Latest News from Everycare
Any new system of funding social care will be capped, Jeremy Hunt has confirmed, in his first policy speech since he took responsibility for social care reform in January. He also pledged to find new ways to support councils struggling to meet the demands of a rapidly ageing population in the green paper on social care due this summer.
Addressing a conference of social workers, the health and social care secretary said: “The way that our current charging system operates is far from fair. This is particularly true for families faced with the randomness and unpredictability of care, and the punitive consequences that come from developing certain conditions over others.
“If you develop dementia and require long-term residential care you are likely to have to use a significant chunk of your savings and the equity in your home to pay for that care. But if you require long-term treatment for cancer you won’t find anything like the same cost.”
Asked directly if that meant there would be a cap on what any individual had to pay, he replied: “Yes.”
For more information on this story please visit the Guardian website
Scientists in Oxford are inviting members of the public to a free event on Saturday 17 March to hear more about current progress in dementia research.
The meeting will involve talks from scientists at the forefront of research into the condition.
The event is organised by members of the Alzheimer’s Research UK Oxford Network Centre, a community of dementia researchers from universities across the region.
Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity, funding research into the causes of dementia, diagnosis, preventions and treatments. They fund more than £27m of dementia research across the UK, including pioneering work at the universities of Oxford, Oxford Brookes, and the University of Reading. The funding is allowing scientists in the region to uncover more about causes of dementia and contribute to the global effort to put a stop to the heartbreak of the condition.
Speakers on the day include Dr Francesco Tamagnini, from the University of Reading whose research involves exploring the causes of Alzheimer’s disease by measuring the electrical activity in brain’s memory centre. Also speaking is Dr Timothy Johanssen, who will talk about exciting new initiatives that are accelerating research towards new treatments for dementia. Attendees will get a chance to hear from Marianne Talbot, the author of ‘Keeping Mum – Caring for Someone with Dementia’. There will also be stalls with free information about dementia and how people can get involved in research studies.
The free event is being held from 10.00am – 1:00pm on Saturday 17 March at the Academic Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU. Refreshments will be provided, and parking is available (hospital charges apply). To find out more go to http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/our-research/what-we-do/meet-our-scientists/ and you can also book your place by contacting Mel Witt at aruk.administrator@dpag.ox.ac.uk or 01865 282358.
The Government has announced an extra £150m for social care which ‘will be allocated according to relative needs’.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid
However social care chiefs have said it “is not going to make a great deal of difference” and have criticised the extra injection of cash as a “sticking plaster over a gaping wound”.
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, has made the extra money available following publication of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2018 to 2019.
In a statement to Parliament, he said: “I recognise the need to prioritise spending on social care services that councils provide to our elderly and vulnerable citizens. This is why we announced an additional £2 billion at Spring Budget 2017 for adult social care over the three years from 2017-18. This year we have seen how this money has enabled councils to increase provider fees, provide for more care packages and reduce delayed transfer of care.
“And, having listening to representations since the provisional settlement, I am today announcing a further £150 million in 2018-19 for an Adult Social Care Support Grant. This will be taken from anticipated underspend in existing departmental budgets, and will not affect existing revenue commitments made to local government. This will be allocated according to relative needs and we will expect to see councils use it to build on their progress so far in supporting sustainable local care markets.”
Margaret Willcox, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), called all money “welcome” and said: “We will make the most of what we get, but considering councils need more than £2bn just to stand still in 2018-19, this is not going to make a great deal of difference.
To see the full story visit Homecare.co.uk
Everycare Oxford is delighted to be able to announce that carer and director Joseph Ndori was nominated and won an award at the Dignity in Care Awards 2017.
Joseph was nominated by the husband of a client he cares for.
“I have been caring for my wife who developed dementia 5 years ago. My wife is sometimes aggressive but Joseph has such a calming effect on her. He never gets upset with her and my wife responds to his gentle manner. My wife would be back in a home otherwise. He is so gentle with her. I will always be in debt giving me confidence that we can care for her at home.
Being able to care for my wife for the rest of my days is my goal and it will be Joseph that I have to thank for it. When Joseph calls it is like a breath of fresh air.”
The son of the client added “Joseph is very caring and calm. Previous carers did not have the right approach when dealing with my mother …my mother has taken to him.”
