Advice on funding care / homes

[Randomuser9876]

Parents mid 80s - both have health issues but DM dementia and very limited mobility. Too much for D to cope with and denies any more help in the home.

Looking a nursing home, found a nice one with a space but it's ££. They do have savings but I need to find out what we've eligible for (she gets attendance allowance but could we get FNC? Isn't there a maximun spend in a life time (£86k?) how is this tracked?

I really need some plain advice - is there a helpline or adviser anyone would reccomend? TIA!

The max spend idea never came to anything.

First thing is an assessment. Does she actually need nursing care or just residential?

you need an assessment by social services who will be able to guide you through the process in the area you live (different areas have different rules for funding). Contact your local council social services department and request a care need assessment.

I'd say nursing - she has severe osteoporosis so limited mobility. Has vascular dememtia and is incontinent (sometimes double)

Residential care is ££££.

Talk to Age UK, or Independent Age, they both have excellent advice lines. But keep your expectations low.

Incontinence, lack of mobility and dementia don't typically need nursing. It's about whether she needs actual medical care daily.

You need a social worker to be involved. Refer her to adult social services in her area to get the ball rolling. They may also ask for a district nurse assessment of her needs.

From what you’ve said, a residential home should be able to meet her needs currently but as that is likely to change it is worth looking for somewhere that is dual registered to save having to move in the future.

Thanks all - will try Age UK.

Home has been selected as has both residental and nursing care and a dementia floor so all bases covered.

Speak to the local adult social care team. They will arrange a consultation and care package. It will cost about £700 per month to have care at home.

£700 a month seems very low. How many visits a day would that cover?

FNC is funded nursing care and would go to the home directly. You don't see it and it doesn't come off your bill. Its for the home to fund any extra care needed.

CHC is continuing health care and pays for all of the care home fees but is extremely difficult to get.

I so wish there was a cap on it at £2,000 a month for MIL. Attendance allowance is paid if you self fund but not if the LA funds your care.

That’s roughly what my LA pays for four visits a day. 1 carer 15 minutes a time. It’s really not a lot of time to get someone cleaned up, toileted, fed, medicated and anything else needed. It also includes paperwork normally done over phone so that eats into time available too.

Get a local authority assessment but also enquire about nhs chc which is better funded and not means tested - this only will apply
ic medical needs are high (not what is classed as social needs)

£700 is for 2 30 minutes visits

There isn't a cap do they own their own home. My mums residential home costs £1850. a week now her savings are below about £23,000 we have to sell the house to pay the fees as it takes a while to sell we have a deferred payment scheme with the council that they pay the fees with interest until the house is sold and then pay them back. She is not entitled to any help with the fees..

My DGM sounds similar to your DM - dementia, Parkinsons, no mobility, incontinent. She's been in a home for five years and it's nearly taken all of the proceeds of the sale of her house. Getting any funding (especially if she has savings or a home to sell) is, unfortunately for you, unlikely.