Care is changing - have your say

Before Alf got ill, he and his wife Jean enjoyed a happy and active retirement. But Alf has dementia and Jean has to provide and pay for his care. Finding out how to deal with this illness and getting access to professional help wasn’t easy. Although they now get some help and financial assistance, it‘s already eating away at their savings.

Unfortunately this is an all too familiar story because many people or their family and friends don’t know what care is available or how much it is going to cost until they really need it.

The fact is that the country’s ageing population, and increasing numbers of adults with physical or learning disabilities, are placing additional pressure on the social care system and its ability to cope with demand. And there is the need to think about how this extra demand will be paid for and provided.

Over the next three years, the Government requires local authorities to provide care and support that is tailored to everyone who needs it including offering them personal budgets. By having a personal budget people will be able to choose how their own needs can be met.

These changes will impact on and affect all of us, maybe not today or tomorrow but in the future. Some questions that have already been raised include:

• Are you worried about selling your home to pay for care?

• Should the state pay towards social care for every person who needs it regardless of how rich or poor they are?

• To what extent would you be prepared to contribute what the Council pays towards the cost of your care?

• Would you like to receive money to arrange your own care with support and advice rather than having the care organised for you?

Tell us what you think…

In Hampshire, the County Council has gone one step further and wants to hear people’s views, stories and experiences of adult social care. It has begun a Commission of Inquiry and throughout a series of public hearings is gathering evidence from local people, carers and national experts about their experiences and the challenges facing care services.

Your views and opinions will help inform this process.

Write to: The Commission Team, Adult Services, FREEPOST SO 2077, Winchester, SO 23 8BR

Visit: Our Personalisation webpages

Email: personalisation.commission@hants.gov.uk

Telephone: 01962 847200

NB: Please quote HNO W25 on all correspondence.