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Elderly parents

I'm feeling a bit bullied by the new care home...

44 replies

Rhubarblin · 06/04/2025 10:43

Very quick background: my dad has dementia, diagnosed ages ago now, I think nearly 10 years. He's been on a real journey, struggling at home/various different care homes (we've had quite difficult behaviour from the disease!) and hospital wards, I honestly lose track.

He moved to another new home in Feb, this was entirely arranged by a hospital social worker, I didn't have any input into the move (I don't have poa). They needed to get him out the cottage type hospital he was in very quickly (as beds are like gold dust). The home is OK generally, the care workers are lovely but it's a very remote location (so beautiful grounds but hard to actually get to).

Anyway, the manager (who doesn't come across as lovely!) said that I need to sign 3 different contracts and wanted them done there and then 5 days ago. I'm not a people pleaser and said I'll need to read them first.

I took them home and there's no way I can sign these, I would be financially responsible for all sorts of things (like anything my dad damages-which could definitely happen, a £50 monthly 'activity charge' which my dad wouldn't be able to participate in but is down as mandatory for all residents, any fee increases beyond what my dad can afford and the council would be willing to pay etc).

When I went back in on Friday, I popped into the office and said (politely) I won't be signing this. The manager was very rude and cross and said that I had to. I just continued to say no. He's phoned a couple of times since but I've said I can't sign the contracts. He's extremely pushy and rude, I've just been repeating "I won't be signing anything, you'll need to discuss anything further with the council".

OP posts:
HashtagShitShop · 06/04/2025 12:47

You have no say in where he was placed, including that home or his finances so no you are not responsible for paying for anything broken or any rises.

The top up fees for homes are not allowed to be paid from residents accounts from what I remember (my grandad has been dead 6 years now and so it's quite a while since I had to deal with it) but surely the entire reason they charge hundreds (some places a thousand or more!) of pounds a week is for these eventualities as well as the care. Everything should be covered in the fees as standard. Get the name of the person who placed him and keep giving it and only it to the manager when he pounces. The poor workers, he must be a bloody nightmare to work under

catofglory · 06/04/2025 13:04

The manager sounds very difficult, all you can do is keep referring him back to Social Services. The finances are absolutely nothing to do with you.

From what you've said, your dad is contributing his pensions to the fees, and SS are paying the rest. That was the situation for my mother for the last couple of years. I did have POA but the only thing I did regarding finances was arrange the standing order to send her portion of the fees to the care home.

Mischance · 06/04/2025 13:15

This is down to SSD.

Even if you do not have PofA it is good practice for them to consult you about any plans for your Dad, as NoK. They should have done this.

You were given no prior warning about the possibility of "top-up" payments, which are in themselves iniquitous.

Tell the manager to talk to SSD.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 06/04/2025 13:52

I agree with PP. Don't sign. Broken record.

Don't tell the manager you won't sign, say you can't sign. Tell him you don't have POA and there have no legal power to sign anything on your father's behalf.

notatinydancer · 06/04/2025 13:56

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/04/2025 11:14

Well who is supposed to cover the damages?

Insurance ? What if he had no family?

Mrsbloggz · 06/04/2025 14:01

Purplecatshopaholic · 06/04/2025 12:24

Refuse to sign. On repeat. And complain about the manager if you need to. You don’t have poa, and you didn’t choose the home - the finances are not your responsibility. I would smile and breezily say, nope still not signing, every time you see him..

Edited

I have to say this sounds like your best option op.
It's appalling behaviour from the manager who is trying to stitch you up knowing he has you over a barrel 🤬

ScrewedByFunding · 06/04/2025 14:07

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/04/2025 11:14

Well who is supposed to cover the damages?

I'm not responsible for what my dad does or bills he incures. Why would that change just because he enters a care home. He's not my dependant or responsibility, just because we are related.

stayathomegardener · 06/04/2025 14:11

Could you send an email to your social services contact outlining how distressing this is for you given you really do have no authority to sign and copy in the home manager?

MissMoneyFairy · 06/04/2025 14:23

If dad has capacity he signs, if he doesn't then his appointed deputy signs, presumably someone arranged the placement, go back to whoever did that. I would also email the discharge team and social worker, I would emphasise you have no authority to sign paperwork on his behalf and trust and hope that the negative attitude will not affect his care.

Breambrune · 06/04/2025 16:53

There is sometimes a guilt trip that is used to force relatives into paying top up fees but seeing as they don’t and have never had a contract with you I have no idea why they think you should be signing anything! At the end of the day he’s a council funded resident and you have never made the decision to place him there. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/legal-financial/paying-for-care/care-home-fees https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/paying-for-a-care-home/top-up-fees/

Paying for care home fees in England

Paying for a care home can be expensive, but you may be eligible to financial help from your local authority. In some cases, you might be able to get financial support from the NHS.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/legal-financial/paying-for-care/care-home-fees

Mischance · 06/04/2025 18:06

NoBinturongsHereMate · 06/04/2025 13:52

I agree with PP. Don't sign. Broken record.

Don't tell the manager you won't sign, say you can't sign. Tell him you don't have POA and there have no legal power to sign anything on your father's behalf.

They are not asking the OP to sign something on her father's behalf so PofA does not come into it; they are asking her to commit to topping up what SSD are paying for her father in her capacity as family member.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 06/04/2025 18:08

She mentions 3 contracts, only one of which is a top up.

Mischance · 06/04/2025 18:15

I finished up paying a top-up for my late OH when he was in a nursing home. This was because I made the choice to send him to an excellent home that was more expensive than SSD ceiling. I had to sell our home to do this. [the words top-up are a joke in this context as I paid 80% and SSD paid 20%!]

My status as PofA was irrelevant to this. As a family member I made this choice.

Family members can be asked to top up if the home costs more than SSD are willing to pay. In the case of the OP, she had no part in placing her father there and should dig her heels in about this. She does not have to top up.

In fact in the end I managed to get all his fees paid back via Continuing Health Care Funding on appeal. This is paid by NHS for people with specific severe health needs.

The OP is not being asked to sign something on her father's behalf, but is being asked to sign a top-up agreement on her own behalf. i.e. committing to pay extra over and above what SSD are paying.

pizzaHeart · 06/04/2025 18:18

Answer him by email and cc the social worker into it.

MysterOfwomanY · 08/04/2025 01:05

"This appears to be a misunderstanding, Social Services placed him here - surely all contracts should go to them. I do not have PoA for him and cannot act on his behalf."

Katherina198819 · 09/04/2025 08:11

I don't agree with this. The manager is doing his job - he isn't the one who owns the place or comes up with all these regulations.

I won't ignore or complain unless you are in a position to take care of your father at home yourself (care homes can easily refuse to accommodate him further).
I'm not sure what you can do in this situation, but I would contact the social services and let them know what's going on.
Ignoring the propblem won't make it go away.

Katherina198819 · 09/04/2025 08:12

Sorry, the quotation dissapeared- i was answering to a pp who said keep ignoring it

MissJeanBrodiesmother · 09/04/2025 08:17

I wouldn't sign either. You are not responsible for fee increases or damages and it is debatable whether your dad is given he has dementia and was placed there by social care. Keep directing him to the social worker.

catofglory · 09/04/2025 09:19

I won't ignore or complain unless you are in a position to take care of your father at home yourself (care homes can easily refuse to accommodate him further).

No. The OP is under no obligation to look after her father at home. If the care home does decide they cannot meet his needs (for whatever reason) Social Services are obliged to find another care home which will. The OP should not sign anything requiring her to make payments.

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