Am I eligible for services?

Risks to Independence

• Autonomy and freedom to make choices e.g. are you able to communicate your wishes effectively and do your carers deal with your requests with respect?
• Health and safety e.g. are you aware of common dangers and can you carry out tasks safely such as getting up and down stairs?
• Managing personal and other daily routines e.g. are you able to get up, wash, get dressed and prepare meals for yourself?
• Involvement in family and wider community e.g. are there barriers which prevent you being involved with work, family and friends and the wider community as you wish?

Criteria

• Critical – where the risks to a person’s independence are immediate and action is required without delay
• Substantial – where the risks mean that a person will lose their independence in the future
• Moderate – where the risks mean that a person is likely to lose their independence in the future
• Low – where the risks mean that it is uncertain that a person would lose their independence

Eligibility

The ability to live safely in a place of one’s choosing and retain the capacity to undertake (with support) the essential requirements of personal, social and financial management.

Examples

• Mrs. A lives alone, is incontinent and unable to bathe or wash herself without probable risk of falling. She is becoming very depressed because of her condition and unable to undertake self-care tasks such as preparing meals. These risks could be assessed as critical and bathing included in the care plan.

• Mr. B is physically disabled and lives with his family. He is unable to take a bath alone but is able to manage an overall wash and family members are willing to assist him in taking a shower. These risks are likely to be assessed as low and no services provided.

• Mr. C has a severe physical disability, a history of mental health problems and is cared for by his elderly parents. He has worked in a charity shop for some years but he has been told that the shop is to close. Mr. C has become very depressed and this has led to violent outbursts at home, including one where his mother was badly injured during an argument between Mr. C and his father. Mr. C and his carers are likely to be assessed as critical.

• Mrs. D has both a physical and a learning disability. She has lived alone since her marriage broke down six months previously and is finding it difficult to keep her flat clean although she is able to manage her personal care and friends help with the shopping. The risks associated with Mrs. D are likely to be assessed as moderate and although social services would not provide any services they would advise Mrs. D about purchasing cleaning services from a private agency and discuss the options for tenancy support in her area.

• Mrs. E has a degenerative illness and is becoming increasingly frail and is in the early stages of dementia. She is currently supported by her daughter who visits three times each day to help Mrs. E bathe, dress, clean the house and prepare meals. However the daughter is moving to another part of the country in a couple of months. These risks are likely to be seen as substantial and services put in prior to the daughter leaving.

• Mr. F is registered Blind but has sufficient sight to carry out most personal care tasks but burns himself regularly when preparing hot drinks and meals. These risks are likely to be assessed as substantial and specialist services contacted to teach new and safe skills.