Fill in the Gaps > Too many older people who are deafblind ... - Sense

2 > Legal requirementsB) EligibilityThe eligibility framework for socialcare is set out in Department of Healthguidance Prioritising Need in theContext of Putting People First. Thisguidance and the Deafblind Guidanceare of equal status under the law.Both are statutory guidance issuedunder Section 7 of the Local AuthoritySocial Services Act 1970. Together theypromote better access, assessmentand services for deafblind adults .When a decision is being made about who is eligible for social care services,it’s important to recognise the effect of dual sensory loss on the following keyfactors in maintaining independence:• autonomy and freedom to make choices• health and safety, including freedom from harm, abuse and neglect• personal and daily living activities• involvement in family and wider community life.The risks relating to each of these factors are considered equal. So risksrelating to health and safety are not considered more important than risksrelating to involvement. Older people with a dual sensory loss can experiencerisk in each of these areas and they may be at particular risk in relation toautonomy and involvement.Case Study: Jim, 82A woman reports that her82 year old father who isdeaf seemsto havebecomedepressed.Jim doesn’t seem to wantto communicate with hisfamily and isn’t eating themeals provided by socialservices. He has also lostinterest in his jigsaw puzzles,favourite films and regularpints at the pub nearby. Heseems to be withdrawing intohis own world. What will theassessment uncover?Because Jim is still managingto carry out his own personalcare and is supported with dailyliving tasks by his daughterwho visits twice a week, ageneric overview assessmentconcludes that the risks to hisindependence are moderate(and outside the bandingthat would make him eligiblefor services in many localauthorities).If a deafblind person is screened out at this initial stage, this will notmeet the requirements of the Deafblind Guidance. This states that allassessments of deafblind people (including eligibility assessments) shouldbe carried out by someone specifically trained to do so. This is an importantmessage of the Guidance.10