Medical, Nursing and Social Care: Care at home: social services
Care at home care: Social services
Most people were living at home when we talked to them, though almost all had spent time in a hospital, hospice or nursing home. Many received care and other support from family, friends and neighbours, but others felt quite alone, and relied heavily on care provided by health professionals and by social services (see also 'Nursing').
If a person wants to remain at home the GP, or other health professional or family member can contact social services and request a Community Care Assessment. A social worker then visits the patient, decides what services are needed and works out a 'Care Plan' - a written statement of a person's needs.
In theory, services at home are based on what a person needs rather than what the service can offer, but each area throughout the UK has its own guidelines and criteria for what is available.
One woman had spoken to the social services Care Manager while she was still in hospital. The manager had worked out a Care Plan for when she returned home. She found that although social services had agreed to the extra care she needed, the necessary help wasn't always available, particularly at weekends. The agency that social services used couldn't provide all the help that had been agreed. She also found the service inflexible. People would help her for the time that had been allocated but no more. She stressed that it is important to ask for what you need.
Another woman complained that her home care worker never made time for conversation. She also wished someone could take her out of the house for half an hour.
A woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had daily help from social services. Home care assistants helped her to get up in the morning and they returned to help her get to bed at night. However, she commented that in her area social services no longer provided much needed help with housework or with shopping. Personal care was lacking too. She was offered help with showers only twice a week, which in hot weather was insufficient.
Other people, however, were pleasantly surprised by the services available to them, and thought that they were receiving enough support and personal care. A man with prostate cancer was offered Meals at Home (Meals on Wheels). He was also offered help with his cleaning. He also got valuable help and advice from Age Concern when he needed a heater in his bathroom.
Another man pointed out that social services have a legal obligation to provide certain care. He also suggested that the local minister or vicar might be able to arrange visitors for those who live alone (see also 'Support and counselling').
Last reviewed May 2010.
