Adult Social Care question - home help

Sea_Shell

I hope this is the most appropriate place for this question...


Would a local authority provide home carers, if the person needing care was living in the marital home, but separately, as the relationship with the spouse is over, and the spouse therefore refuses to provide any care for their (still legal) spouse?  

Would the spouse be expected to provide care, if they are physically able, regardless of the breakdown of the relationship?

What about cooking, cleaning, clothes washing etc?    All the things that couples still in a loving relationship would do for each other.

If the LA would not agree to provide support, would the only option be for them to divorce?  (which obviously brings its own other implications)

pmlindyloo

The person needs to contact their local council and ask for a needs assessment.

Read this:

Getting a social care needs assessment - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

This covers everything from aids needed around the home to having a 'home help'.

This is available for everyone with needs regardless of the people living with them.

The only possible 'problem' might be when it comes to assessing how much the person would have to pay towards this help.

I am not familiar with how the means test is carried out - perhaps someone has direct experience of this???

If the spouse is living an entirely separate life and all finances are completely separate then this may make a difference.

Certainly in the circumstances described then the person should have an assessment if they are struggling without any help.

Sea_Shell

Yes they would have separate finances.

What is the means tested threshold, is it the same as for residential care?

pmlindyloo

This will help:

Financial assessment (means test) for social care - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Sea_Shell

Thanks for that.