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Elderly parents
Original poster

What happens when funds run out re care home?

19 replies

sorryiasked · 06/01/2022 17:58

Can anyne give me advice or point me in the right direction please?
Elderly relative for whom I have POA for has been struggling in his own privately owned flat. Had carers coming twice a day but would just sit and do literally nothing all day, poor mobility, quite depressed, getting forgetful, and confused at times.
He's currently in a care home for some respite, privately funded, and thinks he might like to stay permanently.
To be honest I'm relieved as I know he is safe and cared for, with company and things to do.
So, I reckon that if his flat sells he's probably got sufficient funds to pay the care home fees for maybe 3 years.

My question (thank you if you're still with me!) is - what happens then? Will the dwp fund him in the same place (basic care home) or would they require him to move elsewhere? And is there any chance that they would deem he'd made himself homeless?
I know that his physical and mental health will probably change, and he may not even have another 3 years in him, but at the moment I don't think that he would be considered as requiring a care home.
Any useful pointers and information gratefully received.

OP posts:
Adododoadahdahdah · 06/01/2022 18:36

Once DGM house was sold, and all her money had been used on care home fees, the family were told she would have to be moved as they wouldn’t fund the full cost of her place.

In the end the family split the additional costs between them but, if that hadn’t been an option, she would have had to move.

Original poster
sorryiasked · 06/01/2022 18:40

Thanks @Adododoadahdahdah was that because she was in a more expensive home or because it catered for higher needs than they deemed her to have?

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 06/01/2022 18:43

Once my mum's money was gone the council paid.
You have to contact them well before she reaches the limit. I think it was £26,000 for part funding £16,000 for full funding (4+years ago)
It was never discussed about her moving homes. When she was self-funding she was paying £200 a week more than the council-funded residents. If they would have told us she had to move I would have gone mental.

Balonziaga · 06/01/2022 18:47

Based on my DMs experience, I think that when the money runs out, the council will either ask him to move into a locally approved home, or will part subsidise them staying put. Someone will still need to find a significant amount of money though.

This may vary from council to council thought.

EssaysOfElia · 06/01/2022 18:51

Are you in England? If he’s been in a care home for 3 years by the time his money runs out you can argue with the local authority it’d be detrimental to his health.
The key is getting a care home to agree they’ll accept the Local authority rate when his savings go below the threshold (£23,250).

EssaysOfElia · 06/01/2022 18:52

Detrimental to move him that should say.

glimpsing · 06/01/2022 18:55

My grandad's home was funded by an annuity policy funded by the sale of his house. It was enough to fund him for the rest of his life. Care was quite expensive as he had dementia.

glimpsing · 06/01/2022 18:56

He was over 90 though. Maybe that helped regarding getting the annuity policy.

Icequeen01 · 06/01/2022 19:02

When we had to put my MIL and FIL into care homes (sadly had to be separated due to different needs) we rented out their house to ensure that the income from the house combined with their pensions would always be enough to pay their care home fees. This was about 8 years ago so rules may have changed and you might not be able to do this now but might be worth looking into?

BoodleBug51 · 06/01/2022 19:05

DD works in this sector. Once your funds run out, you're passed to your local council and they have a set budget for weekly care. In the majority of cases, residents are moved to homes within that budget. It's really upsetting when it happens and it's really important to research if the initial home will accept local council rates when the time comes.

Shitzngiggles · 06/01/2022 19:08

When DM had to go in a care home we made sure the one we chose would allow her to stay there once funds run out and the council took over the payments. Funds in fact did run out in the summer and they kept their word.

Snozzlemaid · 06/01/2022 19:12

The LA will help with funding when their money is below £23,500
So don't wait for it all to run out before arranging a financial assessment with them.

Age UK have lots of info https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/paying-for-a-care-home/

LaQuern · 06/01/2022 19:20

Once the money runs out the council step in, but only if the home features on the list they keep where they're happy to do that.

I chose my parents nursing home on that basis as I wasn't having them moved when the money ran out

Original poster
sorryiasked · 06/01/2022 19:20

Thanks all. We are in England - I can't find anywhere that tells me how much the local authority are likely to fund in monetary terms to try and work out what the shortfall might be.

OP posts:
NotAnEMERGENCY · 06/01/2022 19:33

We deliberately chose a care home for my MIL that was on the local council's 'approved' list so she wouldn't have to move. She is currently self-funding (full rate) until the proceeds of her house sale are used up but then the council will fund the care home (at the council's discounted rate) and she can stay where she is.

It's worth checking with your local council first so you know what your options are,

NotAnEMERGENCY · 06/01/2022 19:35

Each local council will have a slightly different rate that they have agreed with the care homes in their area. If you phone your local adult social care team, they will tell you which care homes they have an agreement with and how much this will be.

Original poster
sorryiasked · 06/01/2022 19:43

Ok, sounds like a call to social services and a meeting with the home manager then.
Unfortunately this is the only home he would even consider going to for respite as he stayed with them previously, it was such a battle to get him there in the first place that I know he won't even accept a suggestion of looking at others.
Its so difficult dealing with a "how long is a piece of string" and not having a crystal ball Sad

OP posts:
Reasonistreason · 06/01/2022 20:02

When my MIL had to go into a care home we were fortunate to get her into one run by a charity. As long as you could demonstrate 3 years fees available (we sold her house) on admission, then she would be able to remain at the home free of charge (bed & board) until the end of her days. Unfortunately MIL died within 6 months but it was important to us that she not be made to move from her (care)home when funds ran out. Can’t imagine how distressing that would be.

kookievee · 06/01/2022 22:56

It will depend on the local authority whether they move him or not at the time of picking up. Where I work we would have to do a best value search for a place that can meet his needs and that would include a haggle with the current home for a new cheaper rate. Depending what what had room on the day of the search he may not have to move.

His social worker at the time should argue for him if it's deemed to be in best interest for him to stay put, but often they do have to move.

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