We all want our parents to stay healthy and safe, but sometimes an elderly parent might need help at home, that we are unable to provide. So, you might be wondering what you can do in this situation to support your parent and help them understand their options. For example, if your dad needs help with some everyday tasks or he is recovering from an injury, it can be difficult to know what to do, especially if you live far away. This is why, today we have prepared a practical guide, that you can use to assess your dad’s needs and find out how you can organise day-to-day care at home.

Think About Their Needs

Looking after an elderly parent can sometimes feel overwhelming, as you might not be sure how you can fulfil their needs. Therefore, it’s advisable to take some time to think about their needs when it comes to medication, mobility, personal hygiene, meal preparation, and home safety. You can arrange for a Care Act assessment or CHC assessment to be carried out, which will include a detailed appraisal of your dad’s needs. The assessment is typically conducted with a nursing professional, as well as a social worker and other professionals, who may be involved in your dad’s care.

Get Access To Social Care

To ensure that your dad can get access to Continuing Healthcare, you will need to prepare in advance for his Decision Support Tool, which refers to the full Continuing Healthcare assessment. However, many people often find barriers when trying to access Continuing Healthcare. Navigating the care system can be challenging, so you may want to start by familiarising yourself with the most common acronyms and terms, that you need to know about. In addition, it can be a good idea to estimate future costs that you may need in order to support your dad effectively, such as everyday costs like food, medicine, and other caregiving supplies.

Make Sure Your Dad Is Included In The Process

It’s crucial to include your parent in this process, as you don’t want him to feel like he has lost control of his life. If he is worried about losing his independence, it’s advisable to discuss his unique circumstances with him and involve him as much as possible when making important decisions regarding his care. Chances are that he might not feel comfortable at first, so it’s best to have as many conversations as needed to reassure him that you will do this together and there won’t be any sudden changes.

Seek Additional Support

If you find yourself on the waiting list for an assessment for too long, you can count on our team to offer practical advice and support with gaining CHC funding or social care funding. We launched Socia Partners with the aim of helping individuals access support no matter where they live. Because of this, we consider ourselves the best-placed organisation in the country to support you and your loved ones in getting accurate information and empowering you with the knowledge you need to access adult social care.

Take a look at our FAQs for more information and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you are still unsure about anything.