Breakthrough on care funding

EdInvestor

Errata wrote: »

It's not something I worry about; it would be as pointless as worrying about getting cancer again - I have a healthy lifestyle and a good GP and there's nothing more I can do to avoid the health problems that come with age.

Personally I try a bit harder, not least because I find the prospect of needing institutional care of any kind not only worrying but actually quite scary.

Reports like the one on this thread about care homes and the recent superbug deaths amid filthy conditions in hospitals suggest that it is worth doing all you can to stay away from any kind of illness that might require a long stay in a publicly run health facility.

Errata

Ed, I pretty much agree with you. But I also bear in mind the significant number of unecessary deaths and near misses that occur each year in all age groups.
We are certainly better off now than in times past in terms of available services and support, heath care and treatments. And surely the onus is on all of us - who own the NHS - to do whatever we can to encourage constantly improving standards.

suzyq

I am in receipt of Direct Payments, this new scheme sounds the same as Individual budgets which the government are bringing in next year. All these schemes sound wonderful, but remember someone has to be accountable, and accounts need to be kept as annual audits take place. If you decide to be the employer then employment law must be followed, tax and Nat Ins has to be paid. The individuals needs will be assessed and usually you find the needs are under assessed and then it can be quite a long drawn out process to get extra funding as care is not cheap. Local authorities do have payroll schemes, and you can use agencies but most also charge admin fees. I am sure lots of elderly people will find the scheme far too confusing. A good website to visit is www.ncil.org.uk

margaretclare

suzyq wrote: »

I am in receipt of Direct Payments, this new scheme sounds the same as Individual budgets which the government are bringing in next year. All these schemes sound wonderful, but remember someone has to be accountable, and accounts need to be kept as annual audits take place. If you decide to be the employer then employment law must be followed, tax and Nat Ins has to be paid. The individual's needs will be assessed and usually you find the needs are under assessed and then it can be quite a long drawn out process to get extra funding as care is not cheap. Local authorities do have payroll schemes, and you can use agencies but most also charge admin fees. I am sure lots of elderly people will find the scheme far too confusing. A good website to visit is www.ncil.org.uk

If I had to do this I would certainly use an agency rather than getting involved in being an employer and having to do tax, NI etc. There's also the problem of interviewing and employing different people, because no one wants or expects to work 24/7, 365 days a year! All employees have to have proper time off, holidays, and what happens if someone goes off sick or decides to leave you at an inconvenient time? BNA (British Nursing Association) are a long-established agency and I think I'd phone them first. There are others, locally-based.

Margaret