Over the Moon About Individual Budgets
Beryl and Cyril Moon are both in their eighties. Beryl has a range of disabilities, including epilepsy, arthritis and dementia. Cyril, her primary carer, is registered blind and his health is deteriorating.
The Moons were two of the first elderly people in the UK to benefit from an individual budget which enables them to design and pay for their own personalised care package. They took part in a pilot of individual budgets run by West Sussex County Council for the Department of Health in 2006. Personal budgets are now rolling out nationally to every Local Authority in 2009.
Their daughter, Chris Moon-Willems, helped design their support plan and the process was overseen and approved by their social worker. They now receive direct payments from the council to pay for their care.
‘The biggest benefit of the individual budget is that we've been able to employ a personal assistant, June Chartres, who we hired with the support of the Independent Living Association.
‘With the old system, an agency worker would come and get Mum up every morning and bath her once a week. But they could't do anything else, like put something in the washing machine, or help with a bit of ironing.
‘June has become like a friend to them both. She can take Mum to appointments, and help around the house. Mum can have a hot bath whenever she wants which is therapeutic for her arthritis. If she has a bad night then June can let her have a ‘duvet day’, bring her a cup of coffee and sit and talk to her. They are getting a much more personal service, tailored to their needs.
‘I also got a small amount for Dad to have a PA, Mel, who can help him change a light bulb, take him to B&Q or just go for a pint with him. It's only four hours a week but it gives him some respite which makes such a difference to his quality of life.
‘They are over the moon. Small amounts of money can make a huge difference if the person is in control. And with a little bit of teamwork you can keep people out of residential care.’