So what is actually assessed when you have a carer's assessment ? What are the benefits of having one ? Any downsides to it ?
So what is actually assessed when you have a carer's assessment ? What are the benefits of having one ? Any downsides to it ?
So what is actually assessed when you have a carer's assessment ? What are the benefits of having one ? Any downsides to it ?
I've done one a week ago today. It was technically a re-assessment but they gave me a self-assessment form which is apparently a new thing here. I wrote everything down, then the social worker sat down with me for 90 minutes and we went through it, he asked loads more questions and we discussed how to achieve the very specific goals I had set out. My advice is to write everything down that supports your requests, your physical and emotional state of mind, how well do you sleep, what are you missing out on etc. write down everything you need help with even if they might not be able to help with it, just for a round picture of your needs. He did want to see OH which I had no problem with, but I told him he would get no sense out of him, so he said hi, then the sitter took him out to the park. Btw, I wasn't asked for it, but I showed the social worker the LPAs I have for OH and he made a note. I'm going to chase him today.
I waited a few months for an assessment and in the end they sent me a form to fill in instead of a face to face discussion. To me it wasnt worth the paper it was written on as most of it was yes or no answers. You could not explain the situation properly. I was told i was entitled to the personal budget and that was it, no letter of explanation as to what else they could provide for me, it seems to me that i will have to cope with everything else. My OH does not like to spend money so paying for external help is out of the question as is joining any day clubs etc, he also does not like the idea of other people in the house. Had someone round yesterday about the befriending service and he has more or less ruled that out as well.
And that's the trouble, thebell. I used to react like that as well. You're heading for a crisis if you don't work out a plan of action. I'm sorry, but I'm speaking from experience. My husband never acknowledged his illness as so many don't, and that leaves the carer in a precarious situation, because we then risk being taxed to more than our natural limit of endurance. We, as carers, need support. We can try to give it our all and not allow help to come in because our loved ones "won't like it", but where does that leave us? We are not machines, we are human beings.
In a hospital or similar place, there are teams of people caring for their patients. When it's just one person, (you and me), we're going to run out of steam at some point, and that's why help must be accessed. You're doing a job that, if you were doing it as paid work, you would expect to have health and safety cover. We have to get our own cover as carers by getting things put in place to keep the whole household safe. It's not safe to be left alone with this illness, for all kinds of reasons.
Don't say no to anything, or you'll end up with no help whatsoever. Those who try to help will assume you don't need it if you refuse any offer, however big or small. Please, and this goes for everyone, say yes when help is offered.