AMA - I bought a residential care home for those living with dementia

[MPF080619]

I have NC'd. I have been lurking the last few months and wondered whether this may be of interest to people. 18 months ago I bought a dementia care home. I had no actual background in dementia care. I absolutely love what I do and have a wonderful team of carers who work with me. But.... it is a challenge in so many ways. So... AMA... I will be as honest as I can be!

The cost of the carers wages has to come from somewhere. It does. But it's wrong that self funders are paying so much more than council funded residents. It means the cost of supporting those with no means isn't being spread across the whole population, part of it is being transferred to a small section of the population. So if you are unlucky enough to get an illness which means your needs are "primarily social", not only do you pay your own living costs - which are 3-4 times as high as someone renting a house and living in the community - when others are getting not just their medical costs but also their living costs met, you are also contributing to someone else's living costs.

Do people wrongly assume that you are making loads of money from this and that you are only in it for financial gain? I think where the worries on this thread are coming from is that people who have their loved ones in care hope that those responsible for their care are trained and have the necessary experience to undertake that care.

fiftiesmum
Wow that is a significant increase - no, our increases are less than half that

EleanorOalike
I don't think anyone who knows me thinks I am making loads of money and only in it for financial gain - I doubt anyone goes into any sort of care, whether working in care or owning a care home purely for financial gain.

fiftiesmum
Regarding LA's, I think that they have an incredibly hard job and come in for a lot of bashing. They are at the front line, the care managers and placement teams, whilst not perfect, have an impossible job with minimal funding. The issue is at a wider government level but the LA's get blamed. The whole social care funding model is wrong, but I think the LA gets blamed for a lot. But no, I do not think it is fair that because LA funded residents don't get increases sometimes the self funders pay more.

MereDintoofPandiculation I have a very very experienced team of carers, many who have worked in our care home for decades. I have an incredible RM who is responsible for the day to day care. When I am caring I have the required training and I am working under the direction of the RM. I am not naive enough to think I know it all. However as the owner I am very heavily involved and wanted to do every single role in the care home so I can understand exactly how it everyones role works and the challenges associated with that role. I ensure I spend time with every resident a couple of times a week. I will clean a loo, cook a meal, provide personal care.
I would worry if my loved one was in a care home and I did not see the owner on site involved with the day to day care.
Hope that helps.

You are very fortunate (and a good boss) to have such a stable workforce. Can I assume you are not in London. Homes in the south east tend to change staff frequently if something with better pay (rent and gas bills can't be paid with job satisfaction credits) comes up.
The big increases came as a shock but felt we had nothing to lose in negotiating (and getting) a lower increase.
Our council is notoriously bad at providing any services (are you sure you are in our area and not the London borough of x) as we are on the border (roads and schools forgotten as well)

Wish I worked for you!
In my experience owners just swan in for 10 mins to check what we're up to and then go.. They don't even speak to us.
I have had excellent managers and owners in the past but equally worked in some shockers.
If I could afford it.. I'd do exactly what you're doing. I believe that the best managers/owners are ones who will roll up their sleeves