Lifeline service connects with those who don't know where to turn for care

Council-owned care provider has been successful in reaching out to older people in need of care advice, realising the need for a ‘signposting’ service to give service users and their families all the options.

Launched in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, the independent brokerage service looks to offer in-depth advice on home and residential care options, having received more than 70 enquiries and referrals since the summer.

Independent broker Simon Lock believes all local authorities should consider offering such a lifeline to their communities, commenting: “The service will ensure that solutions provide real value for money, and that customers feel confident in making independent decisions.

“We offer this service because we recognise making these types of decisions can be very difficult and emotional, and often have to be made at times when you may be unwell, are in hospital or are adjusting after bereavement.

“I visited a couple where the husband, who had been the main carer of his wife, suffered a huge stroke and needed a long stay in hospital, leaving the wife unable to manage.

“She needed care, but didn’t know what she needed, where she could get it, how much it would cost, and so on.

“I helped her identify her needs, discussed costs and types of agencies with her, and then I called some agencies to arrange for a couple of visits so the lady could be assessed as soon as possible.

“I also advised her to get financial advice, and contacted the Stroke Association on the couple’s behalf to ensure her husband is ‘on their radar’ so they could offer her guidance too.”

Further to this development, Optalis has also opened its own Memory Café in Finchampstead, enabling people living with memory loss to meet informally and discuss the challenges they face.