Alzheimer's and care funding

[Grinchly]

Hi All

Mother was diagnosed officially last summer but has been deteriorating quite a little while, now much more rapidly. On Xmas day I discovered she had been stockpiling her (many) meds for weeks, her sleep/wake pattern is very disturbed and her memory is deplorable.

Managing at moment with mix of agency care to supervise med taking and cleaner/odd job man/ gardener etc, but I can see that we will be looking into residential care sooner rather than later.

Does anyone know whether Alzheimers qualifies for any NHS/Local Authority subsidy? She will be self-funding.

[cheesywotnots]

It might be a good idea to look at the Alzheimers website, they have a lot of really helpful information. The first thing she will need is a care needs assessment and a capacity assessment which you could speak to her g.p. or local social services about.

[hatgirl]

local authority and nhs funding is based on need rather than any particular diagnosis so the short answer to your question is that no there isn't any specific subsidy available for people with Alzheimer's.

The first point of call is to social services for a social care assessment, this will eventually determine if your mother is eligible for any financial support from the state.

[KatyWhatsit]

It depends on what care she needs.

My late father qualified for NHS funding for dementia but there was also co-morbidity of several other conditions (kidneys, heart, mobility). Sadly he died before he could go to a care home but that was a mixed blessing as we didn't want a care home, it was a last resort as my mum couldn't cope.

If it's 'just' dementia, she is mobile, not bed-bound etc then it is unlikely you will get funding for a care home.

[Grinchly]

Hi This is useful thank you!

Lots of co morbid conditions - heart, kidneys, urinary incontinence, arthritis, diabetes 2 . Rare blood disorder. Ltd mobility.

I looked at the AS site and it seems one has to go down the labyrinthine nhs continuous care route first before being considered for the nursing care supplement. If full funding refused.

Does that sound right?

[cheesywotnots]

She will need a care needs assessment to determine what nursing care needs she has, the chc checklist has domains which are scored according to her needs and then used to see if she can get chc funding, it's for complex care needs that are usually only given by registered nurses and not carers. If she is not entitled to full funding and moves in to a nursing home you then apply for f.n.c. funding being which is a contribution to the carehome for the nursing care. It all seems to depend on what level of care people need, the checklist can be read online.

[Grinchly]

Cheesy you clearly know your stuff! So if she were to move to a care home would they trigger the c h c assessment ? Or would I trigger it through the LA?

Am I right in saying that is done first, and if she didn't qualify at that point she would be considered for a contribution to nursing care ( if nursing care was required ?)

She doesn't need nursing care at present but things are deteriorating fast.

[cheesywotnots]

I'm no expert but have had to do this several times. Age UK have a section on their website about the process. Her g.p. or social worker, district nurse can complete the assessment, you can call them and ask if they will help you. Adult social services will tell you what you need to do. If she were to move into a home they would need to have an idea of how much help she needs to make sure they can look after her properly. They could complete the checklist there and if she didnt qualify you could apply for f.n.c, but you have to push for it, carehomes need to know that the method of payment has been agreed before they take a new resident. Have you thought about something like community reablement at home, could the g.p. ask for an occupational therapist to visit her at home and see if there are things they can put in place to help her. Were any health professionals involved in setting up the carers she has at the moment.

[cheesywotnots]

It might be worth calling her social services team and asking them to carry out a care needs assessment while she is still at home, it's free, non means tested and everyone is entitled to the assessment t. She needs to agree to having it done if she has capacity to make those decisions.

[hatgirl]

Unless your mum already has district nurses or a mental health nurse involved the first point of call is still social services - the social care assessment will consider if she may trigger for CHC and will refer onwards for a nursing assessment if necessary.

The contribution towards nursing care (FNC) doesn't actually knock anything off the bill in reality, it's largely a paper exercise demonstrating that the NHS is still carrying out its duty to provide health care free at the point of delivery. Even in nursing homes the vast amount of the care provided is actually social care.

[Grinchly]

Thanks all, this is really useful info.