Navigate the care maze

Whether you’re a full-time carer or need to look after someone temporarily until they recover from illness, caring can be challenging but there is help available, says Lorna White. Here’s our guide to navigating the options, so you can find help that best

Do you need help caring for someone in your home?

If you look after someone who struggles with everyday tasks without your help, you are entitled to a carer’s assessment from your local council. To arrange one, contact your local council’s adult services department or, for more information, call the Carer’s Direct free helpline. If you qualify for help, you could receive a tailored support plan plus financial assistance.

What financial help could I receive?

Carers are eligible to claim certain benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, to help with caring costs. The person you care for may also be able to claim benefits to help with their everyday lives, such as Disability Living Allowance. Call the Carers UK helpline for advice and to find out what’s available.

■ To determine eligibility or make a claim, visit www.gov.uk/browse/ benefits/disability

Do you need respite care? IN YOUR HOME...

If you need someone to come into your home and take over for a while, temporary domiciliary care may be suitable. This sort of care will provide a range of services such as personal care, night care, shopping, cooking, transport and even companionship so you can have a well-deserved break. Paying for a care worker to provide care in your home can cost around £20 an hour, depending on your circumstances.

■ To find a professional care worker, call the United Kingdom Homecare Association.

ON A HOLIDAY ....

Escape for a holiday with the person you are caring for and enjoy a well-deserved break. Revitalise offer respite holidays specially designed for disabled people and their carers across the UK.

■ Contact Revitalise for more information

What sort of travel assistance can I expect?

Whether you’re travelling by train, coach, plane or taxi, if the person you are caring for has a disability, or a temporary disability such as an injury affecting mobility, they should receive extra help when using these forms of transport.

■ To find out more about these services and how to use them, visit www.gov.uk/transport-disabled or contact the travel service provider to inform them that assistance will be needed prior to your trip

Do you need home adaptations?

Whether it’s a raised toilet seat or a stairlift, there are many changes that can be made to your home in order to assist the person you are caring for and help their independence.

■ For more information on what kind of home adaptations are available, contact Living Made Easy In the first instance, start by contacting your local council to try to get a home assessment. You could qualify for the council to pay for any adaptations that cost under £1000. If you live with a long-term illness or disability, you may be eligible for a grant to pay for any adaptations.

■ For more information, contact Call Independence at Home

Do you need to find a care home?

To find all care homes near you, try searching a database such as Carehomeadvisor, or call Age UK for advice and information on choosing the right home for your needs. Care home costs can vary greatly, depending on the care you need and where you live. Average care home fees are between £3,000 and £4,000 a month. Following a care needs assessment and means test, your eligibility for financial assistance to cover care costs will be calculated. If your capital (regular income, savings, property) is more than £23,250, you will have to fund the care costs yourself. Anything under this value will be partly or entirely funded depending on the sum of your assets. To organise a means test, contact your local council’s adult services department.