Patient must be eligible for benefits Earnings do not exceed set level Incapacity benefit If unable to work due to disability (and not entitled to statutory sick pay) NI contributions must be upto date Patient must be under 65 Disability living allowance Patient must be under 65 with disability > 6months (or terminal) Care component and mobility component Attendance Allowance Patient must be over 65 with disability > 6months (or terminal illness) Non means tested, paid to claimant. Help with bodily functions or high intensity attendance must be demonstrated Home responsibility protection – to protect pension rights of carers Death Grant – to pay for funerals, must be requested before funeral is carried out Bus & Train concessions – as well as theatre etc Free TV licence – for all over 75, and for any blind / deaf