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Elderly parents

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Original poster

Nursing home fees - dementia

18 replies

Bowring · 09/02/2022 17:45

Is anyone able to give an idea of self funded care home fees for elderly with dementia? I don't even know if it's a nursing home or a care home that would be required. We're not there yet, but DM becoming increasingly physically frail and DF dementia while manageable just now, is slowly deteriorating.

They're in Scotland and we're not near them.

Would it be the case that a charge could be put on the value of their home if they/we couldn't come up with the cash immediately? I know there's different levels of help, but I want to start with worst case scenario, and have a contingency in mind before it's absolutely needed?

Thank you

OP posts:

Alonglongway · 09/02/2022 17:54

Both my parents have advanced dementia and we pay around £1500 per week each here in London. We ran through my parents’ savings after about a year and then put a charge on the house till it sold. There was an option to do this directly with the nursing home head office or via the council. We did it direct in the interests of less paperwork. Do you have power of attorney in place?

Best wishes - it’s difficult stuff

ApolloandDaphne · 09/02/2022 18:01

I can't remember how much my FIL paid but he was able to move whilst the house was being sold. Have they got savings and pension coming in?

MMAMPWGHAP · 09/02/2022 18:06

Less in Scotland as personal care is funded isn’t it?

Masdintle · 09/02/2022 18:14

£1650 a week for a care home with nursing in Yorkshire. Life savings don't go far on £85 grand a year

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 09/02/2022 18:16

its a bit different in Scotland but the first thing to do would be to have care needs assessments carried out
www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/information-advice/care-and-support/care-homes/

Original poster

Bowring · 09/02/2022 18:22

Thanks everyone, as I said we're not there yet, but that link to age uk Scotland is very helpful.

POA in place.

Yes they have decent pensions, and some savings but as you say at 85k a year wouldn't last long.

I'm going up to visit soon so will try and broach the subject gently and get their views, useful to have some general information to hand first though.

OP posts:

MayThePawsBeWithYou · 09/02/2022 18:25

Do they have extra care housing schemes in Scotland which might suit them

mobear · 09/02/2022 18:27

In one Surrey nursing home around £8,000 per month.

Snozzlemaid · 09/02/2022 18:30

Age.uk usually have lots of good info about this.

chickywoo · 09/02/2022 18:33

Social care assessment threshold is £23,250
If one of your parents still lives in property when one goes into care then property is not taken into account as part of financial assessment.
Obvs if they have savings over this amount then they will pay but this is done as an individual calculation not as a couple.
If either of your parents have a continuing health care assessment which indicates that they need nursing care then this is paid for by the NHS.
The rates for residential and dementia residential care vary by home and area but if you contact your local authority they will be able to provide you a list of homes in your area and what level of care they provide.
Not sure of how different procedure is in Scotland though.
Would be good idea to get lasting power of attorney organised so will be easier for you to deal with if and when time comes.

chickywoo · 09/02/2022 18:37

Sorry posted before seeing your most recent reply,
If you think you have the time may be good idea to take some financial/legal advice about if you can transfer home ownership, gift the savings etc
I mean in line with your parents wishes of course.

hamsterchump · 09/02/2022 18:52

@chickywoo

Sorry posted before seeing your most recent reply, If you think you have the time may be good idea to take some financial/legal advice about if you can transfer home ownership, gift the savings etc I mean in line with your parents wishes of course.

You/OP can't do any of that, it's too late. If you suspect you need care and will eventually need the local authority to fund it then you can't start making any unusual gifts or purchases or transfers as it's deprivation of assets and you could end up being assessed later as if you still have the assets you've got rid of and so not be entitled to finding for your care. If you're going to do any of this you need to do it when you're well and can't be expected to know that you might need care on the future.

chickywoo · 09/02/2022 18:58

The op might suspect they need care but her parents haven’t it’s still worth her taking advice of all options available in these circumstances and also be fully informed of consequences of doing so.

helpfulperson · 09/02/2022 19:26

Don't forget that their state pension will go towards costs. We paid around 600 a week for a nursing home which charged 1000. There was state pension, personal care allowance and something for nursing care. I'm sure we still got attendance allowance or something as well. Alzheimer's society Scotland were very helpful.

My advice when looking at homed is to look beyond the building fabric. The place dad was was scruffy but staff were amazing. And try and make sure it's somewhere she can stay until the end. So nursing home even if she doesn't need it yet and somewhere the council will fund if money runs out. I'm not 100 sure but I don't think putting a charge on the house is a thing in Scotland.

chickywoo · 09/02/2022 20:56

Yes totally agree with looking beyond what it looks like, there’s some fancy new built care homes that look like a cruise ship or hotel on the inside but it’s often the smaller scruffy looking places with the long-standing staff and the compassionate experienced manager that come up best for care.
Usually you will find this out from word of mouth don’t place too much in cqc reports.

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/02/2022 08:59

If they’re completely self funding, they can claim Attendance Allowance, which will pay about 5% of it. Every little helps

PermanentTemporary · 15/02/2022 21:58

I would also say that sometimes the scruffy places are awful too!

We were looking at 1400 a week in the SE but we didn't have 3 years fees available in the bank.

ExConstance · 16/02/2022 13:54

There is a lot of support to remain in your own home for as long as possible. Home care support or a live in carer can help, Local Authority can also assess for Telecare to help with prompts or advise people to stay in. Home care is under pressure at the moment but there are good providers out there, with dementia care trained staff. This option is not cheap but it is far less expensive than a care home and might hold the situation for quite a while. I manage a service run by a community charity and we support some of our service users to live out their entire lives at home, leading contented lives with dementia.

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