Crazy Carer's Assessment rules

How do they know and how can they prove how you have spent the money?

I think it must depend where you live Lucky.
My parents had the assessment just to see what level of care was needed when they had care at home.

Just recently my mum had a visit from someone at the council in the home she is in to assess the level of her needs.

I have not heard of Carers being given lump sums of money. Does that apply to live in care?

Apparently that is what happens now - I talked with the local carers' support group. And I know annsixty had a similar thing, if I remember rightly.

That is crazy
I have no words but sending

Sounds quite mad. But as someone said, how are they ever going to know what you spend it on?

When I had my FiL (with dementia) living with us, the one thing I'd have loved was for someone to take him out for a few hours, so I could have a quiet house to myself for a while, without the endless pacing and asking the same question over and over.

You are correct, I think, lucky

Round here, Carers are given £250 (I think) pa to spend on something that makes their life easier. I have heard of people spending it on subscriptions for clubs, weekends away, a laptop. The is an expectation that receipts are kept for checking but I think that rarely happens.

It does seem silly but I think the expectation is that respite care is provided by Social Services.

Yes I did Luckygirl
The SW carried out the assessment.
I was asked what life was like daily, would I like to get out more? would I like to take part in Further Education etc?
I then got a letter awarding me £150 to spend on myself.
There were no checks, no questions asked and I drew it out £50 at a time and I think it mostly went on taxi fares.
The maximum sum was £300 , I obviously didn't look worn out enough for that!!

Yes kitty
I could have had more respite at a cost of about £20 an hour but there was no more out of the home available.

I didn't even get that! When I was looking after MiL I was assessed as needing a support group or befriender. To add to this insult the SW apologised that neither of these was available. I already knew of several of such services but wasn't interested in or needing anything they offered.
Eventually SW offered a magic person to get MiL up dressed, fed and out to a SW bus to take her to a care centre and all in 15 minutes! Then, in the afternoon another 15 minutes 'care' to magically coincide with SW transport then give her a meal and get her into bed. Cloud cuckoo land! We were so profoundly unimpressed at our much vaunted 'free personal care' that we just bit the bullet and organised it ourselves. Difficult while both working full time, but we found a lady to go in at lunchtime. Life went on. For a while.

I have just received the Newsletter from our local Carer's Centre. Alongside details of the regular Carers' Support Groups, it lists a whole range of free treats for Carers in celebration of Carers' Week (10th to 16th June) ranging from Afternoon Tea in a posh local hotel, through a Circle Dancing Session to Full Health Checks for Carers.

All very nice, BUT - all of these events take place in the day time and not a single one offers built in care at home or the venue for the 'cannot be left home alone, needs 24/7 supervision and help' person who is cared for. Therefore, none of these is available/accessible for the 24/7 Carers.

I have raised this issue many times with the Carer's Centre and suggested that they occasionally have an event in the evening, when family members are not at work and could 'Granpa Sit' to enable the carer to attend. I was told that elderly people do not like to go out after dark? and that all of the paid workers, work 9 to 5.

Also featured in the Newsletter - Respitality - which offers free short breaks and day trips for carers donated by the hospitality and tourism sector - again for Carers only, no provision for the CFP. and - the Scottish Government's Short Breaks Fund - offering up to £300 to enable Carers to have a break from Caring to help them cope with their caring role - examples given are Gym Membership, cinema passes and short breaks away. All very nice BUT again no mention of extra caring support to enable the carer to partake in these things.

To put it into perspective - I had a long weekend away with my sister which cost me approximately £300 (I paid this myself). DH went into Respite Care from the Thursday until the Tuesday. Respite Care costs £600 per week (Actually £800 less 20% for Free Personal Care paid by the Scottish Government) so, £428.50ish for DH's stay.

I was lucky there.
I could access 6 weeks respite care in a home for £150 a week for long planned care and £250 a week for immediate care.
I did use that for 2 weeks when I was at breaking point and he went for 2 weeks.
That is less than a week for you Granny23

That 6 weeks was in a year.
It is no longer available in the home my H went to.

I kept getting emails from a carers group telling of days out , meetings lectures , spa! days , all free , except for the small matter of finding care for OH for me to avail of these delights .
Any time I had to go out of the house I paid for care , DD1 took leave when I had Doctor appointments , and DS1 took leave to do the carer bit when I had my hip op , then both helped when I had a short holiday , no offer of free sitters ever

and to keep my Hospital appointments , I had to find a driver and a carer as I don't drive , even shopping it took a sitter and a driver , no help in that

Until it happens no-one knows and then ,oh my, one's eyes are opened to the reality.

I do agree about these carers' organisations who have all sorts of wonderful things on offer which carers cannot get to as they are.....well.....caring|!

Unfortunately options for respite care are now very limited as residential and nursing homes are private and need all beds filled all the time with permanent residents in order to balance their books.

When I worked for SSD our "in-house" homes had rooms specifically earmarked for respite.

I have been perusing the Carer's Trust advert/article here on Gransnet with a wry smile. It is peppered with ' you MAY be able to get/access such and such wonderful service' My response being that, 'There again you MAY NOT'

The latter being, by far, the most likely.

I did feel very stupid when we were suddenly in the world of care for my mother and MiL. We just hadn't thought about it. I suppose most people don't until they have to and then it's too late. ?

Gransnet needs to get someone from the government in to do a Q and A on the subject of caring.

Now that would be worthwhile. And interesting.

When I was a Carer for a relative and I had to have surgery. No help available for my cared for relative. After 5 days alone, he had to be hospitalised because he was badly dehydrated. A hospital stay for him of 6 days.

He was ‘ assessed’ as being able to cope alone.

Gonegirl maybe they could get one of the leadership candidates to say what he/she would do. Whether we'd believe a word is a different matter!

It's all so diabolical!

I am my husband's carer and because I receive a state pension I do not get carer's allowance - end of. He receives an attendance allowance, that's how it is.

I don’t know how Council’s afford to give Carers days out etc. I go to a meeting once a month where solicitors, financial advisors and undertakers etc come and give talks, obviously touting for custom. We used to be invited to a Carers day at county hall once a year and given lunch. The last one was over 3 years ago and we were give chip butties for lunch!
I was never offered money.