Question 1

How is a care needs assessment arranged in Somerset?

Accepted Answer

Approach the adult social care team at Somerset Council and describe what has become difficult at home. The referral does not have to come from the person concerned, as a relative, friend, GP or hospital discharge coordinator can make it instead. The assessment is free and no financial test applies before it takes place. Setting down specific recent examples, rather than a general impression, will help the assessor reach an accurate conclusion.

Question 2

Does Somerset Council help with the cost of home care?

Accepted Answer

It can, once the needs assessment has identified eligible needs and the financial assessment has compared capital and income with national thresholds. Support may be delivered as care the council arranges or as a direct payment that lets the person choose their own agency. Where capital sits above the threshold, the person pays for their care but is still entitled to information and advice. A reassessment can be requested whenever needs or finances change materially.

Question 3

Which home care agencies cover Somerset?

Accepted Answer

One hundred and sixteen providers registered with the Care Quality Commission for personal care in people's own homes are listed here. They include small independent agencies, branches of national organisations and services aimed at particular conditions. An agency registered for the county will not necessarily reach every village, since rounds depend on travel time between calls. Telephoning to confirm coverage at a specific address is the fastest way to reduce the list to realistic options.

Question 4

What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?

Accepted Answer

A residential care home provides somewhere to live together with personal care, meaning help with washing, dressing, meals and daily routine. A nursing home holds an extra registration allowing registered nurses to deliver clinical care on site, which is required for wound care, complex medication or continuous monitoring. Home care is different again, since the support travels to the person rather than the person moving. Which option fits is normally established through a care needs assessment.

Question 5

How far ahead should home care be arranged?

Accepted Answer

Begin before the need becomes pressing, because agencies have finite capacity and the busiest call times fill first. Early morning and bedtime visits are the hardest to secure, so being flexible about timings opens up more choice. Where care follows a hospital stay, ask for the discharge team to start planning well before the discharge date. Starting early also means a provider can be tried and replaced without a crisis if the fit turns out to be wrong.

Question 6

What should I ask an agency before appointing it?

Accepted Answer

Ask how many carers will realistically attend over a month and how continuity is protected when someone is off sick. Check how late calls are communicated, who staffs the office out of hours and how quickly the care plan can be amended. Ask to see the latest inspection report and, where the rating was below Good, what has changed since. Questions about staff turnover and training in dementia and medication support are also worth putting directly.

Home Care in Somerset

119 home care in Somerset (showing 101–119)