RESOURCES
www.ncpc.org.uk- The National Council for Palliative Care
https://www.nice.org.uk -Wound management -guidance and guidelines
https://ww.rcn.org- Essential Practice for Infection control – Prevention and Control
www.hse.gov.uk – Health and Safety- sharp instruments in Healthcare
https://www.nutrition.org.uk – British Nutrition Foundation
https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Home.aspx
https://www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/how-we-do-our-job/fundamental-standards
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/index-hsg-ref.htm
Age Concern
National charity providing advice and support to the elderly. Useful sections offer:
• Wide range of financial services targeted at older people
Anchor Staying Put
Fifty regional agencies across England helping older and disabled people who want to stay in their homes but need improvements or modifications to make this possible. Anchor will arrange for people to do the work and help homeowners claim any grants and benefits they might be entitled to towards the cost.
Alzheimer’s Society
The society provides local support and services for people affected by dementia and their families – find your local branch. It also operates a national dementia helpline (0845 300 0336, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm), and offers a wide range of factsheets on dementia.
Arthritis Care
Information and support for the 9 million people who have arthritis in the UK.
• Learn how to adapt your home and lifestyle • Read about which benefits you might be entitled to
Care Directions
This website holds a wealth of generic information about care, how to fund it, and the rights of older people, such as an article by specialist care fees advisory practice NHFA Ltd. However, be aware that the site does carry advertising, so some of the links will take you through to commercial websites.
Care England
Care England, a registered charity, is the leading representative body for small, medium and large providers in England. Strategic Priorities:
- Fair funding for quality care
- Appropriate regulation
- Respected and rewarded workforce
- Supporting innovation
Care Quality Commission
An amalgamation of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission.
• Check on how well your council delivers social services for adults
• Find and download reports on care homes and services in your area
Carers UK
A wealth of information on all aspects of being a carer, including:
• Details of what financial help you may be entitled to
The site also has forums for carers to get in touch with each other
Counsel and Care
A national charity which provides personalised, in depth advice and information. It offers:
• Care home guides – either brief or complete
Designed to care
A business that sells clothes specifically designed for older people, with easy dressing and undressing in mind. The clothes look normal, but all conventional fastenings have been replaced with pop-fasteners and easy grip zippers, as well as side and back opening options for those who need help with dressing or are living with incontinence. The clothes are reasonably priced and VAT exempt for those who qualify (look for the links underneath the prices that explain the rules).
Elderly Accommodation Counsel
• Care and support to help you live independently at home
• Emergency response services to provide reassurance that help is at hand if needed
• Improving, adapting or repairing your home to make more convenient, comfortable or safe
• All forms of housing specially designed for older people, including sheltered housing, retirement housing, extra care housing, assisted living, retirement villages, Abbeyfields & alms houses
• Moving to a care home to receive personal care or nursing care
• Respite care to give you or your carers a break
• Hospice care for people who are terminally ill
• How to pay for any of the services above
Alternatively, visit Elderly Accommodation Counsel’s online advice site.
Elizabeth Finn Care
A charity which provides financial help through grants and regular allowances, including to older people who have inadequate pensions.
The charity also operates a useful benefits checker.
First Stop
An independent and free service providing information and advice about care and housing in later life. Provided jointly by Counsel and Care, Elderly Accommodation Counsel, Help the Aged and NHFA Limited.
Alternatively, call 0800 377 7070.
Friends of the Elderly
A charity that runs care homes and clubs for older people and offers home visits and “telebefriending” – putting volunteers in touch with people who share their interests and who will enjoy regular conversations, in person or by telephone.
Help the Aged
Now merged with Age Concern, but still running a separate website and services, including:
• Talk to an adviser about claiming benefits, housing options, getting help at home or other welfare issues – call SeniorLine on 0808 800 6565, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
• Help the Aged works with Mobilis Healthcare to sell a range of mobility and household aids, motor scooters, wheelchairs and stairlifts
Parkinson’s Disease Society
Provides information, advice and support on a local basis for those with Parkinson’s and their carers.
• For immediate information call the free helpline on 0808 800 0303, Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 9pm, or Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm, or email [email protected]
• The website also carries details of courses relevant to people with Parkinsons
Saga
All the lifestyle and leisure information you could want, plus
• Advice and special deals for the over 50s on travel, insurance
• The archived contents of Saga Magazine
Sue Ryder Care
A charity providing compassionate care to people living with long-term and end-of-life conditions, such as cancer, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, strokes and dementia. It delivers long-term nursing, respite and day care in people’s own homes, in the community and through its own hospices and care centres.
The Stroke Association
If you or someone you know has had a stroke, this website provides practical information about what a stroke is, what is likely to happen to you during and after the stroke and what help is available to you.