Greensleeves Care’s Essential Care Toolkit
The following resources have been carefully selected by our experts to help you understand and source the right support for yourself or your loved one, saving you hours of research.
Preparing for the prospect of care
- NHS: Introduction to care and support
A strong place to start – a short and accessible overview of all things social care, with links for more detail.
Visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/introduction-to-care-and-support/
- Age Space: Prepare to Care Guide
This practical checklist for families to help assess confidently if a loved one needs additional support, and the basics of getting ready for care. Download: https://agespaceimages.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/10112616/Age-Space-Prepare-To-Care-Downloadable-Guide-2023.pdf
- Greensleeves Care: Get Care Wise
Our own guide built around four easy steps to start learning about care early and help you make more confident decisions.
Visit: https://www.greensleeves.org.uk/n/get-care-wise/
- My Future Care: Handbook
A comprehensive resource designed to help you think about, and document, preferences around how you want to be supported when the time comes. Please note there is a cost to the handbook.
Visit: https://myfuturecare.org/the-handbook/
Assessing care needs formally
- Which?: Care needs assessment guide
A detailed explanation of the care needs assessment process, including step-by-step advice on how to apply, what the assessment entails, and tips for making the most out of the assessment.
Visit: https: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/later-life-care/article/care-needs-assessment-how-to-apply-and-prepare-a1Srf0g8OSO4
Exploring types of care
- NHS: Care and support you can get
Outlines the wide range of support that available to older people, including home adaptations and equipment.
Visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/
- Lottie: Different types of care for older adults
A comprehensive breakdown of the most common types of care available from domiciliary care to nursing homes.
Visit: https://lottie.org/care-guides/types-of-care/
Selecting the right care
- Care Quality Commission: What to expect from a good care service
Guidance straight from the care regulator based on what their own inspectors look out for. The CQC also provides ratings and inspection reports that can help families choose a safe and effective care provider.Visit: https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/what-expect-good-care-service
- Age UK: Choosing the right care home
If 24/7 specialist care is the preferred support option, this wide offers advice on what to look for when choosing a care home, including what questions to ask and how to assess the quality of care.
Visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/arranging-care/care-homes/choosing-care-home/
Paying for care
- Age UK: The financial assessment for care explained
Everything you need to know about the so called ‘means test’, what to expect, what counts and what doesn’t and how much you may have to pay to cover the costs of care.
Visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/financial-assessment/
- AgeSpace: Funding care
An accessible overview of funding options including annuities and equity release.
Visit: https://www.agespace.org/finance/funding-elderly-care
- NHS: Free care and support
This resource signposts to support that is available for free, no matter what your income is, from some equipment and home adaptations to help after a hospital discharge.
Visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/care-and-support-you-can-get-for-free/
Settling into care
- Independent age: Settling into a care home
This free guide covers all the practical considerations, from furniture to pets and how to make the most of the first few days in your new setting.
Download: https://www.independentage.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/Advice-Guide-Settling-into-a-care-home_0.pdf