Local councils are required to offer a free Care Needs Assessment to anyone who requests one, regardless of whether they think you will be eligible for any aid, in accordance with the Care Act 2014. An elderly person will frequently receive a recommendation from their doctor or another healthcare professional for such an assessment, but they can also apply directly to the council.
You can apply for a free NHS Care Needs Assessment here.
The assessor will be a professional who will speak with you on the phone or in person, such as an occupational therapist, nurse, or social worker. All facets of your daily life that are connected to your health and social care will be covered by the assessor. They will quiz you on routine activities like washing, dressing, and cooking as well as more specialised ones like making a cup of tea, getting out of a chair, and turning on and off the faucets. Although some people might find these inquiries intrusive, their purpose is to determine the areas in which you require support and attention. In order to ensure the best results, it is crucial that you are truthful and open in expressing your worries, difficulties, and feelings.
The goal of the Care Needs Assessment is to determine your eligibility for care, which is contingent upon you satisfying the three requirements listed below (Care Act 2014):
1. The adult’s care and support needs are not the result of other external circumstances but rather result from or are connected to a physical or mental impairment or illness.
2. The adult cannot accomplish two or more of the outcomes listed below due to their needs.
- Keeping track of and managing nutrition Can they go grocery shopping and prepare meals? Do they have problems eating or swallowing, for example?
- Preserving one’s personal hygiene Can the adult properly wash themselves? Do they have access to laundry facilities or a washing machine?
- Taking care of toilet needs. Is the loo reachable? Can they keep themselves clean at night?
- Wearing the right clothing. Can they fasten or put on their clothes? Can they afford new clothes when they are needed?
- The ability to use the adult’s house safely. Can they use the kitchen and bathrooms? Can they climb stairs? Can they safely operate household appliances?
- Keeping the home environment liveable. Is the house dry and safe enough—not damp or in need of repair—to live in?
- Creating and maintaining relationships with family or other people in your life. Does the adult feel isolated or lonely? Does their mental illness or autism prevent them from maintaining relationships because of their physical or psychological condition?
- Assessing and participating in employment, education, training, or volunteerism. Can the adult communicate effectively and safely leave their home? Do they have access to data on opportunities that are available to them?
- Utilizing community resources or services, such as public transportation and recreational facilities. Can they move around the neighbourhood unsupervised and safely?
- Fulfilling any obligations for care. Does the adult have any overwhelming caregiving or parenting obligations?
3. The adult’s wellbeing is likely to be significantly impacted as a result of not being able to achieve these outcomes.
You will be given a copy of the recorded data after the Care Needs Assessment. The practitioner will then continue the conversation with you about the support you require and the most effective means of obtaining it. A care plan will be created to start this process if it is determined that you have satisfied the three requirements listed above and you are eligible for assistance from the council. The council might recommend useful tools and fixes, like disability equipment or home modifications.
A means test, or financial evaluation, will be the next step in this procedure. This evaluation’s goal is to determine whether you can pay for your own care or whether the council will contribute to it. In the end, they’ll consider two things: your capital and your income. However, you ought to get a letter outlining the reasons for this choice if the council determines that you are ineligible for financial assistance. The council will also point you in the direction of businesses and nonprofits that might be able to assist you.
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