Briton Ferry resident handed a ‘lifeline’ thanks to Direct Payments/Preswylydd o Lansawel yn derbyn ‘llinell fywyd’ diolch i Daliadau Uniongyrchol

Briton Ferry resident handed a ‘lifeline’ thanks to Direct Payments

A Neath Port Talbot resident has been handed a ‘lifeline’ after opting to receive Direct Payments to arrange and pay for her care and support.

Julie, from Briton Ferry, suffered a stroke in 2016 which had a major impact on her lifestyle by restricting her social life and damaging her self-confidence.

While attending a local stroke group, Julie was told about Direct Payments and how people who have eligible social care needs can use them to become more independent and have more of a say in what support they receive. Through receiving Direct Payments, people are given cash payments by the Council so they can take more control over their care and support instead of the Council arranging services for them.

After speaking to her social worker, Julie decided to take up Direct Payments and use them to employ a Personal Assistant, one of the most common ways people use Direct Payments. Julie’s Personal Assistant has helped to turn her life around by helping her to carry out the things she used to do before she suffered a stroke. This includes supporting Julie to get out and about in the local community, and also help with domestic chores such as ironing and cooking.

Talking about how Direct Payments has made a difference to her life, Julie said:

“It’s given me such a massive lifeline for want of a better word. I feel as if I’m coming to life again. I have that will to live, to do things, and fortunately I’ve got that opportunity with my PA (Personal Assistant) to be able to go out there and do it.

“I’m part of society again, I really feel as though I have a purpose in life.”

The Welsh Government, through the Social Services and Wellbeing Wales Act, is encouraging greater use of Direct Payments across Wales to give people more flexibility and choice. Over 400 people in Neath Port Talbot are now choosing Direct Payments as opposed to receiving a direct service from the Council.

Councillor Peter Richards, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:

“I am delighted that Direct Payments are working so well for Julie and that they have made such a difference to her life.

“Direct Payments offer a more flexible way for people who are eligible for social care services to access them. They give people the freedom to manage their own care and support arrangements to best suite their personal wishes and lifestyle.”

Video link to interview with Julie: https://youtu.be/oDzlcup-Mbc

Preswylydd o Lansawel yn derbyn ‘llinell fywyd’ diolch i Daliadau Uniongyrchol

Mae preswylydd yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot wedi derbyn ‘llinell fywyd’ ar ôl dewis derbyn Taliadau Uniongyrchol i drefnu a thalu am ei gofal a’i chymorth.

Yn 2016, cafodd Julie o Lansawel, strôc a chafodd hyn effaith sylweddol ar ei ffordd o fyw gan rwystro’i bywyd cymdeithasol ac effeithio ar ei hunanhyder.

Wrth fynychu grŵp strôc lleol, clywodd Julie am Daliadau Uniongyrchol a sut y gall pobl sydd ag anghenion gofal cymdeithasol cymwys eu defnyddio i’w helpu i fod yn fwy annibynnol a dweud eu dweud dros y cymorth maent yn ei dderbyn. Drwy dderbyn Taliadau Uniongyrchol, mae pobl yn derbyn arian gan y cyngor er mwyn iddynt gael mwy o reolaeth dros eu gofal a chymorth yn hytrach na’r cyngor yn trefnu gwasanaethau drostynt.

Ar ôl siarad â’i gweithiwr cymdeithasol, penderfynodd Julie ddefnyddio Taliadau Uniongyrchol a’u defnyddio i gyflogi cynorthwy-ydd personol. Mae hyn yn un o’r ffyrdd mwyaf cyffredin y mae pobl yn defnyddio Taliadau Uniongyrchol. Mae cynorthwy-ydd personol Julie wedi newid ei bywyd hi wrth ei helpu i gyflawni’r hyn yr oedd hi’n ei gwneud cyn iddi dioddef strôc. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cynorthwyo Julie i fynd allan i’r gymuned leol ac yn ei helpu i wneud gwaith tŷ fel smwddio a choginio.

Wrth sôn am sut mae taliadau uniongyrchol wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth i’w bywyd, meddai Julie,

“Mae wedi rhoi llinell fywyd enfawr i fi, yn niffyg gwell gair. Bellach, dwi’n teimlo fel bod bywyd yn dechrau drosodd i mi. Mae gen i’r ewyllys i fyw a gwneud pethau, a diolch i’m cynorthwy-ydd personol, mae gen i’r cyfle i fynd allan a gwneud yr hyn a fynnwn.

“Dwi’n rhan o gymdeithas unwaith eto, a dwi wir yn teimlo bod pwrpas i’m bywyd.”

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru, drwy Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru), yn annog mwy o bobl ar draws Cymru i ddefnyddio Taliadau Uniongyrchol er mwyn cael mwy o hyblygrwydd a dewis. Mae dros 400 o bobl yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot bellach yn defnyddio Taliadau Uniongyrchol yn hytrach na derbyn gwasanaeth uniongyrchol gan y cyngor.

Meddai’r Cynghorydd Peter Richards, Aelod y Cabinet dros Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Oedolion ac Iechyd,

“Rwy’n falch bod Taliadau Uniongyrchol yn gweithio cystal i Julie a’u bod wedi gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth i’w bywyd.

“Mae Taliadau Uniongyrchol yn cynnig ffordd fwy hyblyg i bobl sy’n gymwys i dderbyn gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol. “Maent yn rhyddhau pobl i reoli eu trefniadau gofal a chefnogi eu hunain er mwyn cyd-fynd â’r dymuniadau personol a’u ffordd o fyw.”

Am fwy o wybodaeth am Daliadau Uniongyrchol a phwy sy’n gymwys i’w derbyn, ewch i: www.npt.gov.uk/taliadauuniongyrchol.