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Abbeydale

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abbeydale, abbeywood, residential care homes, elderly care home, abbeydale-bury.co.uk, abbeywood-bury.co.uk, old people’s home, rest home, elderly, residential home for the elderly,  old people, nursing home, quality, frail, disabled, , retirement home,  respite care, long term care, short term care, bury

Questions & Answers

What is the difference between a nursing home and a rest home?

Residents in our rest home are generally people who can no longer cope at home by themselves and require the safety and security of having caring staff to help with their daily lives. They might need help with dressing and bathing and their personal hygiene. They are mobile and can walk with the aid of a stick or frame in the home but may need a wheelchair for outings.

Residents in nursing home are generally more dependent than those residents in rest homes. They might have a medical condition which requires the regular attention of a qualified nurse. A qualified nurse or R.G.N. is on duty twenty-four hours a day in a nursing home.

If your local authority is paying the home's fees your social worker will decide whether you need residential or nursing care by caring out an assessment of your needs.

Do you accept residents whose fees are paid by Social Services?

Yes, we have rooms in both our homes that are available to residents funded by their local authority.

Who inspects your homes? 

Abbeydale and Abbeywood are registered by Bury Social Services and are inspected twice a year by the inspection unit at Bury Social Services.

Do you admit residents who suffer from senile dementia or confusion?

As a general rule we do not, since we have small homes and most of our residents are alert and have their mental faculties. We do accept residents who are forgetful or who are slightly confused.

What are NVQs?

National Vocational Qualifications. Qualifications that care assistants can achieve to prove they are competent, knowledgeable and committed to their job.

Can a resident have a television in their room?

Yes, all rooms have a television aerial point.

What if a resident wants to make a phone call?

At Abbeywood residents have their own telephone, which is connected to a central switchboard. At Abbeydale we have a portable phone for residents' use and residents may install a private line to their room if they wish.

Do you charge extra for laundry?

No, our fees are fully inclusive. The only extra charges are for personal items such as newspapers, hairdressing and toiletries.

What about dentist and optician appointments?

We will continue to use your preferred domiciliary appointments, but if this is not possible we will arrange the appointments for you.

Do you allow smoking?

Smoking is only allowed in designated areas either of our homes. This applies to residents, visitors and staff.

What precautions do you take against fire?

We have smoke and fire detection systems in both our homes which are tested and maintained on a regular basis. Our staff receive regular training on how to prevent fire and on what to do should a fire occur.

What are your visiting hours?

We do not have strict visiting hours but we do ask that you avoid early morning, meal times and late evening. We actively encourage residents to go out with their families and will provide any assistance we can.

What do I do if I need care?

Contact your local Social Services Department. If they think you need help they will carry out an assessment of your needs. This will involve talking to you and those people who already help you. They will give you a care plan which details the help are entitled to and may recommend that you move into a care home.

If you are in hospital the doctors and nurses may feel you need to be cared for in a care home after your discharge and will arrange for a social worker to advice and help you.

How do I find a care home?

Your Social Services Department will provide you with information about local homes that provide the type of care you need. You can also find a list of homes in a free booklet produced by Bury Social Services.

Can I choose the home?

Yes you may choose a home of your choice, even if it is being funded by Social Services

.Can I move from one home to another?

Yes, as long as the new home meets Social Services requirements.

CARE GUIDE

Please check with the Social Services for any changes

 Residential and Nursing Homes

There will be occasions, when the level of care which is needed cannot practically or cost-effectively be provided in your own home on a permanent basis.  Therefore consideration will need to be given to the facilities provided by residential and nursing homes as a longer term arrangement.  Coming to terms with this situation can be extremely traumatic for everyone concerned.

Many of our preconceptions about care homes are very often far removed from reality.  There is a range and variety of care homes to suit every taste and preference.  When people actually visit a home for the first time, a reaction of 'I had no idea it would be this nice' is commonplace. There is no denying that the decision to enter care will invariably mean giving up your own home, and this is understandably a step which is taken with a degree of reluctance.

However, many people in residential care are still active and continue to pursue many of the activities which they enjoyed whilst living in their own home, but with the added benefit of security, companionship and 24 hour care.

The vast majority of residential and nursing care in the UK is provided by the independent sector which include voluntary and private organisation.  This is supplemented by a smaller number of homes which are owned and operated by Local Authority Social Services Departments.  It is a common misconception that private care homes are only available to wealthy individuals.  In actual fact people whose care needs are entirely funded by the government are able to live in a private home if they wish, and indeed the cost of care in a private home can be up to a third less expensive than that provided by the Local Authority.

 

Respite and Day Care

Circumstances may arise in which an individual requires a period of more intensive care.  This may be following a period of sickness or perhaps because of the absence of the usual family carer as a result of holidays.  In such situations, respite care in a specialist nursing or residential establishment may provide the solution.  Many homes, particularly those in the independent sector are able to provide extremely flexible respite care packages.  These can range from a two week visit, to day care or even an overnight stay.

 

State Funding

Your local council will carry out a financial assessment before deciding whether they, or you, should pay all or part of the costs of your care.

The financial assessment looks at how much savings and property (known as capital) you have and your income (for example, pensions or state benefits).

Local councils can decide how much they charge. Below is some general information on how they work this out.

How councils work it out

  • If you have less than £12,750 in savings and property (known as capital), it will not be taken into account. However, you may still have to pay something towards your care if you have other income (for example, pensions or state benefits).
  • If you have between £12,750 and £21,000 in capital, you will have to pay some of the costs of your care.
  • If you have more than £21,000 in capital, you will have to pay all costs for your care until the value falls below £21,000.

 This information was correct in April 2006 but the figures are set by Government and may change each year.

About your property

When working out how much you can afford to pay, the council will disregard the value of your property for the first 12 weeks of your stay in a care home.

This is to give you time to decide what you want to do with your property. You may choose to rent it or sell it.

Whatever you decide to do, you should get some financial advice on how to manage your money.

Remember: don't rush your decision.

If you are being assessed for care in your own home the value of your property will not be taken into account.

Warning: if you pass on your house to relatives before going into a care home, you still may be assessed on how much it’s worth.

Benefits

Make sure that you claim all the benefits you are entitled to. More than £2 billion is left unclaimed by older people each year.

Other ways you can get help

Your husband or wife might pay

Although the council does not have the right to means test your partner, it can make enquiries about whether or not they would be able to pay for your care.

Third party top-up payments

Your local council might ask a friend or a relative if they can top up your fees.

Fully-funded NHS care

If you have more complex health needs, you may be eligible for what’s known as “continuing NHS healthcare” which is free of charge to you.

Free care under the Mental Health Act

If you have been kept in hospital under certain sections of the Mental Health Act, you may be eligible for free care when you go home.

Last updated: 08/04/2006

 HELP THE AGED WEBSITE    http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/FinancialAdvice/HelpClaimingBenefits

 

 
Rights and Choices


Individuals who are self funding are able to choose the type of care they require and can purchase that care from whomever or wherever they wish.  Many Social Service Departments advise self funding individuals to contact them to arrange their care.  This is on the basis that their financial situation may fall below the threshold limit at some future date and if funding support will be required from the Local Authority, it is helpful if Social Services have been involved from the outset.  In certain circumstances this may be an appropriate course of action, but it can also result in a level of influence from the Local Authority which is detrimental to the individual. It is advisable to obtain independent guidance before making a decision.

If help at home is determined as being appropriate, your Social Worker will advise of the care package and funding support which is available.

If residential or nursing care is more suitable, Social Services will again advise of the financial support that can be provided.  However the individual has the right to choose the care home which he or she prefers.  Social Services may make recommendations, but you are entitled to make your own selection as long as your choice of home provides the type of care you require and is properly registered with the Local Authority.

In situations where the value of assets are less than £12,750, the basic cost of care will be met by the Local Authority.  This effectively enables individuals to retain this amount for their own use and needs.  In addition a personal allowance will be made available for personal expenditure.

You may wish to choose a care home which has a higher fee charge than Social Services are willing to pay.  This may be because you find the atmosphere or facilities more suited to your needs or perhaps because the location of the home is more convenient for visiting family and friends.  In such circumstances, a fee top-up can be made to meet the shortfall.  However the system requires that this should not be paid by the individual receiving care, out of their personal allowance, and can only be from their own disregarded assets or income if the 12 week property disregard applies or if they have entered into a deferred payment agreement with the Local Council.

 

(To be used as a guide only)