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Community Care Magazine No29 for Elderly and DisabledDirect Payments We choose this as our lead article again this issue because there are still some elderly and disabled people who, although entitled to financial help, are still being denied the option of obtaining funding for care in this form. A Direct Payment, is funding given directly to a person (or their advocate), which enables that person to purchase care from a provider/carer of their choice. This is usually a much more economical way for care services to be paid for. Not only does it allow the client to have more choice and control in how they access their care, it also reduces the financial burden on Social Services budgets. It is, however, not mandatory for Social Services to make Direct Payments but they do have the power to do so. So what do you do if your Social Services refuses to offer you Direct Payments? The answer appears to be to keep asking for them whilst at the same time contacting local action groups for disabled or older people who will already be campaigning on the same issue. You elect your local councillors, so contact them and make them aware that you are being denied a service, that if you lived elsewhere in the country, you could access. Currently, Direct Payments are available for the majority of people in many Local Authority areas. However, it does not seem fair that there are some people who would like to have the freedom that this method of funding brings but are having this right denied to them. Pension Schemes You may have contributed to a pension scheme with a previous employer and you now need some information but (for some reason) are unable to contact the company. Help may be at hand. There is a Government backed organisation the Pension Schemes Registry and they have knowledge of many thousands of pension schemes and may be able to trace the one you are interested in. You can telephone them on 0191 225 6316 or click here: Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority and you will find a form to complete. Rodent Population Increase There have been reports in the newspapers about the increase in the rat population. Rats need to be controlled in urban areas and we all need to play our part in helping to reduce the problems. Rats are attracted to homes by the prospects of food and shelter. So some of the measures you could take are:
As a result of new legislation, men over the age of 60 years will, for the first time, be eligible for free Concessionary Bus Passes. This came into effect on April 1st 2003. Another Perk for being Sixty plus FOCUS the large DIY store is offering to people above the age of sixty, a Privilege Card that entitles you to shop on any Tuesday for twelve months and get 10% discount off any purchase. To get your application form go to any store and pick up a form or write to FOCUS (DIY) Ltd, Gawsworth House, Westmere Drive Crewe CW1 6XB. Their web page address is
www.focusdiy.co.uk
The "No Tipping" notice that we see as we go about our daily lives is not working anymore. Fly tipping, illegal dumping of mattresses, refrigerators and other large items of junk are on the increase. The reason being that most people have "dumped" to date is because they knew they could get away with it. However, the Keep Britain Tidy organisation is launching a new campaign to get all of us involved in keeping our country a tidier place. Throughout the summer you should see posters encouraging us to ring a special hotline number of 0845 3000 630 to report anyone you see dumping rubbish. "Shop a Dropper" has the backing of the Environment Agency and County Councils throughout the country. So what do you do if you have any unwanted items of household junk that will not go in your bin bag or wheelie bin? Simple, you contact your local council as virtually all Councils operate a removal service. Paperwork, Documents and Bills In the office we have recently received notification on the length of time we should keep some "pieces of paper". Some up to 40 years! So how long we should keep documents, bills, etc. that we receive at home? If you are employed there is no need to keep your payslips after you have received your P60. However, you need to keep the P60 as this is the only record of your National Insurance Contributions for that year. Household bills, e.g. electricity, gas, etc. can be destroyed after they have been paid. However, the exception is that if the bill you paid is estimated, then keep it so you can check that the figure has been carried forward correctly on to your next bill. If you are self-employed any tax assessment information received from the Inland Revenue should be kept for seven years. If you are employed, then any tax code letters, etc. should be kept for two years. If you no longer need to keep any information relating to your personal affairs, e.g. a new bankcard, new credit card, insurance policy do not put them in the bin. The advice given by fraud prevention programmes is to either tear them into small pieces, shred or burn them. Receipts for goods you have purchased are now more often doubling up as the guarantee, (e.g. with some electrical goods). So it is important to keep the receipt until you replace the item and especially if you need to return the item or have a complaint against the shop where you purchased it. Do You Remember? Some of us will and some of us won’t. However, if you don’t, you may wish to have a little bit of fun to see what the finished dish looks and tastes like, or if you do remember it, cook it and have a memory hour or so. It is Beetroot Cake/Pudding. During the War when sugar was in short supply this was a cake recipe that used only the smallest amount of sugar yet was sweet enough to be called a cake. You need the following ingredients: 6oz wheat flour Barbeque Safety The time of year for a barbeque has arrived again and the following safety tips should ensure that everyone has a safe time.
Condensed milk is the thick, gloopy milk that comes in tins and was commonly in use from the early 1900’s onwards. Prior to this the problem with milk was that drinking it could be unsafe. Milk straight from the cow was liable to have bacteria and milk not drunk within a matter of hours, especially in Summer, soon spoiled. However, in 1852 a man, whose name was Gail Borden, was on a transatlantic trip. The crossing was a bit stormy and the cows in the hold of the ship became too sea sick to be milked, also a child on board died through a lack of drinkable milk. Mr Bordon thought about this problem and in 1854 came up with an answer. He heated the milk, which killed the bacteria, and this first attempt gave him milk that lasted for three days. He also found that Sugar, inhibited bacterial growth. In 1856 he was granted a patent for sweetened condensed milk. Incredible Edibles We have not personally tried this company but we thought the product they are selling was interesting enough to bring to your attention. They make a range of completely edible illustrations printed onto sugar icing which are presented on either a butter shortcake or gingerbread base. So, your greeting, e.g. Happy Birthday, Congratulations, etc. is printed on the edible offering, which can then be sent through the post like a birthday card. Just something a little different! Click here for their website
www.incredible-edibles.co.uk
Many shows need an audience and the BBC are happy to have people come along. They are able to accommodate people with a disability and if you advise them of your needs in advance they will make appropriate arrangements for you. Currently, the BBC is offering tickets to The Weakest Link, Question Time, Dead Ringers and Friday Night is Music Night just to name but a few. To apply for tickets telephone 020 8576 1227. There may be a waiting list for some programmes. Welcome Many of you will remember Sue Lamb who was a Care Manager with Able up till a couple of years ago. She has now returned and taken up her post again. Her direct telephone line is 01603 281915. Thanks Our thanks go to the following Carers for their help in demanding circumstances: Margaret Constable, Janet Maxwell and Ruth Linnell. Deaths It is with regret that we have to advise you of the death of the following people: Mrs Elsie Garrett, Mrs Salmon, Mrs McClean, Mrs Radford, Lt. Col. Eliot, Mrs Barnes, Mrs Goodband, Mrs Corley. Thank you to all who cared for them. Interviews Interviews have been held over the last eight weeks in Norwich, Cardiff, Blackburn, Newcastle, Dumfries and Lincolnshire. Brochures If you know of anyone who would like more information about the service we provide, please let us know and we will send them a brochure. Also if you know of anyone who would like a copy of our Gazette, please let us know and we will be happy to add them to our mailing list. The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt!!
is the online version of Able Community Care's Gazette. Want a printed copy of our current Gazette? Click Here To Request a Printed Gazette... with experienced live-in Carers gives peace of mind and has been our nationwide priority since 1980. Alternatively, we can post you our current brochure. Click Here to Request a Printed Brochure... Click Here to Join us as a Carer... We're always happy to answer your questions Click Here to Ask a Question... Telephone: 01603 764567 (office hours: 9am-4pm GMT) Fax: 01603 761655 Able Community Care The Old Parish Rooms Whitlingham Lane Trowse, Norwich NR14 8TZ United Kingdom Back to Community Care Magazine Index...
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