20 March 2009

Later this year the Government will publish a green paper on the future of adult care and support, setting in motion a major shake-up of care services for the elderly and disabled. More people are living longer and the cost of care is central to the debate.

Nicola Warner is managing director of Christies Care, a leading registered agency for 24 hour live-in care assistants, which enables people to stay living at home rather than move into residential or nursing homes.

She says: “At the moment there is no level playing field for how elderly people become eligible for the care services they need, or for how they pay for them. The system varies from one local council to another. A better framework and guidelines are needed so that people can choose what’s best for them or their relative, with a clear understanding of what state funding is available to help pay for the care that’s needed.”

In a recent national survey of 3,000 older people, 91% made staying at home their number one choice, even if they needed assistance. But the option to stay in your own home (rather than move to a residential or nursing home) isn’t often well understood and neither is the funding assistance that can be available.

Nicola Warner says: “Our clients are elderly and some are disabled and they are looking to maintain their dignity and independence by choosing to remain living at home. We help them achieve this through providing live-in care assistants who are trained and competent and who we choose carefully to suit the client they’ll be supporting.”

For further information and a free booklet telephone 0844 477 6460 or see www.christiescare.com