Care home funding

Orangesandlemons77 · 2024-07-15T10:59:30+00:00

My dad is in respite care atm and it is costing 2K per week. he has dementia. Is this roughly correct / normal? They have said when his savings go down to 23K he might get some council help but then it would only be up to £700 a week. What would happen then? I mean if he can't afford it, would they kick him out?

Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 20:56

Growlybear83 · 15/07/2024 20:31

I found the Attendance Allowance people really easy to deal with when my Mum was alive. Most people were ok, but Social Care were a complete nightmare and their refusal to agree that my mum needed a care home placement contributed to a very significant decline in her physical health and her dementia. My husband also had a constant battle with Social care for his mum in the neighbouring council, as well as the housing benefit department. You really do need to take a very hard stance with some of the social workers and council officials, and don't be afraid of contacting councillors and Directors. If my husband hadn't done that, I've no doubt my mother in law would still have been stuck in a second floor flat with no support rather than ending up in a nursing home.

Sorry to hear that, I understand what you mean.

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Growlybear83 · 15/07/2024 20:31

I found the Attendance Allowance people really easy to deal with when my Mum was alive. Most people were ok, but Social Care were a complete nightmare and their refusal to agree that my mum needed a care home placement contributed to a very significant decline in her physical health and her dementia. My husband also had a constant battle with Social care for his mum in the neighbouring council, as well as the housing benefit department. You really do need to take a very hard stance with some of the social workers and council officials, and don't be afraid of contacting councillors and Directors. If my husband hadn't done that, I've no doubt my mother in law would still have been stuck in a second floor flat with no support rather than ending up in a nursing home.

Miley1967 · 15/07/2024 19:08

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 13:03

Thanks all, very useful. I think I will try and ring round a few different ones, this one was the only one which seemed to have vacancies for respite.

That's good to know about the AA and pension. He's only on the lower rate of AA but since got worse and probably needs the higher rate now. Another nightmare I expect to sort out..

It won't be. Just ring AA and explain he now has day and night time difficulties/ care needs. they will send out a form but it's much shorter than the original form. get help from Age Uk or similar. It's relatively easy to do although will only increase the AA by about £32 a week.

Growlybear83 · 15/07/2024 19:07

You dad's pension will continue no matter what. Attendance allowance will continue while he's self funding but I think attendance allowance will stop once the council are funding the placement. As others have said, don't let social care pressure you into feeling you have to make a contribution towards the costs.

Growlybear83 · 15/07/2024 19:04

I'm sorry to hear about your dad. If he's in respite care rather than a permanent care home placement, that is more expensive. My mum was in a specialist dementia care home two years ago, which was £1500 per week, and was about the going rate for a home in her part of London with really good facilities, but the people who were in for short respite care paid quite a bit more.

Social care said thst when my mums assets had run out, they would routinely pay a similar amount to what you've been told, but then with my mums pensions on top, thst would have been enough to have let her stay in the same home.

MissMoneyFairy · 15/07/2024 18:33

A lot will depend on how much savings he has, if it falls below the threshold soon then he should get council funding.

Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 18:05

He does have a bit of savings which is going to pay for the respite yes.

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MissMoneyFairy · 15/07/2024 17:55

Has he got any savings at all, who is paying for the sheltered housing and the respite care.

Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 17:05

Summerpigeon · 15/07/2024 15:35

I couldn't get one either for her
Apparently you only get one when you run out of money and council take over payment of care home

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Really? Maybe it is different in Scotland. It's a needs assessment.

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Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 17:05

Tracker1234 · 15/07/2024 16:04

Has he got savings/and or owning his own sheltered housing?

No, it is council housing.

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Tracker1234 · 15/07/2024 16:04

Has he got savings/and or owning his own sheltered housing?

Summerpigeon · 15/07/2024 15:35

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 13:49

No social worker either

I couldn't get one either for her
Apparently you only get one when you run out of money and council take over payment of care home

TallulahBetty · 15/07/2024 13:50

Recent experience of this - my nan's savings ran out after 8 years of self-funding. She is in a fairly expensive home. The LA wanted to move her to a cheaper place, however they had to prove that to do so would not be at her detriment. They failed, as to uproot a frail elderly lady with dementia and anxiety would obviously be to her detriment.

They pay the majority and she tops up from her SRP and small PP.

Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 13:49

No social worker either

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Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 13:49

We have been waiting years for a care assessment, hopefully it will happen soon.

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Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 13:48

We have PoA yes, he went in because family were on holiday,

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MissMoneyFairy · 15/07/2024 13:47

Does he have capacity, if so does he want to move into a carehome and agree to pay, if not you need poa or deputyship, or the equivalent in Scotland.

MissMoneyFairy · 15/07/2024 13:39

Do you gave power of attorney, who arranged for him to go into the respite home, I would wait until he has had both a care needs and a financial assessment so he is in the right place then speak to the sheltered housing officer and his social worker who can help arrange everything.

Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 13:03

Thanks all, very useful. I think I will try and ring round a few different ones, this one was the only one which seemed to have vacancies for respite.

That's good to know about the AA and pension. He's only on the lower rate of AA but since got worse and probably needs the higher rate now. Another nightmare I expect to sort out..

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FictionalCharacter · 15/07/2024 12:43

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 12:00

He doesn't have any assets, to be clear. Family can't afford to 'chip in' as the care home suggested.

Don't let them bully or guilt trip you into paying. There is absolutely no obligation on relatives to pay. It's his bill to pay, whatever his health conditions.

SnakesAndArrows · 15/07/2024 12:43

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 12:31

Wouldn't attendance allowance and state pension stop while in the care home? I'm guessing together might add up to around £800 a month so would be a substantial amount

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No. Self funders can claim both.

valleys2024 · 15/07/2024 12:42

Talk to the home - some do accept to keep people without top ups

The way it works with my council is that the resident continues to use pension etc to pay the care home fees then the council tops up to £800 or so

The care home I am in contact with has different fees depending on how high the needs are - starting at £1200 and going up to £1600 - but they cannot provide care for all dementia residents if their needs prove too high

I wouldn't give up yet - keep trying to work through it as this home has been a god send to me and my family even though the process of very difficult

SheilaFentiman · 15/07/2024 12:40

scotland has a higher threshold of savings before council starts to pay, I think.

you continue to get state pension and attendance allowance in the care home, but it is used as income to offset the care home costs if the state is paying and then a small amount is left with the person for individual spending eg biscuits, toiletries

Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 12:38

It seems like quite a minefield. Think it might be better if he can staying in his sheltered housing and managing with people coming in really, if possible, with respite breaks.

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Original poster

Orangesandlemons77 · 15/07/2024 12:36

FadedRed · 15/07/2024 12:32

https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/care-homes/paying-care-home-fees/

Thanks, that looks useful.

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