Looking after someone 2017, Northern Ireland | Page 15

Coming out of hospital Deciding to care, or continue caring, for someone who is coming out of hospital can be very difficult. It is important to remember that it is your choice whether or not to take on a caring role. Before the person you are looking after comes home from hospital a discharge assessment should be carried out to see whether they need any support once they are discharged. This discharge assessment should look at whether the person you are looking after is eligible for any intermediate or reablement care, other NHS services and/or community care services from the local trust. You should also be informed of your right to request a carer’s assessment to see whether you as a carer need support once the person you are looking after is discharged. Find out more at carersuk.org/ni/hospital 15 Managing someone’s affairs You may want to help manage the affairs of the person you are looking after, or may want to know how to plan for doing this in the future. There are different ways of managing someone’s affairs depending on whether the person you are looking after can currently make decisions for themselves (which is called having mental capacity) or whether they are Looking after someone unable to make decisions for themselves (which is called lacking mental capacity). Contact the Carers NI Adviceline on 028 9043 9843 for further information on the different ways of managing someone’s affairs. carersni.org