What the Care Act means for you
- What is care and support?
- What is changing?
- How will the changes affect me?
- Difference between care and support from the council and the care you receive at home from NHS
What is care and support?
Some adults require help and support to allow them to lead independent lives or improve their quality of life. This can include help with things like getting out of bed, washing, dressing, getting to work, cooking meals, caring for families and being part of the community. It might also include emotional support at a time of difficulty, or helping people who are caring for an adult family member or friend.
What is changing?
From April 2015 the Care Act made care and support more consistent across the country. The changes are designed to put you in control of the help you receive. Any decisions about your care and support must consider your wellbeing and what is important to you and your family, so you can stay healthy and remain independent for longer.
How will the changes affect me?
People should get the care and support they need, either from the council or from other organisations in the community. People who receive care and support from the council should have more say over what sort of help they get and the choices available to them. More help should be available for people who give unpaid care and support to an adult family member or friend.
What’s the difference between care and support from the council and the care I receive at home from NHS?
The council is responsible for providing residents with social care, which includes providing assistance with daily living activities, helping people to maintain their independence, enabling people to play a fuller part in society, and protecting people in vulnerable situations.
The NHS is responsible for providing health care, which incorporates everything medical, including people who have complex and ongoing healthcare needs.
As well as care and support organised by the council, some people are also eligible to receive help from the NHS. This help may be a nursing service for people who are ill or recovering at home after leaving hospital. If you are eligible for this kind of help, a health professional such as your GP or Community Nurse should be able to tell you. This is known as NHS continuing healthcare (CHC).
- For more information visit the North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group's Continuing Healthcare page (external link)