TESTIMONIAL AND REFERENCES

If you feel that you have benefited from the CareAware service and would like your comments included here, please go to the contact us page, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The following are a selection of CareAware users views and comments received:

"I would like to express my gratitude for the help given over the phone by Louise last Friday.  We are negotiating the minefield of arranging a nursing home for my mother in law and the question of whether she is elligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding.  Louise is the first person who has listened and been helpful and the information she directed me to on the Alzheimers Society website has been invaluable.  I finally feel that I am getting somewhere and cannot thank Louise enough for her time and input."
Anne Beer, Shropshire

"May I in conclusion thank you for the help and guidance recently given to me relating to top ups - I am pleased to say this helped me win the battle against Walsall Council.  A lady of 90 was being forced to pay top up out of her savings i.e. against CRAG guidelines.  Your help enabled me to enforce the point with the Council and they eventually gave in."
Peter Sutton, West Midlands

"In November 2004 my mother was transferred from hospital to a care home in Sale, Cheshire, under the jurisdiction of Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.

Trafford were adamant that my mother's half share of her property (our house is jointly owned by mother and myself) should be taken into account in assessing her assets, and therefore her contribution to her care, despite assurances to the contrary by many councillors and advisors.  I was given advice by Louise at CareAware on what to say to Trafford, but this was rejected by their legal dept.

Louise then put me in touch with Gorvins Solicitors in Stockport who specialise in this type of case and they were able to successfully argue the case in my and my mother's favour, although it took some considerable time.

I would like to thank Louise at CareAware for their invaluable help in this matter and would heartily recommend them to anyone needing help with the care of the elderly."
Mr Irani, Cheshire

"Many thanks for your excellant advice on what appears to be a very strange uneven way of assessing entitlements depending on who deals with your case and where you live in the UK.  I will forward your details on to others in the same predicament."
Paul Stone, Leicester

"Please find enclosed £50.00 donation towards costs of CareAware pack you sent me last year.  My sister had been paying residential fees in full from her Investment Bonds for seven years.  She is now being partly funded by the local authority & has received a substantial refund thanks to the CRAG clarification from yourselves.  This has made a big difference to my sister as she had to sell her bungalow in order to be able to pay her fees."
Mrs M Hastell, Lowestoft

"Thank you so much for all the help and advice you gave me regarding my mother's placement into residential care."

Your response and grasp of the complex nature of the individual situation was excellent, quick, incisive and informative.  This was hugely helpful in assisting me to cut through the maze and make plans based on clear facts.  I really appreciate your input, which made all the difference at a stressful time.  I have recommended you to other people already!
Again, many thanks for the great job!"
I Fleetcroft

"Having dementia brings problems enough for both those with the disease and their carers.  When if affects younger people and when the form of dementia is rarer then the problems that have to be faced are even more complex.
The Pick's Disease Support  (PDSG) was formed to help carers through the maze of problems they face - not least with practical, legal and financial worries.
How fortunate, therefore, that we were told about CareAware.  Now our carers have access to advice and information immediately via the helpline and website.
From the moment we joined CareAware their staff have responded to all our needs with efficiency & more importantly - with genuine care and compassion.  They have been an absolute asset to our group"
Carol Jennings, Adviser for Pick's Disease Support Group

"I just wanted to thank you and your helpline staff for the support and information you have given me in connection with my elderly mother.  I worked for a mental health helpline for many years and understand the issues around delivering a telephone service.  I found your service excellent, warm and informative.
Penny Arber , Macclesfield

"My wife and I are in the position of starting to look into care for an elderly relation and didn't know where to start. Your site has been extremely helpful, and I should like to pass on my thanks to all those concerned in its publication"
Andrew Barker, King's Lynn

"Your advice resulted in my mother’s estate saving over £7,000. Very many thanks. "
Mr Rice, Derby

"The advice provided was excellent and the follow up literature forwarded very promptly. An overall credit to CareAware."
B. Whalley, Wirral

"The courtesy and caring consideration given to my query was quite outstanding - the very best helpline I have experienced. Thank you".
P. Fawcett, York

"The service you provide cannot be faulted"
J. Coppack, Harrogate

"It is a first rate service which brings clarification on many complex issues".
D Reid, County Down.

"I feel that without your help and assistance, my mother would be a lot poorer and I would have a head of grey hair. I regard myself as being intelligent and work at a senior level within the health service. I couldn’t believe what a disjointed system we have in this country. Thank you all once again".
S McCarthy, Derby.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Louise for all the support, information and assistance she has given me over the past few weeks. Without her I would be 'in the dark' about so many of the issues relating to organising my mothers long term care. To date, Social Services and the medical profession have been of no use what so ever in helping my mother and I understand our rights and choices, apart from when they want to 'steamroller' us into accepting a situation or offer in order to suit their own needs.

It appears that everything relating to the field of elderly care seems to be a 'need to know basis' and we apparently 'do not need to know'!. Time and time again we have come across a 'closed shop' for information relating to aspects of care not being made easily available to those who need it most. Often, in order to find out about an issue I have had to spend hours searching for information, a process which is time consuming and costly. Although I consider myself to be an educated and intelligent person, I have never dealt with such issues before and have found my experience to be frustrating, frightening and shocking, a situation which would have been a lot worse without your help.

I cannot thank Louise and your organisation enough and I will not hesitate to recommend your services to anyone I come across who finds themselves in the same situation as me!

I just wish I had heard of you sooner!"
Mrs Katalin Webster, Rochester, Kent

"Your colleague, Julie Emmott, Development Director, gave a presentation at our recent Annual General Meeting.  I had asked her to speak for 15 minutes, but with taking questions from the floor she ended up talking for over an hour!

What a wonderful advocate for your service she is.  We are extremely grateful for the information she gave, for we as an organistion had no previous knowledge of CareAware and it is something we will certainly recommend to our members.

I will contact Julie to give our thanks, but wanted you to know how impressed we were with her and indeed, with the service you provide".
Vera Jackson, Chairman for and on behalf of Carers UK Huntingdonshire

"I only found out about the 12 week property disregard from CareAware after my Mother was already in a nursing home.  The home didn't mention it's existence and the Local Authority seemed to go out of their way to keep quiet about it!  It amounted to several thousands of pounds which was rightfully hers.  Thank You
E Hill, Herfordshire

CareAware References

• The National Care Association has worked closely with CareAware over a number of years in pursuit of our mutual objective of ensuring that the public are fully informed about the complexities of care funding.
  
  The need for independent advice is essential and CareAware have a proven record in providing understanding, explanation and guidance.
  
  Sheila Scott   OBE - NCA Chief Executive

To Return to Previous Page