Community Care Magazine for Elderly and Disabled: GAZETTE No.37

Care in the Community?

Able Community Care has been providing care for almost 25 years.

In the "early nineties," we welcomed the advent of "care in the community" - a choice for everyone. For several years this concept was working in reality but now the situation seems to be changing.

New legislation and new requirements are making it increasingly more difficult to operate as a provider of care. The legislation is so intrusive and expensive to facilitate that the financial cost will become unacceptable unless the Department of Health listens to care providers.

For example:

1. We are required to register as an agency with the English Care Commission. But, this is not acceptable in Scotland.

   We provide care to several clients in Scotland, so we will have to work through almost the same procedures and pay several hundred pounds to be allowed to operate, having already paid for the English Registration.

2. Also, if as a Carer you have an English Enhanced Disclosure (CRB check) this will not allow you to work in Scotland.

   The Enhanced Disclosures were, at the outset, designed to be portable. In other words, a Disclosure issued within the previous 12 months could be taken from one agency to another and the new agency would check its validity.

   That ruling has now been reversed. Disclosures are no longer portable and we have to apply for a new one for every carer. (The cost having almost trebled in 12 months).

   Despite what you may read in the press, this is not a quick procedure and can take up to several weeks. Meanwhile, the carer should not be offered work. This encourages carers to take work outside the industry.

3. The Government has signalled that it wishes to register every carer through a Social Care Register and again this will have the result that fewer people will come forward to be Carers.

   The number of new carers coming into the industry is already reducing because many prospective carers, such as retired nurses, are not prepared to go through the new training schedules, which can take many months (e.g. NVQ's.) The hourly rate for care in general is low and jobs in supermarkets for example, offer better rates and are therefore more attractive.Agencies are refusing new work, and those that have taken block contracts from local authorities cannot cover all their hours.

   Unless some action is taken to reverse this depressing situation (which is experienced by all agencies) the availability of appropriate and reliable care for dependent people will continue to decline.

Cowboy builders, unscrupulous doorstep traders, counterfeit product sellers, loan sharks, bogus home working schemes, bogus competitions and e-cons, have you been had?

If the answer is yes, then you can possibly prevent someone else being had in the future. The DTI and Trading Standards are working together to try and stop any of the above getting yours and other peoples money.

If you come across any similar "rip offs" then contact your local Trading Standards (number in your telephone book) and tell them your experience. You can do it anonymously if you wish.

Is Your Roof Fit for Winter?

This is the time of year when rogue traders can see rich pickings with reference to people's roofs. We have all read news items where a person has answered a knock on the door, been told that their roof is in need of repair and how lucky they are that their visitor can repair it for them in the morning for cash. The news items relay details of jobs not completed properly, vastly overpriced and in some cases even more damage being done.

So how can you make sure that if your roof does need repairs that you will get a cost efficient, professional job?

You could ring the Confederation of Roofing Contractors and ask their advice about your roof problem.

You should get three written estimates from reputable tradesmen.

You must make sure that they show you a copy of their Public Liability Insurance. (It is illegal for them to work on your home without it).

Never pay in cash, always by cheque or a credit/debit card.

12,500 Fires a Year...

.. are reported as having been caused by an electrical fault, e.g. faulty or inadequate wiring. This number could be less if electricians who were competent carried out electrical installations.

From January next year it will become a legal requirement to ensure that fixed electrical installation work meets the National Safety Standard BS 7671. The easiest way to find an electrician who complies with this new law is to employ one registered with The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.

Any electrician who is an Approved Contractor (there are currently about 10,550 registered) will wear the NICEIC logo on their vehicles and in any advertising they may issue.

After an NICEIC electrician has carried out any work for you he/she will be obliged to issue you with a certificate of safety declaring that their work complies with the national safety standard.

You can contact NICEIC on 020 7564 2320 or visit: http://www.niceic.org.uk

Take Care

A mobile phone can now act as a camera. So if you are paying with a debit card, a store card, a credit card or using a cash point be aware of anyone using a mobile phone in your vicinity. It may be that they are taking a photo of your card, name, number and expiry date.

Eggs

A staple food but one that can cause health problems, (e.g. Salmonella) if not bought, stored and used safely.

Always buy eggs from a reputable retailer where they will have been stored at the correct temperature.

Look for the Lion Quality on the shell and on the box, which demonstrates that the eggs have been produced to a high standard.

When you have purchased them keep the eggs in their box and place in the fridge. Keep them separate from other foods.

Wash your hands before handling the eggs and make sure you use them by the "best before" date. This will be on either the egg itself or on the box. If the eggs look dirty or are cracked, throw them away.

Cooked egg dishes should be eaten as soon as possible or stored in a fridge.

Spanish Omelette...

Serves: 4 people
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

• 45ml/ 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large red onion, sliced
• 350g/12oz cooked new potatoes, sliced
• 75g/3oz chorizo sausage, sliced
• 6 large Lion Quality eggs

Heat oil in a frying pan, add onion and fry for 2 minutes. Add potato and chorizo, fry for 3 minutes or until golden. Beat eggs with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour eggs into pan; cook without stirring until most of the egg has set - about 6 minutes. Pop under a hot grill for 2 minutes until the top is set and golden. Cut into wedges and serve warm or cold.

(Source: British Egg Information Service)

Your Credit Rating

If you would like to see your credit rating (i.e. the information that is held on file about you with reference to financial matters) then you can obtain your personal report by writing to one of the three credit reference agencies in the UK.

Unfortunately, the reports from each company may differ so to get a true picture you may wish to contact all three.

Your credit rating information will not have any reference to your medical history, your employment, criminal record, political persuasion, religion or race. What the report will also tell you however is who has looked at your personal credit rating in the last two years.

The three companies from whom you can obtain your information are:

1. Consumer Services Team, Callcredit plc, PO Box 491, Leeds. L53 1WZ

2. Equifax Credit File Advice Centre P.O. Box 1140 Bradford BD1 5US

3. CHS Experian PO Box 8000 Nottingham, NG80 7WF

This is a book of thought-provoking, one line quotations compiled by D Martyn Heath which draws on his own experiences of coping with disability.

For example:

" Stubbornness never gives you much room to move."

"We all want honesty but never the truth."

The book costs £3.49 and can be obtained from Apex Publishing Ltd., PO Box 7086, Clacton on Sea. CO15 5WN.

Money Unclaimed

If a person has a terminal illness there are special rules to enable them to claim the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance without having to follow the normal path of entitlement.

Quite simply, the Special Rules allow for the money that these Allowances offer to be given to the recipient much quicker. There is also the possibility that a person can claim the money on behalf of someone who is terminally ill without the person themselves having to participate in any practical way.

The turnaround time of application to receipt of being advised that you can receive the cash can be as little as a week.

In recently published statistics for the year 2001 it is estimated that over £126 million went unclaimed by people who could have claimed under the Special Rules.

Statistics also suggest that 54% of people with terminal cancer did not claim and therefore lost out on the additional money.

Cold Weather is Coming!

If your house needs insulating or heating you may be able to claim a grant of up to £2,500.00 if you are age 60 or over.

Warm Front Plus is a Government funded scheme managed by Powergen. You have to own or privately rent your home and receive one or more of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit

• Council Tax Benefit

• Income based Job Seekers Allowance

• Housing Benefit

The lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.00pm

Knit for Kids

The Children's Society is calling people to sign up for a national knit-a-thon taking place from 1st September to 31st December 2004 to raise money. The aim is to knit strips or squares, which can then be woven into blankets, scarves and bags. Whether you are a keen knitter or willing to learn they would like to hear from you.

Telephone 0845 300 1128 to get started.

BCODP

The British Council of Disabled People was formed in 1981. It acts as a representative and co-ordinating body for disabled people and organisations.

About 400,000 disabled people are members and this is a genuine representative voice for disabled people in the U.K. Visit: http://www.bcodp.org.uk

Parents back in the UK?

Hundreds of British people living and working throughout the world have elderly parents or other close, elderly relatives living back in the UK. The fear of each British citizen is that they may hear that their loved one has a problem, one usually associated with old age.

Confusion, stroke, heart problems, broken bones the list is endless but the fact remains that age brings continuing problems. Living so far from home means that trying to sort the problem is a problem itself. Time differences, no appropriate telephone numbers, lack of professional names to contact, no idea of which

Department of Social Services/Health/Voluntary bodies/Independent companies to contact and no real possibility of sorting out successful interim arrangements easily.

An innovative product from an independent sector care company in Britain can now give all British citizens throughout the world, peace of mind.

Relative Care Solutions Ltd offers a subscription service to provide telephone/email advice and support when needed. Information given to you quickly and clearly wherever in the UK your relative lives. An "insurance" for anyone who has an elderly dependent. You have the problem, we have the solution.

Relative Care Solutions Ltd is part of the Able Community Care Group which is a nationwide provider of care in the UK.

Able Community Care is registered with The Commission for Social Care Inspection

Interviews

Interviews have recently taken place in Scotland, Birmingham, Manchester and Norwich.

Walking Carer

Congratulations to Carer Jackie Walker who pushed a wheelchair 3 miles around Cheltenham Race Course to raise money for Wheels for Life.

Thanks

We would wish to pass on special thanks to carer Jean Nash. The family of one of our clients requested that their thanks to Jean be publicly recorded for the care which she gave to their Mother who died recently.

Finally...

The essentials to happiness are something to love, something to do, and something to hope for - William Blake.

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Able Community Care
The Old Parish Rooms, Whitlingham Lane, Trowse,
Norwich, Norfolk NR14 8TZ, United Kingdom

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm GMT, Monday to Friday
(excepting UK Bank Holidays)

Tel: +44 (0)1603 764567 | Fax: +44 (0)1603 761655 | Email: ablemg@aol.com

© Able Community Care | VAT number 552696317 | Proprietor: Angela Gifford

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