Bournemouth Community Care Services, Caring for Older People
If you are an older person living in Bournemouth, Social Services may be able to help if you:
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find it difficult to manage at home
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have been ill or in hospital
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have a disability
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find it difficult to get about
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have sight or hearing problems
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have become forgetful or confused
We work in partnership with GPs and other health services together with private and voluntary agencies to promote independent living. Our aim is to help older people to live safely and independently at home for as long as possible.
Social Services can also support your carers - the relatives and friends who provide regular care for you at home.
Bournemouth Care Direct - Your First Contact with Social Services
Your first contact with us will be through Bournemouth Care Direct.
Bournemouth Care Direct provides information and access to services to help adults and older people
Our staff can offer information and advice to enable you to make your own arrangements for the support that suits you. This could range from help with shopping and money matters, details of leisure activities or information about equipment to help you live independently. Within Care Direct we provide an immediate response service to assess people over 65 in a crisis and arrange care. We also provide a rapid response service for less urgent need.
Your Needs and the Help We Offer
Community Care Services have to work within fixed budgets but at the same time must make sure help is provided to those most in need.
When you first contact us through Bournemouth Care Direct the staff will always give advice and. if necessary, assess your needs to find out how you can be helped.
To decide if we are able to provide support a member of our staff will meet with you and, if you choose, the people who regularly care for you. Together we talk about the difficulties which arise and ways in which help can be provided. This is callled an assessment of need. If you would like an assessment of need contact Bournemouth Care Direct on 01202 454979. Alternatively,you can send us your details and we'll be in touch shortly.
You do not have to pay for the assessment of your needs or for information to help you but there may be a charge for services provided to meet your needs.
When you have agreed with us what help you need we can arrange for the services to be provided. We may be able to provide this direct or we may ask other private or voluntary organiations to do this on our behalf. We review the services with you regularly to make sure they are meeting your needs. If we arrange services to meet your needs we look at your financial situation to work out whether you are able to pay our charges and if so how much.
Support for Carers
Services for Older People
Here are some of the services we may be able to provide, depending on your needs.
Care at Home
We may be able to arrange practical help at home to enable you to become as independent as possible. Support may include help with:
Night Care at Home
We may also be able to help if you or your carer find it difficult to cope during the night.
Mid-Day Meals
We may be able to provide a hot mid-day ,meal delivered direct to your door by the WRVS.
Advice and Equipment to help with Everyday Living Tasks
If you have problems with everyday living tasks such as getting in and out of a chair, bed or bath or on and off the toilet our staff may be able to:
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give advice on different ways if managing these activities for you and the people who care for you at home
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assess your need for special equipment such as toilet frames or hoists or minor adaptations to your home such as grab rails
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loan equipment to help with day to day living
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provide details of local equipment suppliers to enable you to buy items to help you in your day to day living
Hospital Social Work Teams
A stay in hospital after an injury, illness or operation may create a range of social and/or practical problems if you are about to leave hospital care.
If you have ongoing care needs when you are about to be discharged from hospital or need general advice and support our Hospital Social Work Teams can plan and organise safe and effective arrangements for your care.
Support for Older People with Mental Health Needs
The Community Mental Health Teams based at King's Park Hospital provide support for older people with mental health needs. The specialist teams comprise social workers, community psychiatric nurses and occupational therapists working together to support people with dementia and other mental health conditions.
Day Care for Older People
You can persue hobbies and interests during the day at clubs and organisations throughout the town. Activities include card games, craft clubs, adult education and excercise classes. There's also a warm welcome at local pop-ins, lunch clubs and friendshipclubs.
If you are more disabled, attending a Community Care Services day centre may be the best way of meeting your needs. This gives you a chance to go out and:
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meet and talk to other people
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take part in activities
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enjoy a freshly cooked lunch
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have practical help to enable you to live independently at home.
Some day centres offer special groups for people recovering from illness such as a stroke or those with memory loss, confusion or dementia.
A charge is made for attending the day centre, for lunch and for drinks.
Broadwaters Care Support Centre
Social Services and Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust work together to provide a rehabilitation service at Broadwaters.
This service can help increase confidence and develop the skills needed to enjoy an active and independent life at home. This might be after a hospital stay or whilst you are living at home. A range of therapy services and care support can be provided for up to six weeks to help increase your ability to manage at home.
Broadwaters also provides short stay care breaks and long term care for existing residents.
Short Care Breaks
We arrange short care breaks to meet the assessed needs of older people and their carers. Many Bournemouth residential and nursing homes can provide short breaks in a comfortable environment where your care needs can be met.
Housing
If you need support to live independently you may wish to consider the following:
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Sheltered Housing - You can live independently with a warden on hand when needed. We can help you decide if this can meet your needs and liaise with Bournemouth Borough Council's Housing Services which managers sheltered housing
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Extra Care Sheltered Housing - There are apartments to rent from East Dorset Housing Association with Home Care staff on site to provide support to meet the assessed needs of older people. A sheltered housing officer manages the scheme for safety and peace of mind.
Fast Track Housing Scheme
If you live in your own home but are considering residential care or already live in residential care but are fit enough to live independently you could be eligible for Fast Track housing. Under this scheme Social Services and Housing staff work together to assess your housing needs which may include living in sheltered housing or independent accommodation. We work with you to help increase your confidence and provide initial support to help you live independently.
Housing Options for Older People
This scheme offers free advice, support and advocacy to help you make an informed decision on whether to stay in your current home or move. If your home needs adapting–say with a stair lift or shower room–Housing Options can put you in touch with someone who knows about applying for grants and installing new equipment. Or if you decide you'd prefer to move to a smaller, low-maintenance home, they can give practical help with buying and selling as well as the move itself. Housing Options can also check if you're receiving your benefit entitlements and offer advice on other services to help.
For more information contact Anchor Staying Put on 01305 785340, email stayingput.weymouthportland@
anchor.org.uk or go to ww.stayingput.org.uk
Residential and Nursing Care
If you need a lot of care and are not able to live at home, even with support, you may need to think about moving into a residential care home or nursing home. This is a big step and you will need to consider everything involved, including the cost.
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