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considering other housing and care settings

pip
pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
dear debbie
may I update you here from a previous post and invite others kind comments? when in Llandudno last month mum and I saw inside some extra care housing, though mum didn't put her name down and we are back home in Grimsby where we both live in the family home. sometimes I consider whether we'ld be better suited to other accommodation- mum is more frail including her memory and I suffer more with my nerves/ mental illness which leaves me quite weak and vulnerable, though mum seems ok living here in her own home and I'm not sure what type of housing or care setting would be reasonably suitable for us together or how a move would affect us. 

Comments

  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Pioneering
    Hello @Pip,

    What were your thoughts about the extra care housing scheme you visited?

    You mentioned in earlier posts that you and Mum care for each other. Have you ever had a care needs assessment to see if there is any help the local authority can give you so that you can both remain in the family home? 
    What would your preference be at this stage, is it to remain where you are or both move into alternative accommodation together?

    If Mum is happy staying put but needs more help then it's worth contacting the Adult Social Care department at your local council to see if they can come and carry out an assessment. Age UK may also be able to provide you with some advice and they have a service covering North East Lincolnshire. 
    http://www.ageuk.org.uk/northeastlincs/ ;

    You could also try First Stop who have a helpline you can contact about housing and care issues. They might be able to explore this in more depth with you taking into consideration both yours and Mum's needs.

    I hope this helps.

    Best wishes
    Debbie
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    edited October 2016
    hello Debbie
    we saw two in Llandudno, one looked like a hotel, another more a community feel, mum would benefit from things on one floor and other things, I would want to live with her as I don't have a place of my own.
    does extra care housing cater for people like me, I'm approaching 60 with long periods of mental illness, often feel isolated, anxious and vulnerable, I'd want to feel settled in, safe and cared about too Debbie. 
    we had a social care assessment about 3 months ago, they said mum has needs which are being met, by herself and me, though said I didn't have any as a carer or mental health sufferer- not quite true! 
    i think mums preference is to stay here in our family home, she still has feelings for north Wales but when I ask she says she hasn't made her mind up.

  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Pioneering
    edited November 2016
    Hello @pip

    I came across this report from the Mental Health Foundation and I think you might find it helpful. Let me know your thoughts when you've read it and whether you identify anything within the report that might be suitable for you.
    https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/Mental_Health_and_Housing_report_2016_1.pdf

    It might also be worth having a chat with @Angela_scope who is our Social Care specialist at the helpline particularly as you have said that you don't agree with the determination that you have no needs as a carer. Angela will be able to guide you through this and let you know what your rights are.

    Best wishes
    Debbie

  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    Debbie, I quite like the extra care housing though I don't know if I'd qualify nor what they would provide specially for mental health problems. the best care setting might be a set of close friends and family who know me well and care, and preferably living with them, I have this already to some degree (I live in the old family home with my elderly mum). having mental problems means I'd struggle living by myself, on my own, but also in fitting in with others, so I don't know. please let me write to you more about this if ok. thankyou for second link too. pip.
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    edited October 2016
    Debbie I read the article thankyou, the extra care housing appeals, the question for me is what is a sensible, good living arrangement for me, mental illness sufferer who gets isolated, anxious and vulnerable with my mum who is frail, and whether we are best staying put or looking more into extra care housing, I think some kind of care setting for us both as we are both vulnerable really. 
  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Pioneering
    Hi @pip

    It does sound as though extra care housing would be a good option for you especially as you say it appeals to you. It's a good option if you get isolated because you will be part of a community and there's usually lots of social activities you can participate in. It's up to you how much you get involved with things if you choose this as a housing option. If you and Mum are both vulnerable then this could be a good way of having some extra support to help you both maintain your independence and meet some new friends too.

    Best wishes
    Debbie
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    edited October 2016
    Debbie, thankyou, ive discovered there's only one extra care housing in grimsby, a large town, whilst we looked inside a couple in Llandudno last month, a much smaller town, and I've heard has better social services.
    how do you get a place in EChousing or pay for it? if they admit according to care needs mum would qualify being elderly and frail, how would I get a place too with her?
  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Pioneering
    Hello @pip,

    Another factsheet for you to read which I hope answers your questions about how to get a place and how to pay for it. 
    http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/downloads/kbase/2954.pdf 

    Is the family home that you share with your Mum owned or rented?


  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    thankyou Debbie though the link didn't work, can you send it again. the family home is owned by mum. 
  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Pioneering
    Hi @Pip,

    Sorry the link didn't work, I tried it too and couldn't get it to work but I've found a different way round and if you click this link it will take you to the page where you can download the factsheet I tried to link to above.
    https://www.independentage.org/information/advice-guides-factsheets-leaflets/extra-care-housing

    Let me know if it still doesn't work and I can try and save the document and email it to you instead.

  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    dear debbie, i read the download on extra care housing thankyou.
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    Debbie, i read through the link you gave me thankyou on extra care housing, it sounds appealing, maybe others on this website can tell us what it's like to live in one, we looked inside two places in Llandudno when there recently, the facilities looked good, but how can you you tell or who can you ask about the social life, do people make close and caring friendships in these places Debbie? 
  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Pioneering
    Hi @Pip,

    The best people to ask are the people who live there but from my experience (I used to work in care) yes, people do make close friendships and enjoy a good social life. Some extra care housing developments have really good facilities including gyms, hairdressers, restaurants and so on.

    If you view some more Extra care housing developments, talk to the residents and see how they find life there. Let me know how it goes :)
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    edited November 2016
    thankyou Debbie, pity we didn't ask residents at the 2 EC housing we looked inside in Llandudno last September, maybe next time.
  • pip
    pip Community member Posts: 72 Courageous
    edited November 2016

Brightness