Care Home funding - the basics

[titchy]

Anyone know the basics of what elderly relative has to pay/can claim?

Has carers currently, but now assessed as needing an assisted living place. Have found a care home (not visited due to covid but has decent reputation locally). My god they're expensive aren't they?!!!!

Anyway house on market so presume will have to self fund the lot is that right? Relative currently receives pension and attendance allowance? Will they be able to continue to receive both?

Not what we thought we'd be dealing with a week before Christmas but there you go... Advice gratefully received.

I use to be an advocate and although she has family I would strong advise talking to an Advocate, often called a Care Act Advocate. It's a free service but they can offer free independent advice and support to ensure your relative is getting the support they are entitled too ( google your home town & advocacy)

If they need urgent care it is likely they will place her in a care home that has space. But as she is self funding you or another relative can call around care homes and enquire. Look at CQC reports online and ask around about them.

Due to COVID visiting is unlikely, however more savvy care homes should be doing a virtual tour or something.

What a PP said about the council only funding so much is correct however my advocate colleagues have managed to argue a client remains in that home and that Social care pay the bill.

Keep in mind though, this is unlikely if you choose a £1000 a week care home with private cinema room etc.

If I was advising you I'd say get the Health POA ASAP and perhaps the some legal and investment advice on how to make money 'stretch'

As she is likely to be a self funded she will get minimum input from Social Care so I wouldn't rely on having their support after the care assessment with the outcome she's a self funder. Thats where advocacy can help

Good luck

I would also say cheaper always doesn't mean worse. One grandmother was in a fully funded social services home... it was tatty, a bit smelly and looked pretty grim. She was looked after amazingly by people who genuinely seemed to care Yes, I'd go with this. Important questions to answer are how high is staff turnover, how happy are staff to be working there, what's the balance between efficient running of the home machine and resident's abilities to do what they want when they want (can they go to bed at the time they want?) and is there an activities coordinator, or someone who can spend time helping residents access things that'll make their life better (our activities coordinator is coming in on Christmas morning to help residents open their presents).