Types of care and support for adults - Print version

Information and advice

There is a range of organisations in Coventry that provide information, advice and advocacy services.

Some of these services provide a wide range of general information and advice, and others are more specialist and can help people with specific needs.

The Council works with organisations including, Age UK Coventry, The Carers' Trust - Heart of England, (formerly Coventry Carers' Centre and Crossroads Care - Coventry and Warwickshire), Alzheimer's Society and Grapevine to make sure that people are able to get information and support in a range of settings to help them when they need it most. They can help people find information about services, benefits, entitlements, financial advice and support with any issues that may be affecting them.

The Carers' Trust provides services from a city centre site, hospitals, in the community and in people's own homes, which help people to maintain their caring role whilst also looking after themselves.

Download our printable guide to the support available [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/34825/adult_social_care_and_support_available_printable_leaflet]

Advocacy [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/adult.page?adultchannel=5]

Advocacy is when a person - called an advocate - speaks or acts for you. Advocates are not linked to the Council. This means you can have someone to give your views and wishes, look after your rights and represent your interests.

Most people will never need an advocate as they will be able to speak up for themselves, with or without support or will have family or friends who are able to represent them.

An advocate protects people who are vulnerable by speaking up for them and being there to represent their interests. It helps people with physical or learning disabilities, older people and those with mental health needs, to make the right choices and decisions about their own health and social care.

Carers' support [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/carers]

There are a number of organisations in Coventry that provide support for carers. The Carers' Trust - Heart of England (formerly Coventry Carers' Centre and Crossroads Care - Coventry and Warwickshire) is the main hub in the city for carers' support. It can help with information and advice, support groups, short breaks (replacement care), emergency support and training. They also support young carers through the Children in Need funded project run at the Centre.

Some other organisations also provide carers' support in a range of ways, sometimes indirectly through supporting the person with care and support needs (residential respite / day services / information services).

Support to live at home

Equipment to help with day-to-day living [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/adult.page?adultchannel=8]

There are many pieces of equipment and products that can help you to live as independently as possible by making everyday tasks easier and safer.  These can help with things such as:

• domestic tasks, such as kettle tippers and perching stools
• bathing, such as bath boards and seats
• using the toilet, such as raised toilet seats and commodes
• mobility, such as hoists, specialist beds and chairs

Sometimes it may be helpful for changes to be made to your home, for example, adding grab rails, widening doors, or fitting a stairlift. More information about changes to your home [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/80/help_to_live_at_home/988/home_adaptations].

Telecare [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/telecare]

Coventry TeleCareline is a 24-hour service that provides and monitors a range of equipment and sensors. These can be worn, or put in a person's home to help them remain independent. When alarms go off, support is provided, which can be from a neighbour or friend, a service organised by us or the emergency services.

Home support [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/results.page?adultchannel=2_4]

Home support, also known as domiciliary care, is a service provided by paid care workers in someone's own home to help them manage their day to day tasks. Support can include (but is not limited to) personal care, giving medication, washing and generally making sure people's health and wellbeing is being maintained.

There is a range of providers of home support in Coventry that can help people and are available without the need for us to be involved.

Personal assistant [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directpayments]

A personal assistant is someone you choose and employ to give the support you need, in the way that suits you best. This may include cooking, cleaning, help with personal care such as washing and dressing, and other things such as getting out and about in your community. If you have certain needs, your personal assistant can be paid through direct payments [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/directpayments] or a personal budget.

Home meals [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/80/help_to_live_at_home/1310/home_meals_service]

Commonly known as Meals on Wheels, home meals are pre-packed meals delivered to people who can't prepare their own meals and do not have other support.

In Coventry, we work with a provider called ICare that provides meals to people in contact with us and people who choose to buy meals privately.

Incontinence laundry [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/80/help_to_live_at_home/2217/continence_care]

This service is open to the people who meet our conditions. The service helps people who can't manage their day-to-day laundry. The service involves delivery of a set of sheets either 'single' or 'double' that are pre-packed (each pack of laundry contains 'two bed sheets' and 'one draw sheet') and ready to be used. When a delivery is made, the old sheets are taken away for washing.

Support for your carer to take a break

It is really important that carers get a break from time to time because caring long-term can have lasting effects on a person’s health and wellbeing. You might need additional support so that you can arrange cover when your carer wants to take a break from their normal caring role, for example, if they want to go out with a friend or are going on holiday. This is sometimes called replacement care.

As with many social care services for adults, you will need to meet the eligibility criteria and there may be a charge for this service depending on the outcome of your financial assessment [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/75/money_and_legal_matters/2453/financial_assessment_overview] and your ability to contribute towards the cost of your care, however not everyone will have to pay or the charge could be very low.

This support needs to be flexible and different people will need different levels of help.  Replacement care can be organised in a number of ways.

Flexible short breaks

This is where some additional hours of support are allocated as part of your support plan and these can be used flexibly when your carer has something else they want to do such as visiting a friend or going out to socialise. We have a short break service provided by Carers Trust Heart of England [http://www.carerstrusthofe.org.uk/] which can be used or you might choose to take this as a direct payment [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/directpayments] so you can use a personal assistant or another agency .

Respite care

This is where you will need support over a longer period of time, for example, if your carer is going on holiday.

• If it is safe for you to stay at home but you need additional support to cover the tasks your carer usually helps you with, you may need some temporary home support services or additional day opportunities during this time. 
• If you need more support than can be provided at home you may need to stay in a residential home during this time.  This is called residential respite care.

Whatever option is required you can choose for us to arrange care and support on your behalf or to take your personal budget as a direct payment [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/directpayments] so you can arrange the support yourself with your carer.

Supported housing options and residential care homes

Sheltered housing [https://www.coventryhomefinder.com/]

Sheltered housing (also known as retirement housing) means having your own flat or bungalow in a block, or on a small estate, where all the other residents are older people as well. Most developments (or 'schemes') provide independent, self-contained homes with their own front doors.

Many schemes also have their own 'manager' either living on-site or nearby, who run the scheme and help arrange any services residents need. Managed schemes will also usually have some shared facilities, such as a lounge for residents to meet, a laundry, a guest flat and a garden.

• Sheltered housing vacancies are advertised on Coventry Homefinder. [https://www.coventryhomefinder.com/]
• All general social housing vacancies in Coventry are advertised on Coventry Homefinder. [https://www.coventryhomefinder.com/]

Housing with Care [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/results.page?adultchannel=2_3]

Housing with Care, sometimes known as Extra Care, is housing designed for frailer adults and older people, with various levels of care and support available on site. People who live in Housing with Care have their own self-contained flats, their own front doors and a legal right to live in the property. It comes in many forms, including blocks of flats, bungalow estates and retirement villages. It is a popular choice among older people because it can sometimes be an alternative to a residential or nursing home.

In Coventry there is a range of Housing with Care schemes run by both the Council and private companies.

Shared Lives [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/sharedlives]

The Shared Lives Scheme is a personalised service that provides people with disabilities with the support they need to live an independent life in the community. This support is provided by Shared Lives Carers and their families using their family home. Shared Lives placements can be for an extended stay, short break, or short stay.

Residential Care Homes [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/results.page?adultchannel=2_1]

A residential care home is accommodation that provides care and support for people who need regular help or supervision. There is a range of homes across Coventry that the Council either runs, or purchases services from. The Council also purchases a number of places outside the city (this can be for a range of reasons, such as specialist services being unavailable in the city or customer choice). In Coventry there is a range of different care homes, each catering for people with varying needs and disabilities, for example, dementia. Some care homes are registered to provide both residential and nursing care.

Nursing Homes [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/results.page?adultchannel=2_2a]

A nursing home is similar to a residential home, but with a nurse or nurses, on site to support people with health-specific issues. The NHS may be able to help with the cost of these placements with NHS Continuing Healthcare funding [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/72/health_and_social_care/896/nhs_continuing_healthcare_and_nhs-funded_nursing_care].

If you, a family member or someone you care for are thinking about residential or nursing care, why not contact Adult Social Care Direct to talk about whether you would benefit from an assessment of your needs [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/78/adult_social_care_support/980/assessments_eligibility_and_support_planning/2] before choosing a residential care or nursing home. There are often other alternative types of support which might suit your situation.

Day opportunities, community activities and employment support

Day opportunities [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/results.page?adultchannel=2_6]

Day opportunities, often known as Day Services, help people to live as independently as possible in the community through the use of buildings such as Day Centres and community-based support. 

Most of these services help people to get involved in community activities with the support of paid care workers. This can either be in groups or as individuals.

In Coventry, there is a range of day opportunities schemes run by both the Council and private companies. Some schemes can be accessed directly, but for some, people have to be eligible for social care.

If you are looking for activities to do in the daytime, evenings and weekends take a look at our Community Activities Directory [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/cad]. [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk/kb5/coventry/directory/adult.page?adultchannel=3]

Employment Support for people with disabilities

The Job Shop [/jobshop] is open to all residents of Coventry who require support to find employment, education or training.

CQC registered Council services

View the contact details and CQC reports for Council-run adult social care services:

• Copthorne Lodge
• Cottage Farm Lodge [https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-119938046]
• Elsie Jones House
• Eric Williams House
• Harry Caplan House
• Knightlow Lodge
• Maurice Edelman House
• Promoting Independent Living Service (PILS) [https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-119938121]
• Quinton Lodge
• Shared Lives Scheme