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Elderly parents
Original poster

How do I sort care home and funding for dad with Parkinsons

36 replies

Pearandavocado · 03/01/2026 12:33

Dad with Parkinsons struggling to get started with next steps. He is living in his own house and just about managing. His walking is getting very difficult and he can't manage without holding onto things or furniture. At some point he won't be able to walk and will need to go into care. He doesn't have any savings as such just his pensions going into this bank and some credit card debts. His house is almost a wreck and is not saleable as it is (he started diy and never finished it). He has an equity release mortgage and no idea how much equity he has in the house. Where do I start and how do I go about finding and funding a care home for him? Any help most appreciated, I'm struggling to see his decline and suffering from depression myself and this all feels too much but I don't have any choice to sort things out for him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pearandavocado · 03/01/2026 22:04

ThePure · 03/01/2026 13:01

You contact social care and ask for a needs assessment (assuming he is in agreement with all this as nothing can be done without his consent unless he lacks capacity).
Be aware that if social care are funding then it is up to them whether they feel a care home is needed and they choose to fund it. They are unlikely to do that in the scenario you describe. They will more likely suggest aids and adaptations at home and a care package which they will pay for if he has under the savings threshold.
If he wants to sell his home and pay for a care home privately you can still ask social care to assess but you will be on your own arranging it. You just google places, go and visit them and discuss terms. Social care might have a ‘property disregard’ scheme where they pay for the care home initially and you pay them back when the house sells but you’d have to ask them what the terms are. Do you have LPA for him? If not then get him to do it asap.

Thank you for all the advice here, can the social care people make a decision on whether he is safe and able to live in his house or do we decide when he needs a care home? He would prefer to stay in his home as long as possible but has to navigate the stairs to go to the toilet and bathroom and they might think the stairs are too difficult for him. He wouldn't want to sell his home to pay for private care but it would seem he doesn't have much choice once he can't cope there on his own. I have done the LPA but am waiting for it to be approved.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pearandavocado · 03/01/2026 21:57

MokaEfti · 03/01/2026 13:29

Do you know about Attendance Allowance?

No, what is attendance allowance?

OP posts:
PersephoneParlormaid · 03/01/2026 15:45

Make sure there is a will in place, as well as the POA’s

Tupperwarelid · 03/01/2026 13:44

I would advise getting Power of Attorney as well, both finance and health ones.

MokaEfti · 03/01/2026 13:29

Do you know about Attendance Allowance?

WearyLady · 03/01/2026 13:26

As said by others, you should contact social services but, if your dad still has capacity and you don’t already have them, and, of course, that your dad is agreeable, I’d advise getting powers of attorney for both financial matters and health and well-being. It will make things easier in the long run.

ThePure · 03/01/2026 13:04

Social care will also do a financial assessment but he’ll have to supply bank statements etc. If he has under the threshold amount they will pay. The value of the house doesn’t count whilst he is living in it but will count if he goes into care

DustyMaiden · 03/01/2026 13:02

Contact social services and they will take all the information and do an assessment. They will tell you your options. I

ThePure · 03/01/2026 13:01

You contact social care and ask for a needs assessment (assuming he is in agreement with all this as nothing can be done without his consent unless he lacks capacity).
Be aware that if social care are funding then it is up to them whether they feel a care home is needed and they choose to fund it. They are unlikely to do that in the scenario you describe. They will more likely suggest aids and adaptations at home and a care package which they will pay for if he has under the savings threshold.
If he wants to sell his home and pay for a care home privately you can still ask social care to assess but you will be on your own arranging it. You just google places, go and visit them and discuss terms. Social care might have a ‘property disregard’ scheme where they pay for the care home initially and you pay them back when the house sells but you’d have to ask them what the terms are. Do you have LPA for him? If not then get him to do it asap.

Cyclistmumgrandma · 03/01/2026 12:52

But be aware that Parkinson's does not automatically mean his care will be council funded. If he owns his own home or has savings he may need to self fund.

PersephoneParlormaid · 03/01/2026 12:46

Contact Social Services.