Paying for care when coming out of hospital

[justintimeforxmas]

I wonder if somebody can help me. My elderly mum is coming out of hospital after being very ill. Before she needed some support before but she was still able to look after her own hygiene etc.

however she has deteriorated and will now need help with looking after herself/ mobility.
they are trying putting a care package in place but are hinting that we may need to pay. I thought the initial post hospital package was on the NHS?

for example my dad when he came out had 6 weeks for care visits 4 x a day.
does anybody know what the deal is ?

It sounds like your dad had the same as my neighbour, interim reablement care, explained here. Have the team confirmed that is what is being organised for your mother?

Is your mother likely to need longer term care? If so, maybe that is what they are referring to in terms of paying.

https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/care-after-a-hospital-stay/care-to-support-recovery-after-leaving-hospital-or-after-a-fall-injury-or-illness/

I expect it varies by area but in our area its free until ss do a financial assessment post discharge if its likely she will only need short term care they may be entitled to a reablement care package which is free for up to 6 weeks but if she's likely to need something more permanent than it will be as above and financially for
assessed post discharge

It was always free for my elderly relatives for the first six weeks when they came out of hospital, but the last couple of tim s nobody mentioned it and the company they sent did try to charge us. So chase it up. But equally look for good local carers in your area ready for afterwards.

My mother recently had 6 weeks free reablement care after discharge (3 times a day), in fact she was readmitted after a week and the clock reset. They did say that the assessment for ongoing care needs would start fairly soon after discharge but she picked up really quickly so we didn’t get to that point.

When my dad came out of hospital, he had (free) reablement care for 6 weeks. It was also clear he would need long term care. We didn’t bother with a financial assessment because we knew he was above the threshold but social services did provide a list of care agencies. We got in touch with a couple, they came out to assess dad and suggested the care they thought he required and costs and from that we chose the agency. FWIW, he’s mentally as fit as a fiddle, just a bit frail and needs support with washing and dressing and making sure he gets up and down the stairs at the start and end of the day ok.

If you’re definitely going to need care longer term, I’d speak to the older adults team in your social services department, they’ll be very used to guiding families through the process.

There should be a short term care package funded by NHS/Social Care which may include carer visits, home nurses, physio, OT visit and prescribed equipment or adaptations. After that you may be required to self fund and arrange private carers and have an assessment by local Adult Social Services to determine support required longer term. Some conditions qualify for Continuing Care provision and funding, most commonly if full-time supervision or residential care is required.

Thank you all,

she already has some assistance but nowhere need the level she will will need coming out of hospital. It’s the 6 weeks renablement package that I don’t think we should pay for. I will be increasing her permanent care once I know where she is. She is currently needing 2 carers to help her out of bed but assuming this will go back to roughly how she was before (she was able to get around the house herself before with the use of a stick so assuming she will return to some mobility).

from reading she should get the 6 week package and we pay after that which I think would be fair

How old was she and how long was she in hospital for? Is she having any physio? It’s rare for the elderly to regain all of their former abilities if they have been in hospital for a period of weeks.

She’s in her 80’s and I’m not expecting her to go back to exactly where she was, but hope she regains some of her abilities. Yes she will be having physio. She is already much better than a week ago and able to move with help from bed to chair etc. Her legs are quite strong so I’m confident she will have some mobility again.

No need to pay op, info is freely available on the Internet. Age uk will have a guide or you can contact them for advice, theyre very helpful

Age UK have a useful guide to reablement - fact sheet 76. They've also got some about care assessments and finances

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/information-advice/guides-and-factsheets/#health