Support for patients, families and carers
Support for patients, families and carers
A hand to hold
If you, or someone you know is facing the last months, weeks or days of life, Age Well East's free end of life volunteer support service can offer companionship when you need it most.
Their compassionate companions will support you with dignity, empathy and a non-judgemental listening ear.
Emotional support
Emotional support is just as important as physical support. Age Well East's emotional support services are available for free to help you talk through your fears, listen to how you are feeling and offer compassion and companionship, helping you feel connected and support.
Practical and wellbeing support
If your medical team can’t help you some of your practical or wellbeing needs, they may refer you to a social prescriber or GP care advisor.
Social prescribers work within the local community and have connections with lots of organisations and services which they can signpost you to, to assist you with your physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.
The aim of social prescribing is to empower you to take control of your own health and wellbeing. They will discuss your needs with you or your loved one, and can then signpost you to support resources for issues such as benefit checks, counselling, shopping, medication collection and befriending services.
Social prescribers can also help signpost you to respite support available to you, your family and carers.
To access your local social prescribing team either contact your registered GP or member of your medical team and ask for a referral for social prescribing, or visit your registered practice website and click Wellbeing Centre for details of how to make a self-referral.
Care advisors help people to access social care, welfare benefits and self-help support to help maintain independence at home.
They will listen to patients, families and carers, and provide advice, support, information and assistance in obtaining services from other agencies, and where appropriate, will make initial contact on the patient’s behalf.
Care advisors specialise in helping people access financial and practical support such as providing advice and completion of welfare benefit claim forms; providing an assessment of needs for essential equipment for the home, such as handrails; and can identify whether you are entitled to any form of grant.
They also provide assistance in particular to carers of patients with dementia.
To receive support from a GP care advisor, referrals can be made through your GP surgery, just ask to have an appointment with the GP care advisor and they will call you to discuss your needs or arrange an appointment if required.
Carer support
If you're an unpaid carer, aged 18 and over, and are supporting someone in Essex, Carers First can help you whatever stage you are at in your caring journey. Carers First offer online help and advice, as well as practical and emotional support, and run regular support groups and events. You don’t have to wait until reaching a crisis point before asking for help - the earlier you ask, the bigger the difference it can make. Carers First can also support you for 12-24 months after the death of the person you were caring for.
Visit the Carers First website for information on how Carers First can help you.
Financial support
If you’re a patient, or family member or carer of an individual facing the end of life, and you’re concerned about money, there are organisations and benefits that can help you.
Below is a list of websites that offer information about support that may be available to you.
GP care advisors can help you complete benefit forms and send them to the DWP on your behalf. They can either sit with the patient at home or over the phone and go through the forms with you to ensure they are completed correctly and they will maximise the financial income for the whole family, not just the patient.
Social prescribers may also be able to help signpost you to support available locally.
If you’re particularly concerned about funding for continuing care in a care home, NHS Continuing Healthcare may be able to help.
There are 'special rules' for benefits to support people nearing the end of life and these have recently been improved. You can find out more at the Government website and ask your clinician, such as a GP, hospital consultant, hospice doctor or registered nurse, to provide medical evidence for a benefit claim under the ‘Special Rules’ process.
If you’re looking to plan ahead and would like to find out more about how to make a will, how to plan around inheritance tax and general guidance on getting your affairs in order, the below websites can help you:
If you’re looking for a local care home for you or a loved one, below are some websites which can help you.
Care homes and nursing homes
Essex Care Search can help you to find nursing/care homes
On the CQC website you can read their leaflet about what to expect from a good care home, as well as read CQC inspection reports and find and compare care homes.