Compass - Factsheets & Guides

Paying for care in a care home if you have a partner

This factsheet explains how being part of a couple affects your eligibility for local authority funding if you need to move into a care home. It looks at your rights to welfare benefits also. It focusses mainly on if you are seeking state support rather t

Property and paying for residential care

This factsheet explains how your property is treated in the local authority means test for the provision of permanent residential care home accommodation.
It covers the possibility of retaining your home via a deferred payments arrangement.

Resolving problems and making a complaint about NHS care

The factsheet explains how to make a complaint about NHS services, including situations where your complaint covers both NHS and social care services.

Paying for permanent residential care

This factsheet provides information about the financial help that may be available from your local authority if you need care in a care home. It also covers arranging and paying for care yourself.
You may find it useful to read other Age UK factsheets on

Finding help at home

This factsheet tells you how to obtain support to help you to remain at home if you are having difficulty managing. It focusses on the duties of your local authority to provide assistance, but also covers arranging this yourself, We cover residential care

NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care

This factsheet explains what NHS continuing healthcare is; how the NHS decides whether you are eligible to receive it and what to do if dissatisfied with the eligibility decision.
It explains NHS-funded nursing care - a weekly payment made to nursing ho

Your hospital stay - Information Guide

This guide explains what to expect when going into hospital, what should happen while you’re in hospital, and the steps that should be taken to prepare for your discharge.

Staying steady - Information Guide

There are lots of simple things you can do to help you stay
steady on your feet. Whether you’re fit and active, have
difficulty walking and getting around, or are worried about
falling, this guide has information for you.

Bladder and bowel problems-Information Guide

This guide looks at different types
of bladder and bowel problems and what you can do to
help yourself.

Winter wrapped up - Information Guide

This guide explains what you can do to get yourself and
your home ready for winter, as well as where to go for more
information and support.

Bereavement - Information Guide

Sometimes people are shocked and upset by their changing
and powerful emotions when they are bereaved. Realising
that these feelings are quite normal may help. This guide
gives you some idea about the range of experiences many
people go through.

Living with early-stage dementia - Information Guide

This guide has been written for people with a diagnosis
of dementia.
This guide explains what dementia is, and what kind of
support is available for those living with it.

At home with dementia - Information Guide

Tips for making your home dementia friendly

Staying cool in a heatwave - Information Guide

Inside this guide, you’ll find some helpful tips on how to protect yourself from the heat, how to recognise heat-related illness and what to do if someone shows signs of struggling to deal with high temperatures.

NHS services - Factsheet

This factsheet contains information about NHS ‘primary care’ services – services you approach in a non-emergency situation when you first have a health problem.

Hospital discharge - Factsheet

This factsheet explains how your discharge from hospital should be managed following NHS treatment so that you don't stay in hospital longer than necessary and receive the help you need in the most appropriate place.

Intermediate care and reablement - Factsheet

This factsheet explains intermediate care and reablement.

Transgender issues in later life - Factsheet

This factsheet provides information about later life for transgender (or trans) people. The main focus is on growing older for people who have transitioned and live their lives permanently in their affirmed gender. It also provides information for people

Staying Safe - Information Guide

This guide provides practical steps that you can take to feel safer, both at home and when you are out.

Care homes - Information Guide

This guide is written for the relative or friend of an older person who is considering a move into a care home. Of course, you may be reading it for yourself if you think it’s time to move into residential care.