My dad had been in a care home since December 21. He went in for respite after a hospital stay and never came out, the plan was to move him back home with carers, but hospital and respite deteriorated him so much that it was unsafe for him, he lasted 24 hours at home before we had to put him in a permanent care home, it was clear he would have harmed himself or someone else if left alone for a second.
A social worker deemed him to lack capacity in late Jan, he’s under dols.
While he was staying with me prior to that, sept-dec 2021, he finally realised that he wasn’t going to drive again, so he gave his car to dh in the December.
Not that we could afford to insure and run two cars, so it’s been sat in the garage ever since.
With everything that was going on with my dad (it’s been stressful to say the least), we didn’t legally sign the car log book over to dh until April.
We didn’t have the headspace, we were having a nightmare selling my dads home for the care fees, his bank were terrible sorting out the POA on his account, we had to go through complaints the lot, the company who owns the care home were hassling me on a weekly basis for their money as the sale was dragging on.
Anyway, the car has SORN and just sitting there ever since.
I need to sell it. It’s a constant reminder of everything that’s gone on, what’s been lost and we will never be able to afford to run it. And it’s just sat there rotting away.
It’s worth about 2k.
Everyone is giving me conflicting advice. It’s dh car. Log book in his name. So he can legally sell
it and keep the money.
But, my dads money will run out in 10 months.
Are Social services going to ask about his car? They go though bank statement for years back don’t they, to make sure that no assets have been disposed of - they will see he was running one, paying car insurance/petrol etc.
I’ve spoken to two solicitors, both told me conflicting things.
Dh is just going to sell it and we’ll keep the money in a separate account incase they want it. It’s worth about a week and a half of care home fees, for context.
Also, before his money runs out can I pre pay for a direct cremation from his bank account (I have POA)? The charge is 1.4k.
I won’t be able to pay for one when the time comes otherwise. My dad always told me that he had a funeral plan. I finally got the courage to open his “death box” a couple of months ago
and yes, he’s got his funeral planned to an T - only, he didn’t actually pay for it like he led me to believe. He obviously never thought he would have to go into a care home, this all happened within the space of 6 months . He planned what he wanted was on the basis that he thought he would die and leave me as the sole beneficiary with a house and all his savings, he never envisaged it would all go on care fees. So his plans to pay for it are basically, “use the savings in my current account.”
I can’t give him the funeral he wants, that would cost thousands, but I thought I could pre pay for the cheapest option, a direct cremation. That way, we would get his ashes back and could have a memorial.
Again, I’ve been told conflicting things on that.
Sorry if these are stupid questions, I’m not
coping with any of this.
I’ve spoken to solicitors who offer free half hours and say they are specialists this, I’ve spoken to age U.k. and the other charities everyone says to contact, but they tell me something different.
I tried asking the social worker who assed him these things and she just kept talking about “money grabbing families”. These thing are
important and causing me stress, I’d just like to know.
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Dementia & Alzheimer's
Assets and paying for funeral
Kevinyoutwat · 12/01/2023 16:14
Growlybear83 · 12/01/2023 19:51
I know this isn't what you were asking, but has your dad been assessed for Continuing Healthcare funding? The threshold is quite high and a high proportion of people seem to be told that they don't qualify when the assessment is initially carried out, but I have now come across many people whose parents with dementia have qualified for funding. This isn't
means tested so would cover the entire cost of the care home fees and would not mean that assets would have to be sold. You need to demonstrate that he has a primary health care need rather than a social care need, but depending on how his dementia manifests itself and his other health needs, it's definitely worth investigating. If you Google continuing healthcare funding, you will find a lot of information. There are several companies which will prepare your case for a fee, but Beacon Healthcare, who you will see on a Google search, give free advice on eligibility and applications. I'm currently going the the appeal process for my late mothers funding and they have been really helpful.
lookslikeabombhitit · 12/01/2023 20:47
What is your Dad's prognosis/ diagnosis. You don't need to say here but take a look at continuing healthcare funding and see if he meets the criteria for that. Ask his care home to refer him to social services for a care assessment and for advice re. his estate and funding. You need that point of contact to be able to get the answers to all of these questions that are specific to your local authority and how they apply the rules.
Sorry you're going through all of this. Negotiating adult social care is beyond stressful. X
Tyjaro75 · 12/01/2023 20:53
This! My father went into hospital for 3 weeks for testing and was discharged into a care home because he had deteriorated so much, mentally and physically. He also had dementia.
I honestly don't know who arranged the assessment but because his medical needs were so high ( couldn't walk, feed himself, incontinent, mental capacity gone) he received full funding.
You should ask the clinical lead at the home or possibly the occupational therapist ( if one has been involved).
I'm so sorry you are going through this. It's hard enough seeing your father like that but the stress of everything else is awful. We were very lucky that we had a very helpful care home really.
Growlybear83 · 12/01/2023 19:51
I know this isn't what you were asking, but has your dad been assessed for Continuing Healthcare funding? The threshold is quite high and a high proportion of people seem to be told that they don't qualify when the assessment is initially carried out, but I have now come across many people whose parents with dementia have qualified for funding. This isn't
means tested so would cover the entire cost of the care home fees and would not mean that assets would have to be sold. You need to demonstrate that he has a primary health care need rather than a social care need, but depending on how his dementia manifests itself and his other health needs, it's definitely worth investigating. If you Google continuing healthcare funding, you will find a lot of information. There are several companies which will prepare your case for a fee, but Beacon Healthcare, who you will see on a Google search, give free advice on eligibility and applications. I'm currently going the the appeal process for my late mothers funding and they have been really helpful.
Kevinyoutwat · 12/01/2023 17:39
It’s not his car now though.
It’s been in dh name since last april.
But yes, it has to go this week. I can’t have it sat here rotting away any longer.
Who do I contact for a financial assessment and when? The care home take so long to do anything.
Soontobe60 · 12/01/2023 17:36
No, you don’t need to do this. Once his assets fall below £14,250, he will be funded by his income (pensions ) less £25 a week. The rest of his fees will be funded by the LA. You will have to do a new financial assessment when his assets drop to about £25k, then again when they drop to about £15k. He will be left with enough money to pay for his funeral.
I had to provide bank statements for 6 months for my stepfather’s financial assessment. Sell his car now, it’ll be well over 6 months before you need to complete an assessment.
Earholeseyeholesarsehes · 12/01/2023 17:16
We haven’t got a social worker.
She was just the one who put him into respite care. When the 6 weeks of that was up, they were off the case, it was only while the LA were paying for respite as he was unsafest discharged from hospital. He’s self funding at a private home.
I just want to know if I can pay for the direct cremation from his account before his money runs out but no one will give me a straight answer.
Probablymagrat · 12/01/2023 17:02
Ex social worker here. In my authority a pre paid funeral plan was judged to be an asset and was added to the clients resources when assessing for funding eligibility. However, the law around this is open to interpretation, and I know that other authorities judge things differently. This is probably why you have been told different things. Sorry not to be more help, but sadly this is a mine field, and I have to say that your social worker doesn't seem to be very helpful ,but she wont be the person assessing. See if you can speak to the manager of the finanical assessment team, titles will vary in different authorities. If you can't do that, and they often won't speak to the public, give your social worker a written list of questions you want answers to, and do via email and cc in her manager. Good luck, and I am sorry you are going through this, its a horrible time. X
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