Social care

What is social care?

Many people living with ME, fibromyalgia or long Covid have difficulty managing day-to-day, and may be eligible for social care. Your local authority is responsible for social care.

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Care and support needs can include the following:

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• Help at home with tasks such as personal care, shopping, cleaning and meal preparation

• Adaptations to your home, such as grab rails, walk in shower or stairlift

• Day centres to reduce isolation

• Medication management

• Equipment such as walking frames or a personal alarm in case you have to call for help in an emergency

• Support to find accommodation/rehousing 

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Social care is means tested. This means that once your local authority has assessed what social care you need, they will look at your income to see how much of it you need to pay for yourself.

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Statutory advocates

 

Depending on what you need help with, you may have the legal right to an advocate. This is called statutory advocacy, and may apply to you if:

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• You have been detained, or are liable to be detained, under the Mental Health Act 1983. In these cases you are entitled to an Independent Mental Health Advocate.

• You lack capacity to make certain decisions, for example where you live or about serious medical treatment. In these cases you might be entitled to an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate.

• You have difficulty making decisions about your social care. In these cases you might be entitled to a Social Care Advocate.

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The Sheffield Advocacy Hub can provide you with a statutory advocate.

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