Can someone help explain this letter please

[MegaClutterSlut]

Sorry if this is long....My dad has recently been diagnosed with dementia. In May he was found in London, about an hour away from where he lives, not knowing his name or why he was there. They admitted him to hospital in London, then in a temporary care home. Hes been there since June. He doesn't recognise us most of the time and still thinks his mum is alive. He has asked me how my dad is 😞His memory is declining fast with hallucinations. He has been put on medication as he was continually walking the home all night long

We have received this letter after an assessment, does it mean he won't get funded social care?. We know he has around 10k in a bank account, we think that's the only one. No one has POA(5 kids). So if anyone knows how to go about getting access to his bank account that would be great. The opticians are asking for £200 for his glasses and none of us have it. Plus we need some sort of power to close down his bills and act on his behalf but have no idea how to go about it. I don't think he has the capacity to assign a p.o.a

Sorry for rambling, none of us know wtf we're doing, its all new to us. T.I.A

Sorry for the crap pic

Sorry cant read that letter easily but can just work out that it is telling you your father is NOT elligible for ongoing funding. I imagine you can appeal this but hopefully someone who knows more about it will come on here.

does he own a property which could be sold to pay for care?

if he only has £10,000 to his name he should be able to get care - they are just doing their utmost to wriggle out of it.

you could also speak to citizens advice who may be able to help.

sorry you are having to deal with this. Best wishes.

The letter is about one type of funding which is CHC - this is funding used when someone needs skilled nursing care, and which your dad hasn't qualified for on their assessment. But, if he only has £10k in money then when social services assess his care need (which is different to CHC) and determined that he needs residential care, then he will be fully funded by them as he has less than the savings cap.
On his bank accounts, you will need to apply for deputyship to act on his behalf. This is a long process through the Court of Protection. There are details on Ageuk

Thanks for replying, he lived in a council flat which he still technically has.

Does he own the flat or rent from the council?

Rents the flat. Thank you. Thank god there's another assessment. Was really worrying they were about to kick him out! Will look into deputyship, thanks 😊

I am so sorry you, your dad and your family are going through this. If your dad has only £10000 savings they really can't take any money from him from my experience with mil. Don't know much about funding but don't think they can claim any of this. If he has his own property that is another matter and he may have to pay something which would be taken after the property is sold.

However if he has dementia and can't look after himself he may be entitled to total funding even if he has his own house. I would be appealing any decision that he can self fund if he has dementia.
My mil, who didn't have dementia, was in a care home where she lost her pension and was given an amount a week as spending money for incidentals. She had no property and her small savings were not touched. I think about the same as your dad.
If you ask to have this moved to elderly parents you may get better advice from people with more experience of supporting their parents through this. You could also try gransnet. People on there have often had this to deal with for their own parents or partner. 💐

Just seen your post above. Rents flat so no worries there. 😃

It sounds like they are just deciding who will fund.

It has been incredibly hard, especially when he doesn't recognise us. He seems happy there, in his mind he is busy at work everyday and doing this, that and the other. Can't tell you how relieved we are, we were really starting panic with this letter so thanks all for your help

Like pp says, the hospital social worker and nurses have carried out a chc checklist for complex needs which they dont think he has so he will not get chc funding. If he lives in council accommdoation, has no savings then he should get a fully funded place in a suitable home if thats where he is best off. The care home and community social worker will carry out a best interests meeting and either they or you have to apply to the Court of Protection for deputyship to access his housing, care needs and finances so you need to call the carehome to say you have no poa. If you know who he rents his flat from that would also be useful they may have a record of his bank and what needs to be done about his flat and any due rent. He may also be known to his local social services which the carehome should check. I would call the home manager to see what they are planning then call the court of protection, they can make one off decisions quickly if they need to.

A fully funded place still requires a contribution from the resident. My mum's place is classed as fully funded but she has to contribute the bulk of her pension less £ 32 a week.

If he doesn’t have capacity to assign a POA and you want to have control you need a deputyship. There are 2 types - financial and health and welfare. Financial is more straightforward to get. The forms are all on the Court of Protection webpages and you can apply yourself but you may find it easier to use a solicitor.

I highly recommend you find a local AgeUK advisor, they will have expert knowledge and also will know any local issues to be aware of.
As a side issue and I know not much help to you OP- everyone should get PoA sorted- you never know when it will be needed. DP and I have both done it. Also sort out your wills people.

Does he have his bank stuff - debit/credit cards? Does he remember any pins?

@MegaClutterSlut
I am currently in the same situation with my step father.
Firstly, if your DF has insufficient funds, which he will have if he has savings below £14250, the Local Authority will pay towards his care home fees. Anything below this amount cannot be touched.
A financial assessment has to be carried out, again the LA do this, and they determine what his contribution will be. My stepfather has to contribute all his pension less £25 a week which can be kept for personal care.
A family member can apply to the DWP to have his state pension paid into their own account which can then be accessed to pay towards his care home fees. I did this over the phone.
He should have a DOL assessment (deprivation of liberty) completed by the LA to determine if he has to remain in care. This should be carried out automatically and reviewed every 6 months. We also applied for CHC funding for my stepfather and although he had a full assessment, it was determined that he didn’t meet the threshold - which really makes me angry as he’s had his freedom removed, in effect he’s being held under the Mental Heath act, and gets to pay for the privilege!
If it has been determined that he will require permanent care, then you need to inform whomever he pays rent to. He will not be able to keep the property as he will not be able to pay for it.
I am in the process of applying for Deputyship through the Court of Protection. It’s a complicated process and we are using a solicitor. It will cost about £2k, but the payment for this will come out of his savings once it’s granted and I can access his bank account. I would not undertake this process myself! So far it’s been 2 months since the solicitor started the process and I’m going in to sign the application next week. The COP has given me a timescale of 6 months from when they receive the application.
If you contact his bank and notify them of what’s happening they can advise you, but you won’t be able to do anything with his account. Contact his energy provider, Council tax, water company etc to tell them the situation asap. They will put a notification on his accounts. On no account must you pay any of his bills out of your own money!
Feel free to DM me if you’ve any questions.

Thanks all will look into everything people have mentioned and yes I agree, sort out p.o.a's people! 🙂

As far as I'm aware, all bills are paid by direct debit, my brother pops to his flat regularly to check for letters. No bill demands so far but we will make them aware. He had a new bank card delivered when he was in hospital as he old one expired. I'm seeing him soon so will ask for his pin number. Really doubt he will know it though

Its all so complicated. Would I be allowed to claim back the 2k court fees from his account if I were to get control? Dont want to get into trouble if I do. Just need access for his needs. Already spent a few hundred on a new clothes and bits for him as he has sod all clothes wise, the 2 t shirts he did have had holes in as he lived very frugally, I don't want to claim that back.

What are the 2k court fees for? If the doctors assess him and find he lacks capacity then you need authorisation from the Court of Protection to access his bank account, take money out etc until you are given deputyship. It might be better to speak to the hospital social worker.

I am really sorry that you are going through this, it is a horrible experience.

There is some really good advice. Another place to go is Beacon www.beaconchc.co.uk/

The difference between your Dad's council funding his care is they are to provide social care and they will try to do it in the cheapest way possible. With this type of care, if he had the funds, he could top up the care package himself (which it doesn't sound like he has). So. they may find him a home for £800 a week and if he wanted to live in one for £1200 he could top up the fees.

Continuing Health Care is funded by the NHS for people who have primary health care needs. With CHC they have to fund the full care package.

CHC is notoriously difficult to get and you have to fight every step of the way. It doesn't mean your father doesn't deserve it. For example from what you have said he would not be able to make himself a drink or food or remember to take his own tablets, those are primary healthcare needs. It always frustrates me that Dementia is put in the social care category.

Beacon is funded by NHS to help navigate Continuing Health Care so if you call them they are really helpful.

In terms of not having POA, that is more complex and Adult Social Care may be able to help but also Age UK can help with what steps you need to take.

This is a time for your family to come together because it can be exhausting dealing with all of this. I wish I could give you a happy experience but it doesn't seem to be set up to make it easy for anyone.

But the most important piece of advice I can give you, after having done this with both parents, is your father and you have rights, so read up on what they are and don't take any crap.

I wish you all of you the best and hope your Dad is feeling settled.