Information about care in a residential or nursing home
You may want to discuss your needs with someone who is already involved in your care (for example, your doctor, district nurse or home-care assistant), or get advice from a relative, friend, solicitor, accountant or financial adviser. You can also contact Adults’ CarePoint or Citizens Advice for more information.
How the Carewise care funding scheme can help
Carewise provides information and advice about the range of care and support options available, and the most cost-effective ways of paying for care. The locally based Carewise care fee specialists are independent financial advisers specialising in later-life advice. They can give you advice on the type of care you can afford, and help you keep your savings and assets for as long as possible. Please see the the 'Useful contacts' page for their information.
Someone to help you have your say - an advocate
You may need some help to say what you want. An advocate can help you do this. They can also help protect your rights, represent your interests, find things out for you and get the support you need.
There are a number of advocacy services in West Sussex. For more information about this support, please ask a social care worker, visit the West Sussex Connect to Support website or contact our Adults’ CarePoint.
Some people find it very difficult to plan their social care support and do not have someone to represent them or support them to be involved their assessment, planning their support or reviewing their care. If this applies to you, we must provide you with an independent advocate to speak on your behalf. Some people may also be able to have an advocate to help with their financial assessment. If you can have this support, it will help you to be fully involved in your social care assessment and in planning and reviewing your care. It will also help you if we are supporting you because you are at risk of abuse or neglect. We provide this service free of charge.
Free advice on your money
We fund Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove to provide a free money advice service for people over 50. They offer advice on issues such as budgeting, savings, pensions, benefits, debt and paying for care. Phone 0800 019 1310 or email info@ageukwsbh.org.uk to use the service.
People of all ages can get free money advice from their local branch of Citizens Advice. We fund this service to cover a range of issues, such as benefits, National Insurance, budgeting, pensions and debt. Visit citizensadvice.org.uk or phone 0808 278 7969 to speak to an adviser.
You can also visit our West Sussex Connect to Support website for more information, including links to organisations which provide advice on managing your money. Visit westsussexconnecttosupport.org and search under ‘Money Advice’.
Benefit information
For more information on benefits, please contact the Department for Work and Pensions. There is a confidential Freephone number on 0800 1690154 or you can visit their website at gov.uk
You can also get advice on benefits from Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove on Freephone 0800 019 1310 between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday. Or you can visit their website at ageuk.org.uk/westsussexbrightonhove
Your local branch of Citizens Advice can also give you advice on benefits. You can find their contact details in The Phonebook or online at citizensadvice.org.uk