Please explain to me about mother's residential home costs

[CalicoPusscat]

I'm so confused with all of this. We had no other choice than a home as she kept having falls and just wasn't coping. It didn't help having carers go in each day. I would get startled at phone calls at 3am asking me to travel as she'd had a fall so she had to sell her place. The ambulance would get there sooner.

It obviously costs a fortune per month for residential care but as far as I understand it if money drops down to £24500 then it starts to get partially paid for and if it drops down to £14k approx then it's fully protected?

Adult social services can refer for the incontinence issues and I think she might be depressed?

She doesn't seem to get on much better in a residential home either. She rarely leaves her room and calls the other residents 'thick'. I've spoken to a few, everyone has something to say.

Hopefully adult social services will help.

Did you choose the home or did social services?

It is not that clear what your question is. But i can tell you what i know, as my mil went in to care recently.

Your mums savings and capital will both be taken in to account when deciding what fees to charge her.

If her savings are above 23k then fees will be due in full.

once the savings drop below 23k then there will be a contribution from them, which tapers until her savings drop below 14k.

However if she owns her own home then the value of that is also taken in to account.

But they will apply a 12 week disregard which means they will ignore the house for that period, and will only assess savings.

After 12 weeks they will consider deffered payment until the house is sold.

Once sold she will then be charged full fees until her capital and savings drop below 23K

If you do not have a POS then they will handle decisions, but you may choose to be involved as a deputy.

Surely adult social services have already have helped by placing her in a residential home It'll take some time for her to settle.

Have you taken her to the GP about her depression?

I take it she doesn't own her own home then or has a partner still living in it. Yes you get help if you have savings less than £24,500. But the council will only pay so much so if the care home is a lot more than the council is willing to pay someone else has to pay the top up or the council will move them to a care home which is the same amount the council is willing pay which could be anywhere. Sorry but I don't know about the below £14000.

That's roughly right for the limits, I can't say exactly. Once there's only around 14K left social services will pay. Good that they got her a place as in my experience they try to stick with sending carers in even when that's clearly not enough. The home staff will be used to 'difficult' residents.

But they will apply a 12 week disregard which means they will ignore the house for that period, and will only assess savings.
Does that mean you don't have to pay the fees for 12 weeks because my mum didn't get the at all.

I'm a bit confused about your need for adult social services re incontinence if she is in a care home already?

only if the savings are below the threshold. If the savings were over 23K then they would not qualify for financial help anyway.

The disregard only applies for the first 12 weeks in care.

No I moved her, previous living situation was completely untenable. So social services weren't involved.

I was determined to get her into a residential home near a hospital in case of further complications. It's so difficult, isn't it? I just need to pick up the pieces.

Hopefully adult social services can help (I keep trying to type ASS but that comes across wrong!).

I just need to know where we stand in terms of medical treatment and finances. Unfortunately she's too far gone now.

Urrgh so complicated

@CalicoPusscat if you give me your time lines and her situation i can help not enough info provided to de mystify

The care home said they'd need to refer her. I genuinely don't understand what anyone is on about. She needs a pacemaker as well but was a bit obstinate about it last year.

Dealing with my mother is like wading through treacle.

The care home said they'd need to refer her

So you don't need adult social services, the care home is making the referral?

Social care will complete a financial assessment which will outline the costings.

If there is savings of £23250 or above then the placement is self funded.
14k and above then the contribution is tapered.
If there is property then this will be taken into consideration (unless a joint owner is living in it.)
Anything below adult care will fund however there is always a client contribution.

Some homes have a third party top up which is payable by friends / family and not the resident - check this beforehand as adult care don't fund this.

Social care will only support with funding the placement if she meets the eligibility criteria to remain in a long term placement and has overnight needs.

Continence referrals should be done by the home.

During the 12 week property disregard period for my DF he still had to make a contribution to his care, but not the full fees which are £5,800 per month. He had to pay all his pension - state and 2 private pensions and the rest was paid by the council. He was left with a small weekly amount for personal spends. His capital assets are below £23,250 but still needed to contribute. I think this is standard with all LAs. He is now funded via the deferred loan from the council until we have sold the house.

They said they would; I don't know what on earth is going on. They're not very clear.

I'd rather speak to Ass and get some clarification. It really wasn't tenable my mother being in her own house and all those falls which she was hospitalised for. I lived next door to the hospital for a few years to try to gauge what was going on and being on red alert. Quite worn out with this now and need some help deciphering it.

If

So you have organised the care home for your mum who is self financing. Did you check that they take residents who are funded by the local authority when/if her savings run out? I did the same as you but knew that I would have to move mum if her money ran out, as our care home was only for self funded residents. Fortunately she didn't live that long, but it's important to check.

I think that it is worth asking for an adult care assessment for your mum as it may unlock other services and support for her, but usually a care home would do the referral, or at least advise you on what to do. Worth finding out about now as there is quite a wait for them in some areas.

I'm really appreciative of all your input because I am resoundingly dense about all of this. She's safer but I don't like her dismissing other residents.

My best bet is to just contact social services. She's a complete nightmare towards me, there is a lot of past hurt, but that doesn't mean I don't want her taken care of.

@CalicoPusscat take a very deep breath lovely. You have come on here for advice/ support and seem to me to have an awful lot swimming around your head.

there are plenty of threads on here about us all struggling with very difficult relationships with parents who suddenly you feel a need to help dont worry, that is okay.

just go for what it is you want to say and ask

I know what you mean about the unfriendliness towards other residents. Quite a few people in my mum's home smoke, and they go outside to a sort of verandah thing beyond the lounge. My mother moans non-stop about them 'bringing the smell of cigarettes in' and being 'stupid' for smoking. She's not exactly endearing herself with any of them. For Christ's sake, if I had dementia and lived in a care home, I'd be smoking my head off too. It's one instance where I'd actually want to shorten my lifespan.

You haven't given clear information so it is difficult to advise.
What is crucial is how your mother's admission to the care home was arranged.
Did she have a hospital admission then a care plan followed by social services assessment then go into a care home?
OR
Did you approach the care home and make arrangements yourself?
Was a care needs assessment done by anyone?
Was a financial assessment done by

• The care home
• Social services

Who is paying the fees? Is your mother categorised as self funding? The answers to the above would be a start so that those of us who have gone through the system can offer advice. Alternatively you can get in touch with AgeUK and they will ask you all the above questions and advise you how to proceed.

The issues with other residents and your mother's mental state is a separate thing and would need discussion with the care home manager and your mother's gp.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/paying-for-a-care-home/

This might help explain it to you. It goes through the steps which should be taken. Presumably you have Power of Attorney for both Financial and Health & Welfare and that these have now been enacted if your mother no longer has capacity?