Month: February 2022

Do you want to know more about how to finance care?

If you’re considering residential, dementia or respite care for yourself or your loved one, you may be worried about the financial costs and arrangements. The funding process can be confusing, but thankfully there are plenty of resources out there to help you. Here are some useful links we’ve picked out to help you find out more about paying for care. 

Age UK – Financial assessment and contributions 

The Age UK website addresses the core financial worries many people have when they’re considering moving their loved one into care. 

This article explains the financial assessment – a process which works out how much you contribute to the cost of care. A handy table helps to break down the fees in relation to your loved one’s assets.  

Age UK also addresses the worries you might have about the possibility of your loved one having to sell their home. 

Carehome.co.uk – NHS funding 

If you or your loved one have certain health needs – such as living with dementia – you may be able to get your care paid for in full through a package of care known as NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC). This page details the eligibility requirements and walks you through the process for assessment. 

NHS – Paying for respite care 

Respite care is the term for a temporary stay at a care home for situations where the family expects to be away for a short while, for example going on holiday.  

Respite care can also be helpful for those who feel they need a break from caring for their loved one. It’s important to remember that taking breaks is crucial when it comes to caring for the person you love. 

The NHS website offers great resources on how to pay for respite care. 

If you’d like to understand more about respite care, take a look at our Q & A with Evermore’s Commissioning Director Gaye Clark.  

Talk to us 

If you have any questions about funding care or need further support, please get in touch with the team at Ashton Manor, our care home in Lancaster, and we’d be happy to help talk though the different options with you. 

When is it the right time to consider residential care? 

Many of us will come to a point in our lives where we decide that we – or a loved one – could benefit from additional support and care, when living independently at home becomes too difficult. The trigger could be something physical such as a fall or sudden illness, or the need may emerge more gradually through increasing isolation and loneliness, which can lead to depression and other mental and physical health problems. Either way, considering residential care for yourself or a loved one can feel quite overwhelming – from choosing the right time to consider a care home, to making the decision together or on somebody else’s behalf, and knowing what kind of care will suit your individual needs.  

What does residential care mean? 

Residential care is suitable for people who are finding daily life at home difficult but don’t require nursing care, and provides the chance to be looked after and lead a fulfilling life.  

Residential care offers residents access to 24-hour care that helps them cope with day-to-day life, promoting both physical and mental wellbeing. This can include help with washing, getting dressed, eating meals, mobility, taking medication and getting ready for bed, for example, as well as supporting with social interaction and taking part in activities.  

When to consider residential care? 

Moving into care is life-changing for both the person moving into care and their loved ones, so the decision can be a difficult one to make, particularly if you’re making it on behalf of someone else. There are a number of reasons people start to think about residential care, including: 

• Finding daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, washing or dressing a struggle, or feeling increasingly unable to cope at home. 
• Not having a support network to rely on, feeling isolated, or friends and family no longer able to cope or provide the level of care needed.  
• Finding it difficult to manage the daily running of a home or having concerns for safety at home. 
• Residential care has been recommended as a result of a care needs assessment or appointment with a healthcare provider. 

If you’re making a decision on behalf of a relative, you may feel complex emotions, including sadness and guilt. Here you can read our advice about why you shouldn’t feel guilty for moving your loved one into care.   

Residential at Ashton Manor  

At Ashton Manor, our Evermore Care home in Lancaster, care assistants are on hand to assist with every level of a person’s care. Our individually tailored care packages are regularly reviewed so they are flexible and responsive to changing care needs over time. 

Each resident has their own beautifully decorated bedroom with en suite wet room and can enjoy luxurious communal areas that include lounges, dining rooms, landscaped gardens, a cinema room and hair salon. All with expert 24-hour care support on hand.  

At Ashton Manor, we encourage continued involvement of family and friends; our relationships with loved ones can often improve as we spend quality time together without the stress and pressures of full-time care. 

How to take the next step 

If you think residential care might be the next step for you or your loved one, we’d be delighted to show you round our state-of-the-art care home with your own personal tour. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions about our care and the home. Just give us a call on 01524 566 007, drop us an email at enquiries@evermorecare.com or fill in the enquiry form on our website.