Thinking about your Family Carer(s)
Carers are people who look after a family member or friend without pay. They are however -
like disabled people themselves - eligible for a Community Care Assessment, provided that
the care they provide is substantial and regular. The assessment process and the preparation
that should be make for it is the same as the assessment for disabled people.
Carers are also eligible for a number of allowances, listed here by the Department of Work and Pensions and
for short breaks and longer periods of respite.
Short Breaks
"Respite Care" has primarily been viewed as a service for carers, offering a breathing space from
caring and the time to spend with other members of the family and friends.
A time to recharge the batteries.
However, respite is also important for disabled people themselves
- offering time away from home, the opportunity to meet up with friends and the chance to make new relationships.
It is currently common practice for disabled individuals and their families to plan "respite" on a residential
basis at set times throughout the year, usually in holiday homes, hostels or other facilities.
This arrangement can work well for some individuals but it does not take account of unexpected personal
circumstances or the need that disabled people have to participate in ordinary social and leisure activities
in their own communities and elsewhere.
Short breaks should be a positive experience which improves the quality of life of the individual and supports
his/her relationships, be available from a few hours to a few weeks, and in the person's home if so desired.
Possible models of respite provision include:
- Breaks in the person's own home through a care attendant or sitting service.
- Holiday accommodation.
- Supported breaks for the disabled person and the carer, family or friends together.
- Befriending schemes where volunteers provide short breaks.
- Breaks in supported accommodation.
- flexible breaks through Direct Payments arrangements.
- Specialist guest houses, community flats, purpose built or adapted houses.
Breaks may be provided by services or through individual arrangements paid for by Direct Payments.
Individuals in receipt of the Independent Living Fund and employing personal assistants often use
the payment very effectively to purchase holidays abroad or weekend breaks in hotels and guest houses.
For further information look at the Carers Support Links
Some Questions and Answers
Q. How much will I have to pay for my care?
A. That depends - some of services are free of charge (for example assessments, advice and information),
some have a fixed charge and everyone pays the same (such as meals) and some services, such as homecare,
have variable charges which depend on how much you can afford to pay.
Q. How much choice will I have about my care services?
A. As much choice as possible about how the care needs identified through your assessment are met.
Services can be arranged for you or if you want more choice and control, you can have Direct Payments
(link here) where the money which would have been spent on your care is given to you so you can make your
own arrangements in accordance with the rules set out.
Help to do this can be found at the Centre for Inclusive
Living, Brook Street Glasgow, tel no. 0141 550 4455
The Centre For Inclusive
Living
