Leaflet 3 - Help At Home

Support can be given in a person's own home for people who need personal or practical help because of their age, illness or disability.

To receive some of the services included in this leaflet, the person you care for will need a Community Care Assessment to be carried out by Community Based Services. Services should be provided in a flexible way that will fit around a persons own individual needs and circumstances.

For information about the Community Care Assessment, see Section 2 - Carers' rights.

Community Based Services and Health now acknowledge that there is a need to support carers.

Carers can ask for an assessment of their own needs, see Section 2 - Carers' rights.

Help that is given in the home is often called Domiciliary Care.

Domiciliary Care

• Domiciliary care is help at home with personal and practical care. This includes getting up and going to bed, washing and dressing, providing meals, help with shopping, cleaning and household tasks, managing finances, and so on
  
• Can be provided directly by Community Based Services, or they may arrange for the help to be given by an independent organisation
  
• May be purchased via a Direct Payment, see Section 4 - Money matters

How to apply
The person you care for will need to have a community care assessment. Contact their local Community Based Services office (See Section 13 - Caring contacts), or if the person is in hospital, ask the nurse to arrange for someone from Community Based Services to contact them.

Any costs?
There is a weekly charge, and the person you care for will be told how much it will cost before they decide whether to take up the service.

Meals on Wheels

• Community Based Services can deliver hot, ready-made meals to the home
  
• Frozen meals can be delivered in bulk if the person has a freezer and a microwave cooker
  
• Provided to people living alone or with someone else, and unable to safely prepare hot meals without support
  
• The service is generally seen as part of a package of services and is unlikely to be provided on its own
  
• Most specialist diets can be catered for

How to apply
Contact Community Based Services for a community care assessment.

Any costs?
A small charge will be made (either daily, weekly or by invoice)

Help and advice for people with a physical disability

Gateshead Equipment Services
Gateshead Equipment Services is a partnership between Gateshead Council, Gateshead Health NHS Trust and Gateshead Primary Care Trust.

The Valley Centre is an assessment and demonstration centre for major adaptations such as stair lifts and walk-in showers.

• You will be able to see examples of adaptations to bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, living areas and an office location.
  
• Specific requests for adaptations for an individual should be made to your local Community Based Services office. (See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

The person you care for may be able to get equipment to help with everyday tasks, for example, a bath seat, special kitchen utensils or items to make getting dressed easier.

Equipment Services at Dunston Hill Hospital may be able to arrange these items following as assessment by a Monitoring and Assessment Officer. Contact this service on 0191 445 6477.

For items such as wheelchairs, walking aids or toilet aids e.g. commodes, contact the doctor of the person you care for.

Any costs?
This depends on a number of things, including the costs of the adaptations and whether the person is a tenant or owns their own home. Some equipment is provided on loan and is free of charge. The Monitoring and Assessment Officer would give full information about any charges.

Grants and financial help may be available.

You can also buy equipment yourself. Contact the Disabled Living Foundation on 0870 603 9177.

Shopping Service
Community Based Services, in partnership with Tesco, run a telephone shopping service for elderly, disabled or housebound people. Some parents may be able to get this service in special family circumstances.

• Groceries are ordered by telephone and delivered to the person's home
  
• The service may be given for a short time if the person is recovering from an illness or a stay in hospital

How to apply
Contact the local Community Based Services office for a community care assessment. (See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Any costs?
A small charge will be paid each time the shopping is delivered.

Community Resource Team for Older People (CROP)
The aim of the CROP Team is to stop older people (over 75) being admitted into hospital unless it is absolutely necessary. Too often older people are admitted because the right kind of support is not available in the home. The team tries to prevent this from happening by making sure appropriate services are put into place.

• The elderly person will receive social care, health care and rehabilitation support to help them get back to their previous quality of life
  
• The Team includes elderly care nurse specialists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and a Social Worker
  
• The Team can arrange rehabilitation services in the home, aids and adaptations, care packages and access to medical assessments
  
• Carers and older people can contact the CROP Team directly

Contact CROP, Bensham Hospital, Saltwell Road, Gateshead. NE8 4YL
Tel 0191 403 5220

Integrated Community Support Team (ICIS)

• Help people, over 18, who live in Gateshead and need support for a short period of time
  
• Helps those people who are being discharged from hospital who were mainly self caring before they went into hospital
  
• Helps to avoid inappropriate admission into hospital or residential care should the person be unwell, or if their carer needs to go into hospital
  
• Helps people to regain their independence
  
• Can assist with personal care and practical support

It is expected that the person receiving support will recover, and be as independent as they were before their hospital admission within six weeks. Therefore, the scheme is not suitable for people with long-term needs.

How to apply
If the person is in hospital ask a nurse, otherwise the person's GP, District Nurse or Social Worker.

For more information contact the Team's co-ordinators.
Tel 0191 443 4140

Alarm Call System
Gateshead Council's Housing Care Services operates an emergency alarm call system 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once activated, a call can divert to a warden or the control centre at the Civic Centre. The staff can then contact family members or call doctors or emergency services.

It is installed in all council-owned sheltered accommodation and in other properties specifically designed for older or disabled people.

Other disabled and older people living in Gateshead can now arrange to have the Alarm Call System installed for a one-off installation fee and a weekly charge for the monitoring and servicing costs may be applicable.

Contact Community Based Services for a community care assessment because the person you care for may be able to receive this service free of charge.

Contact Housing Care Service, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead. NE8 1HH
Tel 0191 433 2648

Lifeline Alarm System
Community Based Services may consider installing a Lifeline Alarm System on free, long-term loan for someone who has a severe disability. A Lifeline Alarm System is a small alarm which is worn around the neck. In an emergency, simply press the button and help will arrive.

To qualify, the person you care for must:
· Live alone
AND
· Be unable to leave the house
AND
· Be unable to summon help in an emergency
EITHER
because they have a history or likelihood of falling
OR
they have a medical condition that prevents them from using the telephone

If the person you care for is not a council tenant but wants to be considered for the Lifeline Alarm System, they must contact Community Based Services or the Housing Care Service direct.

Contact Community Based Services Tel 0191 433 2442
Supporting People Programme
The Supporting People Programme, led by Gateshead Council, provides housing related support to vulnerable people to allow them to live more independently.

The Programme helps older people, people with a learning or physical disability, people with mental ill health and other vulnerable groups.

The Supporting People team could help by providing a visiting service to help older people to stay in their own home as long as they want to, or on-going support for people who are new to living independently.

Contact Supporting People team, Gateshead Civic Centre.
Tel 0191 433 2422

Care in the home provided by independent organisations
There are a number of private and voluntary agencies that can provide different kinds of help and support within the home to frail, elderly people and those who are ill or have disabilities, and their carers.

These include:

• Gateshead Alzheimer's Society
  
• Gateshead Crossroads
  
• Age Concern
  
• Stroke Association
  
• Anchor Staying Put
  
• Live at Home schemes

For further information about these organisations, see Section 7 - Breaks from caring or Section 13 - Caring contacts.

Gateshead Carers Association can provide a list of independent Home Care agencies. (See Section 13 - Caring contacts)

Housing Services
If anyone has questions or problems concerning housing issues, contact the nearest housing office:
Housing Management Headquarters
Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead. NE8 1HH
Tel 0191 433 3000 Fax 0191 477 6544

Birtley Housing Office
16 Durham Road, Birtley. DH3 2QG
Tel 0191 433 6102 Fax 0191 433 6127

Blaydon Area Housing Office
Council Offices, Wesley Court, Blaydon. NE21 5BT
Tel 0191 433 6202 Fax 0191 433 6227

Central Area Housing Office
24/26 Trinity Square, Gateshead. NE8 1AW
Tel 0191 477 8542 Fax 0191 477 3710

Chandless Housing Office
2 Abbott Court, Chandless Estate, Gateshead. NE8 3JW
Tel 0191 433 5501 Fax 0191 433 5000
(only open Monday and Thursday 2 - 4pm)
*Dunston Housing Office
5-6 Tower Court, Ravensworth Road, Dunston. NE11 9AZ
Tel 0191 433 5850 Fax 0191 460 5188
Felling Area Housing Office
Booth Street, Felling. NE1O 9EW
Tel 0191 433 8080 Fax 0191 495 2110

*Highfield Housing Office
4 Park Road, Highfield. NE39 2JJ
Tel 0191 433 4900 Fax 01207 544 015

High Lanes Estate Housing Office
21 St Edmunds Drive, Heworth. NE10 9AE
Tel 0191 495 2278 Fax 0191 438 2370
(only open Monday and Thursday 9 - 10am)

Housing Care Service
Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead. NE8 1HH
Tel 0191 433 3000 Fax 0191 477 9438

Leam Lane Area Housing Office
Fewster Square, Felling. NE10 8XQ
Tel 0191 433 5888 Fax 0191 469 8983

Low Fell Area Housing Office
576 Durham Road, Low Fell. NE9 6HX
Tel 0191 433 5858 Fax 0191 487 1701

*Old Fold Neighbourhood Office
The Bede Centre, Old Fold Road, Gateshead. NE10 0DJ
Tel 0191 433 5800 Fax 0191 433 5805

*Ridley Terrace Housing Office
55 Ridley Terrace, Felling. NE1O ONQ
Tel 0191 495 2200 Fax 0191 438 1493
(Open Monday to Thursday 1.30pm-5pm, and Friday 1.30pm - 4.35pm)

Ryton Housing Office
Grange Road, Ryton. NE40 3LT
Tel 0191 413 6172 Fax 0191 413 8607
(Closed for lunch 12 noon -1pm)

*Sheriff Hill Neighbourhood Office
6 Ermine Crescent, Sheriff Hill. NE9 5QQ
Tel 0191 433 6190 Fax 0191 487 1160

*Springwell Neighbourhood Office
140 Aycliffe Crescent, Springwell Estate. NE9 7DH
Tel 0191 433 5844 Fax 0191 487 1204
(Open until 7.00 pm every Monday, open 8.45am - 2.00 pm Tuesdays)

*Teams Neighbourhood Office
Unit 5/6, Teams Craft Workshops, Askew Road West, Gateshead. NE8 2FB
Tel 0191 433 6135 Fax 0191 477 4044

Whickham Area Housing Office
School Building, Whickham. NE16 4EG
Tel 0191 433 8888 Fax 0191 488 7652

Wrekenton Area Housing Office
143-145 High Street, Wrekenton. NE9 7JR
Tel 0191 433 5822 Fax 0191 487 1232

Office Opening Hours
Generally, offices are open from:
Monday to Thursday 8.45am-5pm unless otherwise stated
Friday: Late opening at 10.15am for staff training, closing 4.35pm

Offices marked with * close for lunch 12.30pm-1.30pm

Emergency Numbers
During office hours contact your local office.
After hours (Monday to Thursday 5pm - 8.45am, Friday 4.30pm to Monday 8.45am, including weekends and Bank Holidays)
Contact Tel 0191 247 2200

Housing Benefit
For information about Housing Benefit
Contact Tel 0191 433 4646

Council Tax Benefit
For information about Council Tax Benefit
Contact Tel 0191 433 3600

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