Care charities?

caz246

I am looking for some advice on behalf of my grandmother.

She lives in the Peterborough area and looks after her partner after he had a stroke a few years ago. I say partner but they lived together prior to his stroke as companions. He is paralysed on the left side and she cares for him 24/7 with no help from his family.

Our family is having 2 big birthday celebrations at the start of August and we were hoping my grandmother would be able to put her partner is Respite care to allow her to visit.

Unfortunately she was unable to get him care for the dates required. I understand it would cost around £900 for private care for a week. Unfortunately it is not an option for him to accompany her on the trip due to his care needs.

What I am looking for is some advice on any charities in the area that could maybe assist with looking after him for a weekend. I have no idea if this is something that is available so any advice whatsoever would be appreciated. I need pointed in the right direction and hoping I've posted this in the relevant part of the forum.

My grandmother is a proud women who worked all her life and has gave up many things in order to care for her companion and I would love to try and arrange for her to make this trip to see all her family together.

Thanks for reading.

Oliver14

Has she tried the local Crossroads. they may be able to help or point in the right direction.

http://www.crossroadscarecambridgeshire.org.uk/

Tally-Ho_2

caz246 wrote: »

I am looking for some advice on behalf of my grandmother.

She lives in the Peterborough area and looks after her partner after he had a stroke a few years ago. I say partner but they lived together prior to his stroke as companions. He is paralysed on the left side and she cares for him 24/7 with no help from his family.

Our family is having 2 big birthday celebrations at the start of August and we were hoping my grandmother would be able to put her partner is Respite care to allow her to visit.

Unfortunately she was unable to get him care for the dates required. I understand it would cost around £900 for private care for a week. Unfortunately it is not an option for him to accompany her on the trip due to his care needs.

What I am looking for is some advice on any charities in the area that could maybe assist with looking after him for a weekend. I have no idea if this is something that is available so any advice whatsoever would be appreciated. I need pointed in the right direction and hoping I've posted this in the relevant part of the forum. I have also posted in the charities section.

My grandmother is a proud women who worked all her life and has gave up many things in order to care for her companion and I would love to try and arrange for her to make this trip to see all her family together.

Thanks for reading.

Hi,

If your gran hasn't already, it could be an idea to contact her local authority's Social Services Department. They can arrange a 'needs assessment' which can include the needs of the carer with such as respite care etc usually by either direct payments or a personal budget. They should also be able to get their Welfare Rights department to make sure they are claiming all the help/benefits to which they maybe entitled. If they have more than £23k in savings/capital then they may have to pay for any Social Services care help but if they have less then they may only have to make a contribution. If they have less than around £13K any help maybe free. I know you say she is a proud lady but she has nothing really to lose by seeking help from Social Services - it is what she and her partner have paid taxes for after all!.

Another thought as well, if your gran or your grans partner have ever served in HM Forces then the Royal British Legion maybe able to offer some form of financial and other help - contact Legionline on 08457 725725. (The legion can also liaise with other service charities who maybe able to help and they can also make sure he is claiming everything he is entitled to).

Savvy_Sue

I'm going to start by suggesting that even if she can't get care for the exact dates she needs, she accepts whatever she's been offered, because she must be in need of a break.

And then ... try Carers Trust (merger of Crossroads Care and Princess Royal Trust for Carers). Hopefully they can also check that both are claiming everything they're entitled to, and maybe get your grandmother some regular respite care.

Savvy_Sue

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caz246

Thanks for your replies, I will look into your suggestions after I give my gran a call and just go over exactly what assistance she gets at the moment and take it from there. I know she gets no carers allowance. I'm not sure why, don't think she qualifies although any savings she did have are more or less gone now since giving up work. So that may have been a factor before but not now if it's less than the amount allowed (I'm not clued up on anything like this).