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Age Concern Waltham Forest

Charity Number: 1048212

This page gives you a brief introduction to the work of the Family Support Service, who it can help and how it can help, together with a list of other sources of information on the subject.

Table of Contents

• What does the Service do

• Who can use the Service

• Why you might need our help

• Where to get more information

What does the Service do?

The service provides assistance in making a choice of a Residential/Nursing Care Home. We provide support, information and advice on the move into residential/nursing care. We arrange escorted visits to view the homes of the client's choice where transport is a particular problem. We also escort clients between homes and facilitate visits, perhaps where partners are separated, again where transport may be a problem.

Who can use the service?

Older people and their carers living in the London Borough of Waltham Forest, whether funded by Social Services or self-funding. The service currently accepts referrals from the Whipps Cross University NHS Trust Hospital Social Workers and their Discharge Team for clients in hospital care; Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust Ainslie Rehabilitation Unit; and Waltham Forest Social Services First Response teams for clients in the community, but we are also happy to accept self referrals.

Why you might need our help

A move into residential/nursing care can be a major life changing experience. Sometimes this decision is reached as the result of some crisis - illness, a fall, or the death of a carer. The Family Support Service can provide one-to-one support, information and financial advice, if necessary, to clients and their families in the choice of a suitable home. We can also provide escorted visits to view homes and assist with the move for those clients without family, or those whose families are not nearby, or perhaps do not have access to suitable transport.

An older person in hospital or other health care facility should only remain there for as long as it is necessary. Hospitals are not set up to provide all that is needed for long term care and exposure to infections is increased.

Leaving an older person in hospital or other health care facility once they have been treated and subsequently identified for residential or nursing care, does not improve their wellbeing either physically or emotionally.

Where to get more information

Social Services - London Borough of Waltham Forest

For information on the assessment process and financial matters. They also provide lists of Residential and Nursing homes in the local area.

Telephone: 020 8496 3000

Website: www.walthamforest.gov.uk

Age Concern Waltham Forest Family Support Service

Provides one-to-one support, information and advice to clients and their carers living in Waltham Forest, as well as escorted visits to view and move to residential/nursing care.

Contact: Paula Nigliazzo

Tel: 020 8558 0455

Email: Paulan@ageconcernwf.org.uk

Age Concern England

Provide Fact Sheets on all aspects of long term care, including the financial implications. These can be obtained on request from:

Age Concern Waltham Forest Information & Advice, Tel: 020 8558 5512

Age Concern England Tel: 0800 00 99 66 or viewed on the ACE

website: www.ageconcern.org.uk

Elderly Accommodation Counsel

Provide detailed information on all types of accommodation for older people in all parts of the U.K. Offering advice and guidance to help you choose and finance your move. Address:

3rd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP.

Telephone: 020 7820 1343

Website: www.housingcare.org

Bettercaring.co.uk

Provides information on all types of residential/nursing and specialist care homes throughout the U.K.

Tel: 0845 644 4932

Website: www.bettercaring.com

Care Quality Commission

Provides information on the National Minimum Standards that care homes need to attain to be able to register with the commission.

Telephone helpline: 03000 616161, Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk

Website: www.cqc.org.uk

The Relatives & Residents Association