"Self-funders" - alone and neglected by the care system

31/07/2008

A new report from the The Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) has shown that many older people seeking help and advice from their local councils on self-funding when thinking of moving into the care system are frequently neglected.

Called 'Assessment Denied?', the report by Gillian Dalley, R&RA chief executive, and Michael Mandelstam, explores the experiences of people who have to meet the costs of care themselves (self-funders) when they seek help from their local authority. It also sets out the legal position as to what they have a right to expect.  

The fact is that many older people are often shocked by the complexity of the care needs assessment and entitlements that face them when they first make an attempt to negotiate their way through the social care system. As a result they often turn to the council for help - but do they always receive it? It seems not.

This highly topical issue draws on the accounts of callers to the R&RA advice line, and will be of interest to older people in this situation, as well as to advisors, care practitioners across the statutory and independent sectors, and social policy researchers.

"The self-funder is alone in the care system," says the report. "A person funded by a local authority has a care manager to arrange care and provide continuing review. Importantly, that individual also has recourse to the council’s complaints procedure, while the self-funder does not."

Judith Phillips, Professor of Gerontology and Social Work, Swansea University said: "This report is extremely timely, clearly written and will be a valued resource for all those engaged in working with older people."
 
'Assessment Denied?' is available, priced £8 (£6 to R&RA members), direct from the R&RA. For further information, contact The Relatives & Residents Association, 24 The Ivories, 6–18 Northampton Street, London N1 2HY. Tel 020 7359 8148. Advice Line 020 7359 8136. Email info@relres.org

 

Their website is linked below.