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Nursing home fees to increase...

3 replies

Lala1980 · 21/05/2012 22:05

Not sure where to start on this one.
My grandmother (I am power of attorney following her stroke) is in a nursing home. The fees are currently £750 per week of which she pays £236 and the council must top up the rest.
They are building a new nursing home next door to the existing building. When it is finished, all the residents will move there.
We were invited to a residents family meeting tonight. Bizarrely, this was the first time we were informed that the existing management had "resigned" (reading between the lines - pushed out) and all new management seemed to be in place.
They were bigging up the all singing all dancing new build which will have a cafeteria, bar, hairdressers, coffee machines and mini bars in all rooms etc etc
Only when pushed were we told that the fees were going to increase with the cheapest rooms being £850 a month, dearest £1250. This is going to be a "flagship home" for the chain and have a 7 bedroom marketing suite etc...
Essentially, if we cannot afford to top this up, she will have to be moved to a cheaper nursing home which might not even be near us (long story but we moved her to be nearer to us when she went into a home so she'd have more visitors...)
Any advice? Surely they cannot evict all the residents who can't afford a hike in fees?
Also don't like the softly, softly sneaky way these changes are being slipped in and dressed up as being for the residents benefit...

OP posts:
emsyj · 24/05/2012 21:54

I haven't a clue what the answer is, sorry, but saw your question was unanswered - have you spoken to Age Concern or the CAB? I would also speak to the person at the Council who is responsible for the top up. I don't know how it works at all I'm afraid, do they assess what your grandmother is able to pay and then they pay the rest (so that it will be the Council who will pay the additional fees)? Call them and ask.

It's shit, isn't it, the whole nursing home thing. The only half decent places are so bloody expensive. Have you looked at the possibility of buying a care annuity to cover the fees? You could get a referral to an advisor from Age Concern (I have done some advisory work on care fee planning, but not enough to offer any sensible advice other than 'call Age Concern' unfortunately).

Lala1980 · 25/05/2012 10:35

Thank you ensyj - I will look into this. The local paper weren't interested as they said a private care home business can charge what they like. I agree to an extent, but when an old person is settled and it will really stress them out to move, increasing the prices like that just seems unethical. Will speak to the council, Age Concern and CAB as you suggest. Thank you and have a great weekend.

OP posts:
bemybebe · 26/05/2012 17:02

Sorry, cannot help but surely there is a regulation governing private nursing homes... good luck to you and your grandmother!

I would also consult WHICH? If you subscribe to their basic package it will include legal telephone advice. Their trial subscription to new customers is only 1£.

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