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Original poster

My 95 Year Old Great Aunt needs help...

28 replies

Beetroot · 23/01/2006 11:56

Someone to come in in the evenings and help her. She does not need medical help just a helping hand. She cannot pay the private nursing rates.

She is wonderful and funny.

Any ideas where we could find someone??

She lives in Shipley West Yorkshire.

OP posts:
Nemo1977 · 23/01/2006 12:12

surely social services should asses her for home help if its just someone to give a hand preparing a meal etc.

Hulababy · 23/01/2006 12:15

Could/would she let herself be assessed for attendance allowance maybe? Pays for someone to come in and help out.

Trying to persuade DH's grandad and wife to do this at moment as they pay themselves for a cleaner and a gardner, as well as odd jobs.

frogs · 23/01/2006 12:15

Local churches? Catholic churches often have a branch of an organisation called the St Vincent de Paul society that do voluntary work with vulnerable people. Don't know about other churches, but I'm sure there would be an equivalent.

Hulababy · 23/01/2006 12:17

More info about AA here

Original poster
Beetroot · 23/01/2006 12:26

she has someone come in in the day time already but they don't work after 5. So we need to find someone to come in in the evenings.

I was thinking of an au pair type person.

OP posts:
hornbag · 23/01/2006 12:42

Age Concern were a great help when my Gran needed help at home ( and then later when she moved into a nursing home)

They helped advise on what benefits and help she was entitled to, reputable tradesmen/companies to install mobility aids etc.

HTH

batters · 23/01/2006 12:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jenkel · 23/01/2006 12:51

My MIL runs a care agency, they supply carers for all hours, normal job would be somebody to go in early morning, to help them get up, washed/breakfast etc, lunch time if necessary and putting to bed. They even do sleepovers.... No medical experience but just somebody to be there to help out, unfortunatly she is in the South West. Contact social services and ask for a list of the care agencies that social services use (normally a good standard). Also, is she entitled to any funding? My MIL charges I think around £10 per hour, she will also arrange for shopping to be done, gardeners etc and runs a luncheon club.

reddevil · 23/01/2006 13:03

I found www.counselandcare.org.uk very useful when trying to sort out residential care for my MIL.They have lots of info on all aspects of community care as well so you might get some advice from them.
HTH

yoyo · 23/01/2006 13:15

My mother is employed as a carer and they do visits whenever they are requested. They will pop in and make sure there is a meal, wash dishes, put clothes away - whatever needs to be done really. Contact Social Services and they will arrange for someone to assess her needs.

Original poster
Beetroot · 23/01/2006 13:59

jenkel can you give the contact detsial for your mum if she is in the right area.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 23/01/2006 14:05

beetroot, can you contact her district nurse? in most areas there is an evening nurse service (sometimes called a 'tucking in service' or 'tucking down shift') and its nhs, carers will come in the evening and help with bedtimes, sometimes shower and help with any meds.

the next step would be to contact social services, a social worker, but imo the best person to talk to would be the district nurse

or sometimes people advertise through their local paper, but its essential you have references

good luck

Original poster
Beetroot · 23/01/2006 14:38

she does have someone from saocial services come in every day. Appaently that is all they can offer. The only way to go is private so instead of forking out for a nurse which she does not need we thought she should pay for a carer type person. She does have money,s he is just not rtolling in it iykwim

OP posts:
nailpolish · 23/01/2006 15:03

beetroot its worth a try with her district nurse

i would be very surprised if they didnt have an evening nurse service

you can advertise in the local paper, the going rate is about £6 per hr, for a carer, say for an hour at night? an hr and a half? could she afford that?

i really think you should phone the district nurse though

Original poster
Beetroot · 23/01/2006 15:04

Np yes she could afford that.
Will call district nurse as well. thanks NP

She is in a home for two weeks for some respite but prefers to be at her own home

OP posts:
nailpolish · 23/01/2006 15:05

the nursing home could give you backup with the district nurse

nailpolish · 23/01/2006 15:06

if she does advertise make sure they have references. but you probably know that

lots of luck, hope she has a fab DN

crunchie · 23/01/2006 15:12

You can get mothers helps and carers who are not medically trained. They don't have to be nurses. I would call around a few agencies to find out whatthey can offer.

jenkel · 23/01/2006 15:12

Sorry Beetroot, my MIL is in the South West. So is she having care at the moment through Social Services/GP Surgery. Sounds like she is but that she would like the carer to come a bit later too. If so, go down the Soical Services route, and see if they can put her in touch with an agency that does more comprehensive hours than what she is getting at the moment. Quite often social services will partially fund somebodies care, also it would be better for your Great Aunt to have the same person to provide all the care. Good luck

Original poster
Beetroot · 24/01/2006 13:30

thanks jenkel.

OP posts:
Bozza · 24/01/2006 13:41

I really think that there will be more on offer than your Aunt is aware of. I remember my Mum sorting out services for my own Great-Aunt - West Yorkshire but Kirklees not Bradford which is what Shipley will be. The Home Care team used to come in in the morning, at lunchtime (when they made her a hot meal and plated up a salad for her tea) and then at bedtime. They should tailor it to her needs.

Smurfgirl · 24/01/2006 15:13

Maybe ask at a local uni if they have any student nurses who want to go in of the evenings...they will be used to working with people and CRB checked.

Original poster
Beetroot · 24/01/2006 15:17

I a=have emailed my aunt with al lthe suggestions as she has been dealing with most of my great auns stuff. Thank you so much for your help.

OP posts:
Caligula · 24/01/2006 15:19

A good way of finding out whether there are small, local befriending and helping out charities, is to phone the local Volunteer Bureau and ask them. They have lists of charities looking for volunteers on their books, and as most charities are always desperate for volunteers, most are listed with them.

The advantage of getting a volunteer to do it, is that they will be doing it because they want to, rather than because they have to, and so your aunt may get a more personal service from someone who wants to chat and pass the time of day as well as do the work. (If that's what your aunt wants as well - maybe she doesn't want someone gabbing away to her!)

Bink · 24/01/2006 15:19

Does she have a big enough house for someone to live in? One of the charities (think it is Age Concern, not sure) does a HomeShare programme where a student (eg) gets a free room in exchange for cooking & being company.

We have a Slovakian friend-of-the-family (was our cleaner for years) who now does this to help herself through uni. She's a dear and always gets adopted as an extra relative by the families.