Helping people prepare for later life

Cheshire West and Chester Council is launching a campaign to help people across the borough prepare for later life and access any support they might need.

There is an ageing population in west Cheshire, with a 24 per cent increase in people aged 65 and above according to the latest Census data, meaning more people are needing to access Adult Social Care services provided by the Council and organisations it commissions.

Depending on individual circumstances and finances, people might need to pay for all or some of the care they receive in the community.

Councillor Carol Gahan, Cabinet Member for Finance and Legal, said:

“Managing your finances and paying for care services can be a complicated area, with many options available to you depending on your financial circumstances.

“We want to help signpost people to the support available as they grow older and avoid them becoming anxious about the thought of paying for care.

“By running this campaign, we aim to make people aware of the wide range of support available locally, whether you want to appoint someone to manage your affairs, look at future financial planning and advice or appoint a Lasting Power of Attorney.”

Councillor Sheila Little, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, added:

“While we want to help people who are currently accessing our services receive any support they might need, we also want to support others as they prepare for later life.

“We’re all playing our part in creating thriving, caring and sustainable communities and we want west Cheshire to be a place with resilient people living their best lives, but we don’t know what lies ahead of us with life choices, health or potential care needs.

“I’d encourage as many people as possible to look at the support available and make the most of it.”

The Council has created an easy to use, online financial assessment calculator, which will tell you how much you might be asked to contribute towards any care depending on your financial circumstances.

Visit: 

cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/carecostcalculator.

For more information about the support available from the Council and a range of other partners, visit: 

cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/managingyourmoney.

Finance officers from the Council will also be attending the regular Let’s Talk sessions across West Cheshire, providing an opportunity for you to have an informal chat with them about care services and the help available to pay for them.

More about the Let’s Talk sessions