Chc funding and private care agency, who is liable for the fees?

[Harmonyrays]

My dad has terminal cancer and we are slowly finding our way through so he can be home with us. I have a question about the funding side of things if anyone can help. The care agency have put a package together of visits so dad can be at home. We understand he should get chc funding but this has not yet been agreed. The care agency have asked mum to sign a document saying dad is the 'customer' and that invoices will be sent to the council. However it also states in bold that the customer is liable for all fees. So if for any reason we don't get chc will mum end up with a large invoice she has to pay? Thanks in advance for any help.

How big is the planned care package? People who qualify for CHC funding tend to need frequent and intense input to maintain wellbeing, and CHC often suggest that a 24 hour care placement is usually the most appropriate way to provide this.

If everyone agrees that care at home is the best way to meet their needs then CHC will clarify with you how this will be funded

It's very common to trigger the 'checklist' which means that entitlement to CHC funding should be assessed in detail. However actually meeting the criteria and getting the funding actually awarded requires a substantial level of needs, usually frequent and unpredictable.

You can look at the scoring tool yourself. And this explains it a bit too www.continuing-healthcare.co.uk/continuing-healthcare-guidance/what-is-the-decision-support-tool

Gov links www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-framework-for-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care

The decision support tool is the scoring tool. If he has terminal cancer and is being discharged for palliative care then look at the fast track tool as well as it may be the one they use.

Sorry to hear about your dad.
Did you go through social services? Most people requiring care don't qualify for CHC. If you arrange care through your council, contributions will be means tested. If your dad has capital in excess of £23,250 in his sole name he would be full cost. If he is a property owner this won't be taken into account for home care (or residential care if your mum lives in it).

Thanking you for your replies. It will be fast track, he has a matter of weeks as he is deteriorating but wants to be at home. Its 4 visits a day varying from 30- 90 minutes. It's so very sad but I don't want mum to be left with problems to sort and I'm worried they have asked he to sign this document making her liable.

I would advise caution in arranging a care package on the basis of being promised chc funding before its been officially agreed.

Also to add the gp had agreed it should be chc but nothing had been formally signed or agreed.

Hope you get everything sorted out without too much trouble. If he's deteriorating quickly look at getting him home with the 'just in case' drugs to relieve symptoms that might be needed and speak to the district nurses to try to avoid unnecessary admission for palliative care when things get worse.

It's really hard, but planning to ensure a good death is one of the last things you can do for him

Based on experience, it is likely that gp hasn't actually done anything in relation to putting funding in place and was just expressing an opinion (that could well be incorrect). I think you will have to assume that your parents will be paying what is stipulated in the contract you have been asked to sign.

This is making it seem so very real now. I collected all the just in case medication yesterday. I'm sat at tesco pharmacy currently crying (behind sun glasses) while I get the thickener for fluid as he starts chocking with liquid now :(. The care agency asked my mum to sign without reading the document (she did it on the phone) while we were trying to talk to the ot about equiptment and iso I didn't register straight away what she was signing. Can I ask for that document to be District until we know what is happening with funding. Or can they refuse because I suppose they need someone to hold to account for the costs?

Contact adult social services at your local council (google the customer services number). They will have a duty social worker who should be able to advise you today.