I mentioned in a previous post that I had been offered the money which the LA are currently paying for Ken's care in the CH to have him at home and pay for services out of this to help me.
A couple of days ago I had my meeting with S.S. and I quizzed the representative for about an hour. Essentially he told me that not all LA's are currently doing this but within the next year or two as Independant Living Legislation comes in, all LA's will have to change over to this.
Anyone who has an agreed care plan and is currently using any of the LA services is eligable for this. For example if you are currently using an LA day care centre, you could continue with this service or you could chose to be given the money allocated for this and use it to put your own care package in place. I know that I was offered day care for Ken on Saturdays and Sundays only. I would have much preferred him to have these days during the week but this was not available. Under this Independant Living scheme I could have opted to take the money and pay someone to perhaps take him out for a few hours instead.
Also AT THE MOMENT - any disability living allowance, carer's allowance or attendance allowance will not be touched. If you are in receipt of these then you will continue to get these in full without any deductions. This Independant Living Allowance is to be paid alongside the existing Government allowances and instead of having these services provided by the LA.
I was very sad but had to tell the SS man that I felt Ken's care was better left as it was. The money that the LA pay to the care home would not be sufficient for me to purchase the extent of care I would need to keep Ken at home. Also the bungalow I live in is totally unsuitable for Ken's current needs and I do not have the finances to either extend or move to a larger home.
This Independant Living Allowance has been offered to Ken and myself too late I'm afraid. If I had been offered this when Ken was still home with me and the disease hadn't progressed as far as it now has, I'm sure it would have helped us to stay together for longer.
The amount of money offered will very much depend on assessments which it seems will still be made by the same people as before ie: hospital consultant, social workers, c.p.n's, occupational therapists etc., etc., and so it is vital to get proper assessments and also continuous assessments as the disease progresses. Many of us here on TP know what a stumbling block this can be!!
He also left me with a leaflet which I've copied below which shows what is currently available in modern technology. For example an aid which can be put onto a favourite chair which sets off an alarm to whatever telephone care line company you wish after there has been no movement for say 2 hours.
Pressure mat - 24 hour monitoring of
inactivity or intruders, dependent on
individualneeds.
Enuresis sensor - Placed between a mattress
and a sheet. this sensor provides immediate
warrning on detection of moisture to allow
effective action to be taken.
Bed/chair occupancy sensor - Provides an
early warning by alerting that the user has left
their bed/chair and not retuned within a
predetermined time period.
Property exit sensor - Provides an early
waming by alerting that the user has left
their home and not returned within
a predetermined time parameter. Ideal for
people with dementia and their carers.
Amie+/Gem+ triggers - Personal radio
triggers that allow an alarm call
to be raised within a radius of up
to 50 metres from the Lifelineunit.
User/carer pager alert - Provides hearing
impaired users with immediate notification of
alarm call activation.A pager can also be used
to alert a live-in carer of sensors being
triggered in the home.
Sounder beacon - Offers
both visual and loud audible signals
when a sensor or telephone is activated,
ideal for the hard of hearing.
Pull cord - Strategically placed around the
home, the pull cord can be used to raise
a call for help. This can be placed wherever you want as it is radio controlled.
Environmental control solutions
Environmental control solutions enable
people with limited dexterity to easily
perform a wide range of everyday activities
including opening and closing of windows,
curtains and doors, operation of domestic
appliances and the control of lighting within
the home.
Movement detector (PIR) - Detects
movement and raises an alert providing
the 24 hour Careline with the ability to
audibly verify and record the presence of an
intruder or alternatively detect for long
periods of inactivity.
Smoke detector - The radiosmoke detector
raises an instant alarm call if it detects smoke,
ensuring any potential fire situations are
always responded to.
Bogus caller button - Fitted near a door,
this discreet button can be used to call for
assistance when a stranger requests entry
into a home.
Carbon monoxide detector - Warns of
dangerous CO levels within a property
allowing the appropriate action to be taken.
Temperature extremes sensor - Detects
low, high or rapid rate of rise of temperature
within a property and raises appropriate alert.
Flood detector - Provides an early waning
by raising an alert of potential flood situations
in the home.
Natural gasdetector - When the natural gas
detector detects natural gas leaks.an alarm will
be raised.It can also be linked to a complete
gas shut off solution.
Fall detector - Automatically detects a
serious fall and raises an alert. Can also be
used as a personal trigger.
Video door entry - Allows visual
confirmation of visitors and remote door
access into a property giving both security
and assistanceto the people who live there.
Medication reminder/dispenser - Provides
effective solutions to support medication
compliance. Can be used to provide other
reminders if required.
Pillow alert - Vibrates to alert a sleeping
user to a potentially dangerous situation
e.g. smoke alarm.
Epilepsy sensor - Provides warning of
epileptic attack whilst in bed.
I'm very glad that such things are now being offered and hope that carers who are following on behind me will be able to take advantage of this to put together the right care package to keep their loved ones safe and at home.
xxTinaT
A couple of days ago I had my meeting with S.S. and I quizzed the representative for about an hour. Essentially he told me that not all LA's are currently doing this but within the next year or two as Independant Living Legislation comes in, all LA's will have to change over to this.
Anyone who has an agreed care plan and is currently using any of the LA services is eligable for this. For example if you are currently using an LA day care centre, you could continue with this service or you could chose to be given the money allocated for this and use it to put your own care package in place. I know that I was offered day care for Ken on Saturdays and Sundays only. I would have much preferred him to have these days during the week but this was not available. Under this Independant Living scheme I could have opted to take the money and pay someone to perhaps take him out for a few hours instead.
Also AT THE MOMENT - any disability living allowance, carer's allowance or attendance allowance will not be touched. If you are in receipt of these then you will continue to get these in full without any deductions. This Independant Living Allowance is to be paid alongside the existing Government allowances and instead of having these services provided by the LA.
I was very sad but had to tell the SS man that I felt Ken's care was better left as it was. The money that the LA pay to the care home would not be sufficient for me to purchase the extent of care I would need to keep Ken at home. Also the bungalow I live in is totally unsuitable for Ken's current needs and I do not have the finances to either extend or move to a larger home.
This Independant Living Allowance has been offered to Ken and myself too late I'm afraid. If I had been offered this when Ken was still home with me and the disease hadn't progressed as far as it now has, I'm sure it would have helped us to stay together for longer.
The amount of money offered will very much depend on assessments which it seems will still be made by the same people as before ie: hospital consultant, social workers, c.p.n's, occupational therapists etc., etc., and so it is vital to get proper assessments and also continuous assessments as the disease progresses. Many of us here on TP know what a stumbling block this can be!!
He also left me with a leaflet which I've copied below which shows what is currently available in modern technology. For example an aid which can be put onto a favourite chair which sets off an alarm to whatever telephone care line company you wish after there has been no movement for say 2 hours.
Pressure mat - 24 hour monitoring of
inactivity or intruders, dependent on
individualneeds.
Enuresis sensor - Placed between a mattress
and a sheet. this sensor provides immediate
warrning on detection of moisture to allow
effective action to be taken.
Bed/chair occupancy sensor - Provides an
early warning by alerting that the user has left
their bed/chair and not retuned within a
predetermined time period.
Property exit sensor - Provides an early
waming by alerting that the user has left
their home and not returned within
a predetermined time parameter. Ideal for
people with dementia and their carers.
Amie+/Gem+ triggers - Personal radio
triggers that allow an alarm call
to be raised within a radius of up
to 50 metres from the Lifelineunit.
User/carer pager alert - Provides hearing
impaired users with immediate notification of
alarm call activation.A pager can also be used
to alert a live-in carer of sensors being
triggered in the home.
Sounder beacon - Offers
both visual and loud audible signals
when a sensor or telephone is activated,
ideal for the hard of hearing.
Pull cord - Strategically placed around the
home, the pull cord can be used to raise
a call for help. This can be placed wherever you want as it is radio controlled.
Environmental control solutions
Environmental control solutions enable
people with limited dexterity to easily
perform a wide range of everyday activities
including opening and closing of windows,
curtains and doors, operation of domestic
appliances and the control of lighting within
the home.
Movement detector (PIR) - Detects
movement and raises an alert providing
the 24 hour Careline with the ability to
audibly verify and record the presence of an
intruder or alternatively detect for long
periods of inactivity.
Smoke detector - The radiosmoke detector
raises an instant alarm call if it detects smoke,
ensuring any potential fire situations are
always responded to.
Bogus caller button - Fitted near a door,
this discreet button can be used to call for
assistance when a stranger requests entry
into a home.
Carbon monoxide detector - Warns of
dangerous CO levels within a property
allowing the appropriate action to be taken.
Temperature extremes sensor - Detects
low, high or rapid rate of rise of temperature
within a property and raises appropriate alert.
Flood detector - Provides an early waning
by raising an alert of potential flood situations
in the home.
Natural gasdetector - When the natural gas
detector detects natural gas leaks.an alarm will
be raised.It can also be linked to a complete
gas shut off solution.
Fall detector - Automatically detects a
serious fall and raises an alert. Can also be
used as a personal trigger.
Video door entry - Allows visual
confirmation of visitors and remote door
access into a property giving both security
and assistanceto the people who live there.
Medication reminder/dispenser - Provides
effective solutions to support medication
compliance. Can be used to provide other
reminders if required.
Pillow alert - Vibrates to alert a sleeping
user to a potentially dangerous situation
e.g. smoke alarm.
Epilepsy sensor - Provides warning of
epileptic attack whilst in bed.
I'm very glad that such things are now being offered and hope that carers who are following on behind me will be able to take advantage of this to put together the right care package to keep their loved ones safe and at home.
xxTinaT
