Above
The NMSF’s John
Williams is available
for talks around the
country
Below
A scheme for Respite
Care was launched a
year ago
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Have you seen this man?
Since 1 January 2007 reports have been
received that this latter day Good Samaritan
has been seen in places as far apart as
Durham, Monmouthshire, Exeter and
London. Unconfirmed reports suggest that
he is delivering a message about how eligible
Freemasons and their dependents can apply
for support when faced with a medical need.
His name is W Bro John Williams and
he is the recently appointed Development
Director at the New Masonic Samaritan
Fund. He spends the vast majority of his
time travelling the country to talk about
the work of the Fund.
His task is simply to ensure that everyone
who might be able to benefit from the
support that the NMSF can provide knows
what is available to them and how to access
that support. If you would like to hear what
he has to say he can be contacted via the
Fund on 020 7404 1550 or by email on
jwilliams@masonicsamaritan.org.uk.
He is willing and available to travel to
most parts of the country and will happily
provide an appropriate presentation for any
audience including Lodge meetings, training
events, widows association meetings or
lunches, white table events and many others.
Please get in touch and ensure that he is kept
busy spreading the word.
Respite Care
Just over a year ago the New Masonic
Samaritan Fund advertised the launch
of a pilot scheme to fund the provision
of Respite Care. This was undertaken
in partnership with the Royal Masonic
Benevolent Institution, whose staff continue
to be closely involved in identifying the
need and arranging care which may or
may not be in an RMBI home.
Those individuals who have benefited
from this new provision have been
extremely grateful for this much needed
support but, so far, demand has been
below the expected levels.
There are an estimated 1.9 million people
in the UK currently caring for a loved one,
usually a spouse. Respite Care provides an
opportunity for the carer to have a much
needed break whilst knowing that their
loved one is being cared for.
Respite is usually provided for either one
or two weeks at a time and usually involves
residential care being provided for the
individual in need of care, although
sometimes it may be appropriate for a
couple to stay together within a care home
environment.
The joint scheme between the RMBI
and NMSF will, when possible, utilise any
capacity within one of the RMBI homes.
Where space is not available, or distances
make it impracticable to use RMBI facilities,
consideration will be given to funding
respite at a suitable home identified by
the applicant.
If the caring responsibility continues, so
too will the need for Respite Care. Repeat
requests for support are therefore expected
and encouraged.
It is important to identify the difference
between respite care and convalescence.
The need for respite care arises where
the caring responsibility is on-going,
long-term and frequently involves
provision of care 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. Convalescence is usually
associated with a need following a stay in
hospital and is usually short-term. Support
for convalescence care is not currently
available under this scheme.
As with all other support from the NMSF,
eligibility for support depends on assessment
of an applicant’s ability to fund their own
care. The assessment is totally confidential,
is undertaken within the privacy of an
individual’s home and can be done quickly.
Account is taken of both income and capital,
but the value of the main property is not
included in the assessment.
If you would like further details please
contact either the NMSF or the RMBI for
confidential advice on likely eligibility and
guidance on how to initiate an application.
Supporting those in medical need
26 Great Queen Street
London wc2b 5bl
T: 020 7404 1550
Fax: 020 7404 1544
Email: mail@masonicsamaritan.org.uk
Web site: www.nmsf.org
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