Organising Care and Support

One main route to support is contacting the council’s adult social care team to request a free Care Needs Assessment. This is an assessment of a person’s ‘eligible needs’ and can help because it provides a report of what the needs are and how these could be met (a care plan) and the cost of meeting the needs (a personal budget amount), which can be a good basis for arranging care and support. Adaptations costing £1,000 or less must be provided free of charge by the local authority if they are as agreed as meeting eligible needs. The local authority may also be able to contribute towards care package fees and larger adaptations, depending on the outcome of a separate financial assessment. There may be a wait for the assessment so make it clear if help is required more urgently. 

If you have an informal carer, like a partner, they can ask for their own Carer's Assessment to get help.  

• Wiltshire Council Adult Social Care:   0300 456 0111
• Swindon Borough Council Adult Social Care:   01793 445 500   

Also, there is extra money from the government (which is not means-tested), called Attendance Allowance (IG49), that can help pay for this type of support and other things to help people to stay independent at home. We can help people to apply for this. 

You can read more about these in Age UK’s info guide Getting help at home (IG23). 

Finding a trustworthy cleaner or domestic help service can be difficult – whilst we can’t recommend or endorse any company or individual, we’ve put together some suggestions in our AUKW Domestic Help Guide to help you understand what type of help you need and the options available so you can make an informed choice

We have further information and links relating to this topic on our Local Services and Trades search page under the ‘Housing, care and help at home’ category.

Equipment can be purchased, rented or may be provided free through statutory services like your local authority.

One main route to support is contacting the council’s adult social care team to request a free care needs assessment. This is an assessment of a person’s ‘eligible needs’ and can help because it provides a report of what the needs are and how these could be met (a care plan) and the cost of meeting the needs (a personal budget amount), which can be a good basis for arranging care and support. Adaptations costing £1,000 or less must be provided free of charge by the local authority if they are as agreed as meeting eligible needs. The local authority may also be able to contribute towards larger adaptations (‘Disabled Facilities Grant’) or a care package, depending on the outcome of a separate financial assessment. There may be a wait for the assessment so make it clear if help is required more urgently. There is further information in the Age UK info guide Adapting your home (IG17)

If you have an informal carer, like a partner, they can ask for their own Carer's Assessment to get help.  

• Wiltshire Council Adult Social Care:   0300 456 0111
• Swindon Borough Council Adult Social Care:   01793 445 500   

Some items of equipment, such as commodes or walking aids can also be requested free on loan from your GP or district nurse. 

Many items can be rented or purchased privately and there is information about these options on our Local Services and Trades search page under the ‘Aids, Equipment and Technology’, including information sheets for Stairlifts and Personal Alarms / Lifelines.

Also, there is extra money from the government (which is not means-tested), called Attendance Allowance (IG49), that can help pay for this type of support and other things to help people to stay independent at home. We can help people to apply for this.

When you no longer need equipment you might like it to go to someone else in need or just want it out of the way. Whilst Age UK Wiltshire can’t take equipment ourselves we have several suggestions on our Local Services and Trades page under the ‘Aids, Equipment and technology’ category subsection ‘Donating/ disposal of mobility aids and equipment’.

One main route to arranging support is contacting the council’s adult social care team to request a free care needs assessment. This is an assessment of a person’s ‘eligible needs’ and can help because it provides a report of what the needs are and how these could be met (a care plan) and the cost of meeting the needs (a personal budget amount), which can be a good basis for arranging care and support such as equipment or a care package. Adaptations costing £1,000 or less must be provided free of charge by the local authority if they are as agreed as meeting eligible needs. The local authority may be able to contribute towards a care package or larger adaptations, depending on the outcome of a separate financial assessment. There may be a wait for the assessment so make it clear if help is required more urgently. You can read more about these in Age UK’s info guide Getting help at home (IG23). 

If you have an informal carer, like a partner, they can ask for their own Carer's Assessment to get help. 

• Wiltshire Council Adult Social Care:   0300 456 0111
• Swindon Borough Council Adult Social Care:   01793 445 500

Also, there is extra money from the government (which is not means-tested), called Attendance Allowance (IG49), that can help pay for this type of support and other things to help people to stay independent at home. We can help people to apply for this.  

Some people are eligible for some local authority funding towards care costs. A person’s financial contribution towards their care costs is calculated from their individual finances using rules outlined in the Care Act 2014 and most people need to pay something towards their care. If you have more than £23,250 in capital you may need to pay all your care costs as a ‘self funder’. In certain circumstances care costs may be met through NHS Continuing Health Care Funding (NHS CHC) which is not means-tested.  

There is more information about paying for a care package at home in Age UK factsheet Paying for care at home (FS46)

There is more information about paying for residential care homes in Age UK factsheet Finding, choosing and funding a care home (FS29)

For self-funders, the Money Helper Service has a page on self-funding your long term care with other options to consider. It is important to be aware of deprivation of assets rules in case you need local authority funding in the future. 

Age UK Wiltshire are not able to recommend specific care providers but see the 'Housing, Care and Help at Home' category of our Local Services and Trades Page for links to find a care agency, care home or personal assistant.

We understand that arranging and funding care support whether at home or residential care can be complex and we can give further advice on specific enquiries. 

One main option, if a caring role is having an impact on a person’s wellbeing and/or affecting their physical or mental health then they can request a free carer’s assessment from the local authority adult social care team. This is specifically for informal carers and can lead to help with the caring role, respite care, aids/equipment and support to complete a carer’s emergency card. The local authority may help fund some of this.

Additionally, you can contact your Local Authority’s adult social care team to request a free care needs assessment for the person you care for which could result in equipment and care to help them at home.   There is more information about these in Age UK’s info guide Advice for carers (IG13)

There is a local scheme Carer’s Together Wiltshire tel: 01380 710300 or email enquiries@carerstogetherwiltshire.org.uk and in Swindon there is Swindon Carer’s Centre that offer support for informal carers.

We can complete a free benefits check to ensure a person is claiming everything available to them. Particularly, the cared-for person could be entitled to a non-means-tested disability benefit or the carer may be entitled to extra money for being a carer. This could be extra money to help pay for respite care and other support. 

See our dedicated Organising Care and Support page for more ideas and suggestions. We understand that arranging and funding care support whether at home or residential care can be complex and we can give further advice on specific enquiries if needed. 

No-one likes the idea of going into hospital but the majority of us will need to do this at some point in our lives, particularly as we get older. Age UK’s guide Your hospital stay (IG07) is here to help put you at ease during what can be an unsettling time. 

In Wiltshire there is a free Home from Hospital service provided by Age UK Bath & North East Somerset (BANES). This short-term support helps practically and emotionally to build your confidence and connect you to groups and services.

We have suggestions, further information and links relating to hospital transport on our website under the ‘Travel and Transport’ category of our Local Services and Trades page.

If you feel you need some more support at home because of a long-term health condition or disability, then they could be eligible for other help. There is a benefit called 'Attendance Allowance' to help with the extra costs of having a long-term health condition or disability and people may be entitled to a free care needs assessment from the local authority adult social care team for extra support. You can read more about these in Age UK’s info guide Getting help at home (IG23). 

Maintaining good health is important to everyone as it can help you to remain independent and active. Age UK’s info guide Healthy living (IG24) has information on age-related health conditions, dealing with health services and tips on staying fit and healthy. 

In the first instance it’s a good idea to discuss your concerns with your GP. You can also explore the other FAQs and our dedicated Organising Care and Support page - there may be other support available such as adult social care assessment, support for carers and disability benefits.

 The following guides may be of interest to boost your physical and mental health: 

Age UK info guide Getting help at home (IG23)   

Age UK info guide Staying steady (IG14)

If you have concerns about your memory, Age UK info guides Living with dementia (IG48) and At home with dementia (IG55) can help and reassure you how to manage this condition. Wiltshire’s Dementia Road Map from Alzheimer's Support Wiltshire has lots of information on local support.

If you have concerns about your overall mental health or wellbeing we have a list of mental health support numbers