Support Workers

[twinklestar]

Does anyone have experience of having a Support Worker? Are Support Workers purely employed by the local mental health team? Is it possible to access a Support Worker via a charity or agency?

The reason I ask is that I think a Support Worker may benefit not only my mum but our family as a whole.

 

[macatac]

Contact your gp,ask if you can be referred to a cpn. My partner suffers mental health problems and she finds having a cpn very beneficial.

 

[Lindy50]

Does anyone have experience of having a Support Worker? Are Support Workers purely employed by the local mental health team? Is it possible to access a Support Worker via a charity or agency?

The reason I ask is that I think a Support Worker may benefit not only my mum but our family as a whole.

I think that Support Worker is a very general term. Could mean someone from a mental health team, or some independent care workers use the term, mainly if they provide social care (taking someone out etc) as well as personal care. So. Yes, they can be accessed through professional teams, agencies or charities......depends really on what kind of support you're looking for

Lindy x

 

[Liz57]

Do you pay for a support worker?

One of my issues is that mum won't pay but is self funding. It's not her fault as she has lost the ability to recognise that she can afford things. I don't have POA (stupidly didn't realise how far along she was) so can't force anything but with very limited funds myself, I'm between a rock and a hard place and I could really do with a bit of support myself! Just somebody to guide me through some of these things would be really useful.

 

[jaymor]

We have a friend who had a motor bike accident and sustained brain damage. He has a support worker who is employed from a care agency. Our friends needs are more physical than mental though he comes under mental health.

The support worker does personal care and helps him to complete tasks that he finds difficult. He drives him to medical appointments, some of the to specialists over 70 miles away from home.

The support worker allows him to live life to the best he can but he does come at a price.

 

[brambles]

We have a support worker from Age Uk .

We do not pay but her visits to mum are limited and are mainly to help mum socially.
She has provided us with a phone number we can call if we need any help or advise between visits.

 

[Lindy50]

Do you pay for a support worker?

One of my issues is that mum won't pay but is self funding. It's not her fault as she has lost the ability to recognise that she can afford things. I don't have POA (stupidly didn't realise how far along she was) so can't force anything but with very limited funds myself, I'm between a rock and a hard place and I could really do with a bit of support myself! Just somebody to guide me through some of these things would be really useful.

Hi Liz

We have a scheme run locally by Age UK that provides free support worker visits once a fortnight for six months. In the long term, though, you'd often have to pay (or rather, it should come from your mum's assets). You haven't got POA.....are you sure it's too late? If so, you or someone else need to apply to the Court of Protection for authority. Feeling a bit confused myself just now , but you really need access to your mum's funds so that you can support her.

Good luck

Lindy xx

 

[Navara]

I would definitely look into the Power of Attorney issue again very carefully to see if there's anything you can still do.

My uncle died leaving my aunt who had Alzheimers. Even though she had nieces and nephews the Court of Protection took full control of her finances so she ended up paying nursing home fees plus fees to the Court for administering the transactionevery month and it was extremely costly.