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Residential care

Residential or nursing home care may not be the only way we can meet your needs. You or your carer have probably only thought about a care home because it is becoming harder and harder for you to manage in your own home.

You may be in hospital wondering if you can return home. However the Council works very closely with GPs, Community Nurses and other NHS staff to keep people living as independently as possible.

There are many other ways you can get the support you need and still be able to live in your own home. These include Homecare, Daycare and Respite Care (a break for you and your carer) as well as a wide range of equipment, adaptations to your house and community alarms to allow you to summon help. We can arrange for you to be assessed and services provided to meet your needs within the resource we have available (see Services for Adults for further details).

Choosing a care home

Growing older can mean you are not always able to do as much for yourself as you need to, or would like to. Fortunately the Social Work Service has a wide variety of services which can provide the kind of help you need, to stay in your home.

Before deciding what help is right for you, a Social Worker will do a Community Care Assessment which involves talking to you and possibly your family, friends or other people who know about your life and your present circumstances. This assessment will show what kind of service you need. If it is agreed that you do need to leave your home to be cared for by others, then the assessment will also say which kind of Home is best for you.

If you hope to receive help from the Council with paying the Home’s fees, then this assessment, plus an assessment of your finances, must be done.

To obtain information and advice on the Social Work Department’s services, you should contact the Advice and Response Team using the contact details opposite.

Inspections and inspection reports

Since the Regulation of Care ( Scotland ) Act 2001, the Care Commission has been responsible for the registration and inspection of care homes in Scotland.

The Care Commission can be contacted at 0141 843 4280 or alternatively you can visit their website.

Which home?

Detailed information on each Home in East Dunbartonshire is also available from any Social Work office. Most Homes will be very pleased to give you information about their services or welcome you to visit and see them for yourself. Some are also happy to have you stay for a short time before making up your mind.

If you decide after a time that the Home you have chosen is not right for you then you are free to leave, or move to another Home. You are also free to go on holiday at any time.

Visiting homes

You should arrange to visit the homes that you are most interested in. You cannot find out everything you need to know from phone conversations, brochures or reports. Visiting the home will give you a chance to meet staff and residents, and talk to them about the home.

It is essential that you are happy in the home you choose to live in. You are making an important decision and you should not feel that you are being nosy or awkward when you are asking questions or finding out exactly what happens about things which might seem unimportant but will affect you every day.

It is probably a good idea to take a relative or friend with you when you visit a home so that you can compare impressions. Take your time when you visit. Staff who seem to be rushing you or make you feel that you are taking up too much of their time are giving you a message about their home.

You can currently get reports about any home you are interested in from either the homes themselves or from The Care Commission.

Most people find it helpful to consider the following:

Identify your priorities
what level of care do you need?
where do you want to live?
what facilities need to be available?
what can you afford?

Identify homes you would like to visit:

Ask questions
how is the care home run?
what is it like?
are the staff friendly?
do other residents enjoy staying there?
what is the food like?
can you redecorate your room?
can a visitor stay over?
are pets allowed?
what activities are available?

Financial help

People who do not have large amounts of savings or assets may be able to get financial help from the Council and the Department of Social Security (DSS).

You can get detailed advice on your own situation from your local Benefits Agency (DSS) office or from the Social Work Department. The amount the Council and DSS pay is limited. Some Homes set their fees at this limit. If you choose a Home which charges more, you or your family will have to pay the difference. Each Home should offer a contract which states the services they offer and the cost to you.

If you have savings of over £23,500 or you own a property you will not be eligible for this financial support. You can however choose to apply for Free Personal Care. Where this is appropriate you can receive £159 a week for personal care needs and £72 a week for nursing needs. You must be over 65 years to qualify for the personal care element of £159.

You can also apply for financial assistance from the Social Work Department for a 12 week period in order to sell a property, if you have capital of under £23,500.

If you need care but a partner does not, the Social Work Department will consider your income alone.

The Social Work Department can assist your partner with benefits advice as a separate exercise if this is requested.

Any request for financial assistance requires the completion of a Financial Assessment detailing your present income and assets. Free personal care is non means tested and requires written application only.