Local residential care homes / sheltered housing?

[esme]

I am totally new to this but starting to research possible options for a relative.

Does anyone know of or could recommend local care homes or sheltered accommodation in the Dulwich area?

I know of Lew Evans House and Abbeyfield but want to look at as many as possible, especially given recent documentaries on poor care.

Many thanks.

[intexasatthe moment]

Hi - some info about ( rented ) Southwark sheltered housing here . http://www.southwark.gov.uk/a_to_z/service/84/sheltered_housing

Or there are leasehold schemes you can buy into and pay a service charge for extra facilties . There is one in Herne Hill for example http://www.housingcare.org/housing-care/facility-info-17255-dulwich-mead-dulwich-england.aspx

I guess it's pretty crucial to work out the level of support your relative needs/wants . There are some extra care sheltered housing schemes ( Anchor Housing ) which bridge the gap a little between sheltered and care homes .

McCarthy and Stone do a lot of retirement homes for sale . Anchor Housing do rented sheltered housing ,leasehold for sale ,care homes etc and are well established and respected http://www.anchor.org.uk/

Age UK are good for advice and have loads of fact sheets http://www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care/housing-choices/sheltered-housing

Good luck .

[minder]

Hi esme, I hope your search goes well. You might have to widen your search a bit further out of London as Southwark and Lambeth might not be able to help. It depends on the level of care etc. for your relative and whether they are mentally/physically able to cope by themselves etc.

Finding respite care in a Southwark care home (even for one or two weeks) is more or less impossible too as most are not equipped for somebody who needs 24/7 care. My Dad has a complex form of Alzheimers and we have had to go to Sanderstead in Croydon to get a weeks respite care for him at the end of May (we hope). Once the care homes know my Dad doesn't sleep at night they get back and say no.

[JDR]

Your relative may well have a social worker and they should have a list of homes that provide the appropriate level of care your relative needs. If not much joy, try Age Concern. They often have info or contacts of other organisations that might be able to help.

Good luck

[esme]

Thanks everyone - she isn't too frail yet thankfully (despite being in her late 80s) so it's more a question of her being lonely and starting with dementia (they have removed her hob for example, as she kept forgetting it was turned on). She lives in Somerset which is a big part of the problem, tho she is keen to move closer to us and other relatives in London so I am starting to do some research. If I thought childcare was a minefield it seems to have nothing on housing for the elderly!!

Unfortunately her social worker is not the best person to deal with (straight line thinker so dsnt really explain the options and panics a great deal which is very unhelpful as I am limited in what I can do right now owing to young baby).

I will definitely try some of your helpful suggestions, much appreciated. I have heard AgeUK are pretty amazing.

[Pugwash]

Lew Evans House is only available for Southwark residents who are tenants. The Anchor Homes in Southwark are registered for dementia care and are available to non Southwark Residents who are self funding. If your relative does not have savings or own property, she will need a social services assessment to determine whether she meets the eligibility criteria for social services assistance with fees. If she does meet that eligibility criteria - social services have a ceiling as to the maximum fees they will pay per week and it would be upto family/friends/charity to top up/make up difference in payment.

Abbeyfield usually have bedsits/studio flats and are staffed 6 days a week for meals etc. Nearest Abbeyfield in Southwark is Stradella Road Herne Hill. There are Hanover HA flats in Southwark - mainly in N Southwark, but I do not know the eligibility criteria for these as some HA sheltered housing units only take residents of that borough.

It does not sound as though your relative, at this stage, will be eligible for social services funded care, but may qualify for a care package which would include a day centre. Most social services now encourage people who meet the eligibility criteria for community care to have a Personal Budget which would give them the freedom of organising their own care.

Age UK has a number of leaflets/publications which you can download from their website. I would recommend that you look at several of these before considering a move of your relative to London.

There is a private SHU in Dulwich - Dulwich Mead but if your relative is unable to answer her intercom to carers (especially if they are appointed by the council),they may have difficulty in getting accepted as a leaseholder.

[intexasatthe moment]

I used to clean for a resident at Dulwich Mead . There were key safes at the entrance for carers to gain access so I don't think this need be a problem .

I used to work for Anchor Housing several decades ago and at the time with many of their sheltered properties it was possible for an elderly person to move to be near a relative .So an elderly person in say Horsham who had a daughter living in the borough of Southwark could apply for a vacany in Clifton Court ( rented sheltered housing in Peckham

http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/facilities/generated-brochures/10464-clifton-court-peckham-england.pdf

I can't find requirements quoted in current on line stuff for Anchor . They will vary according to scheme ,location ,local authority and popularity . Back in the day priority used to be given to people with low incomes ,little assets .

A lot of the sheltered property was built in the 70's and consisted of bedsits/studio apartments and may be less sought after now with people wanting seperate bedrooms .

Anchor is a national ,very large ,very reputable organisation .

There are a number of organisations with charitable foundations providing sheltered housing - I've seen the City Of LOndon advertise for tenants for their Sydenham Hill estate a few times ,as I recall they had quite loose requirements regarding residential connections .Might be worth considering

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/housing-and-council-tax/supported-and-sheltered-housing/sheltered-housing-for-older-people/Pages/Mais-House-.aspx

Much will depend on your relatives wishes and health of course . There are many things that I know would improve my mothers safety ,health and happiness . But will she entertain them ? Will she hell .

If your relative is showing signs of dementia ,and IME people can normally hide this quite well for some time ,this is a big factor . Depending on the diagnosis and prognosis you may need to be considering care homes as opposed to retirement housing .

Good luck with it all .

[Pugwash]

I had forgotten the Corporation of London flats on Sydenham Hill. I think there may be a change of policy at Dulwich Mead as I heard that the warden had refused to allow an external keysafe to be installed to allow carers access to the building a resident was bed bound and could not open outer door by the intercom.

Clifton Court still exists in Peckham and I believe there is another Anchor SHU in Lambeth.

Hexagon Housing and Riverside (previously called English Churches Care) also have SHU, as do Hyde Housing

[intexasatthe moment]

Anchor has sheltered housing to rent in all London boroughs ,several in Lambeth - Henry Twining Court in Clapham ,one in South Island Place near Stockwell ,Manor Court in Brixton ,one in /near Knatchbull Rd near Camberwell Green .

Sorry ,I'm being a bore . Just amazed that some of memory is still there !

[esme]

thanks everyone, v.useful info!

[PointlessWord423]

No, you shouldn?t think of nursing homes. The residents there are poorly cared for not to mention that they are clamouring for attention often because they are so many. Instead, consider availing Durham Home Care as it is more personal and convenient for the patient.

[PunyRun076]

I think there are some good care at home Sunderland you can find at the Internet. If you don?t mind me asking though, why are you looking for one? What?s your relative?s condition? Because you know, you should find the best one suited for their needs. Nevertheless, hope you find one soon!

[PunyRun076]

I think there are some good [care at home Sunderland] you can find at the Internet. If you don?t mind me asking though, why are you looking for one? What?s your relative?s condition? Because you know, you should find the best one suited for their needs. Nevertheless, hope you find one soon!