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Elderly parents
Original poster

Care Home - funding for extras

43 replies

nokitchen · 13/10/2022 14:36

Hello, not sure where to ask for this. My sibling is in a care home, solely funded by council. I told them I will buy extra things, such as pay for holidays, special furniture etc, but have been asked to pay for new glasses following a sight test. If someone's in a care home would this normally be paid for from their benefits? They receive PIP and a pension and all this is looked after by the home. I've no idea what is reasonable

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 13/10/2022 18:42

nokitchen · 13/10/2022 18:19

No I don't want power of attorney or any responsibility for his care. The home isn't near to me and I've made it clear to his social worker and the care home manager that I don't want to be involved in his finances. I just want to be his sister and visit sometimes and will also pay for any treats because I'm his nearest relative. He's late sixties.

So who IS taking charge of his finances?
My stepfather is in a home - his pension pays towards his fees but he has £24 a week ‘spare’. The pension is paid to me now and I pay his fees. I have set up a Direct DEbit of£20 a month to his care home for sundries - haircut, toiletries, treats. His glasses should come out of this money.

HappyHamsters · 13/10/2022 18:30

Does he have capacity to make the decision for the optician to order new glasses and is he happy yo pay for them. You have no poa and the home know you do not wish to get involved with the finances so either he pays or the home social worker sort it out.

Original poster
nokitchen · 13/10/2022 18:19

No I don't want power of attorney or any responsibility for his care. The home isn't near to me and I've made it clear to his social worker and the care home manager that I don't want to be involved in his finances. I just want to be his sister and visit sometimes and will also pay for any treats because I'm his nearest relative. He's late sixties.

OP posts:
gogohmm · 13/10/2022 17:43

Talk to his social worker for extra advice, money is set aside from his benefits for his day to day costs. If he's under 65 there's additional arrangements too, you shouldn't have to pay for anything.

Dsd lives in a care situation and has more money than me!

HappyHamsters · 13/10/2022 17:41

Are you happy to take on the responsibility of his care. Do you have power of attorney or does he want you to help.

Original poster
nokitchen · 13/10/2022 17:31

Oh thank you all. This is a leap in the dark for me. He lived at home with mum til she died and now I'm suddenly responsible by default for him.

OP posts:
HappyHamsters · 13/10/2022 17:23

Strike. Thanks. I made a mistake and meant to write only the sight test is free.

SnarkyBag · 13/10/2022 17:00

Hmm ask for a copy of the prescription we had this with FIL and it turned out all he needed was a pair of readers which got from the chemist for £10 not the £100 suggested by the optician

StrikeandRobin · 13/10/2022 16:58

HappyHamsters · 13/10/2022 16:30

I would only expect the sight test to be paid for. Do they qualify for free glasses.

If someone is in a care home for 12 weeks before the test then they, according to the home visit team for specsavers, qualify for free sight tests. Glasses do have to be paid for either by a qualifying Gos3 voucher (& any extra costs paid for) or in full if not eligible for a voucher.

We just had to pay for DF now he is in a home but the sight test was free. There is a domiciliary fee to pay on top though.

Original poster
nokitchen · 13/10/2022 16:46

This is what I'm wondering. I don't want to get to the stage that I'm sending cash all the time for something that should be paid for from their benefits. Especially as he breaks glasses constantly and will need multiple pairs throughout the year.

OP posts:
MbatataOwl · 13/10/2022 16:42

You need to find out the legalities and policies but I hope it isn't right that you have to pay.

MbatataOwl · 13/10/2022 16:41

I don't think you should be paying for glasses. It's a healthcare cost /need so should come out of your relatives income.

If you refused to pay would the home just allow your relative to go without such a necessity?

CrotchetyQuaver · 13/10/2022 16:37

There has to be a policy somewhere about this. I would have thought it should come out of your relatives income rather than yours?

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 13/10/2022 16:35

Certain frames (£60 and under) are free if you are entitled to free eye care on the NHS. However if the prescription of the lens is thick they can require thinning to put into the frames which is not included. This can be around £40 I think.

HappyHamsters · 13/10/2022 16:30

I would only expect the sight test to be paid for. Do they qualify for free glasses.

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/10/2022 15:24

The pension and PIP probably all go towards the fees, but she should be left with an allowance of £24pw which could be used for glasses.