Help and guidance when choosing care

This follows the new Health and Social Care Act which came into force on April 1, calling for major improvements to the quality of, and access to, public information about choosing care.

The new publication and website give information on all aspects of arranging care and support in Lancashire including how to stay independent for as long as possible, what to look for when choosing a care provider and what services are available.

They also provide guidance on paying for care and what financial assistance is available from the local authority.

There are comprehensive listings of all registered care services in the Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool local authority areas, plus checklists to help assess the suitability of a care provider.

The new directory will be available throughout the region from outlets including carers centres, hospitals, Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society. It can be downloaded from www.carechoices.co.uk and is also available with a spoken word option.

Further help and information can be accessed via the directory’s free telephone helpline on 0800 389 2077.

Robert Chamberlain, managing director of the directory’s publisher, Care Choices, said: “For many people finding a care service for a loved one can be a daunting and unfamiliar task. This new directory has been compiled to help people understand the process and offer them reassurance and expert information at every step of their journey.”