You may find that you need extra practical support to help you to provide care in the person’s home.
These services have to be paid for, usually by the local council or through private funds.
Many people and their Carers opt to arrange this support privately.
Support from Merton Council
A care and support needs assessment (also called a needs assessment) is an opportunity for people who are eligible for Adult Social Care support to tell the Council’s social care services about their circumstances and discuss their care and support needs. Find out more about needs assessment and the criteria for receiving adult social care on the Merton Council website.
- Merton Council can also arrange home care for people who have been assessed to need it.
- If you qualify for support from social services following a needs assessment you can, providing certain criteria are met, choose to receive direct payments from Merton Council to buy the assessed services you need to meet your assessed needs.
You may be offered different types of assessment, this short film explains what they are all for:
Paid carers
You may need support to deliver personal care.
Home care workers can support you by assisting with a range of tasks to help people remain independent in their own homes.
Merton Council will carry out a financial assessment before they will consider paying for Home carers (domiciliary care) – see the Paying for Care section of this website for more information.
Therefore, you may have to find paid Carers yourself.
Finding a care agency
Home care agencies offer people a care worker in their own homes to help meet a range of needs.
The Merton Council website has a directory of local care agencies.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They inspect home care agencies. You can use the Care Quality Commission website to check the quality of care provided by different agencies by reading CQC reports.
Equipment, aids and adaptations to the home
An Occupational Therapist (OT) will be able to assess any the need for equipment, aids or adaptations to the home that might help the person you care for and you to care for them.
The Occupational Therapy Service at Merton Council might be able to help.
The national charity the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) has developed a website that provides impartial advice and information about daily living aids.
Telecare
Telecare is a term that describes a variety of sensors and other technology that detects when there’s a problem and sends alerts to a call centre which then organises help for the person.
MASCOT Telecare and Community Support Services offer any vulnerable person living in the London Borough of Merton and the wider community help, independence and security using the latest telecare and community initiatives.
Health services at home
Talk to the GP of the person you care for about the availability of services if the person cannot leave their home.
Some private providers of services such as podiatrists and opticians make home visits.
Incontinence
The Central London Community Healthcare Continence Service supports adults registered with a GP in Merton.
Cleaning and gardening
Having someone to help clean the home or do the garden can be very useful, but will usually have to be paid for privately.
You can choose to hire an individual or use an agency. In either case, be sure to be clear about
- what services they can supply and that this matches your needs and
- all the costs involved (for example will the cleaner bring their own materials and equipment).
Be sure to ask about the person’s employment history and get references. An agency should carry out background checks, and provide insurance.
It’s best to have any agreement in writing and signed by both parties.
Other practical support for older people in Merton
The At Home with Age UK Merton service may be able to help with practical support such as shopping and cleaning if the person you care for is older.
Age UK’s Living Well programme includes a Fresh Start that helps with clearing out clutter.
