Have you seen or heard the Lloyds Bank “The M-word” campaign? It was apparently created in response to research from Lloyds Bank that showed money is a bigger taboo in British families than politics, sex or religion. Well I would add “care” for elderly loved ones into that list of “taboo”

A personal budget is the amount of money your local council will pay towards any social care and support you need. The amount of money in your personal budget will be decided by your local council after a Care Needs and Financial Assessment to work out: What kind of care

Following on from my last two articles Always Read the Small Print – Part 1 Choosing a Care Home and Always Read the Small Print Part 2 Additional Information, Part 3 looks at the service level you should expect from your carers and what you can do if things go

Following on from my article last week (Always Read the Small Print – Part 1) Part 2 looks at more of the essential information you need and which any care provider should be happy to give you. This information should be easily available to you from the start either on

Choosing a care home for the first time is often difficult decision at an emotional time. You need to feel confident that you have all the information you need to choose the right home for you. As with signing any contract, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities

On Sunday 9th December the BBC showed a “Drama from Jimmy McGovern about a struggling single mother who finds herself having to care for her elderly mother when the local health authorities refuse to take responsibility”. If you saw this drama, you can’t fail to have been impressed by the

“Millions of people in England are underestimating the cost of paying for a care home place – potentially putting some at risk of financial problems or struggling to get good quality care in later life, according to Which? research.” ¹ Would you know what you or a loved one might

It is the start of winter when our elderly friends and relatives can be more at risk of an accident or illness that might mean and unexpected trip to the over-stretched local A&E Department. Where people are often surprised to find that the hospital IT system doesn’t “speak” to the

What is an independent advocate? An independent advocate can support you when you are dealing with difficult issues and help you to get the care and support that you need. An advocate helps to ensure that you can express your wishes and views when in contact with authorities like your

How an Independent Advocate Works Step one: Meeting with an advocate Once you have contacted an advocacy organisation, an advocate should arrange a private meeting with you to discuss the support you need. If you live in a care home, sheltered housing or are a patient on a hospital ward,