Long Term Care Procedures

A wide number of agencies and organisations are in the business of providing health and social care services .

Your Family Doctor plays a central part in making sure that you and your family and friends receive the care and support you need. Your GP is the person who can refer you to health care specialists and arrange for admission to an appropriate hospital.

Primary health care groups and trusts provide services through health visitors, district nurses, and therapists.

Social services departments have care managers that look at the care needs. They use rules called eligibility criteria and priorities to decide whether they can arrange services for you.

When you have an appointment about care services or support, be prepared with an outline of what help or support you think you need and how you think your needs can be supported.

Always listen carefully to what is being offered and the likely costs and outcomes. Suggest ways that any propositions can be adapted to meet both your needs, the resources of the organisation, and person offering the help.

Long-term care can be provided in any combination of the following:
- in the home of the person needing care,
- day care centres,
- sheltered housing,
- hospitals, and
- residential or nursing homes.

Further support can be given by:
- your family, friends, and neighbours,
- voluntary organisations,
- social services and social work departments,
- GP surgeries, district and community nurses, therapists, and
- private sector companies for other services.

The Department of Health Carer's Assessment brochure is a large pdf file which contains this actual text (4k without pictures)