Advise needed for elderly parents

[Jkaza]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help.

My father is in hospital following a fall with stroke and now dementia.

My mom still at home and ive been caring for her, just had a assessment done by local council, my question is will their house be used a money to cover their care if they had carers going in?

They have less than the 24 grand cut off but im finding conflicting information on if they own they property they'll have to pay?

Thank you in advance!

The Aged UK website is a brilliant source of financial information. They also offer an advice line. You submit your questions and someone gets back to you.

Make sure you claim everything they are entitled too, eg reduced council tax for those with dementia, attendance allowance, mobility allowance. Some are automatic, some are assessed.

If the plan is for your dad to come home, make sure he gets a home assessment visit with an OT first and any adaptations booked and sourced ideally before he comes home, eg specialist bed. Don't let him come home on a Sunday evening, with no support in place like a poor woman on here a week or 2 back. Poor thing was back in hospital by the Wednesday.

Be very clear on how much time you are able to contribute to keeping your parents at home and safe - remember you have a job, a family and your own life, and hold that line. You can't do everything.

No it won't. Once their savings are below £23250 they can have a financial assessment to see if they can get any help towards paying for carers. They would be expected to be claiming any benefits they are eligible for like Attendance allowance and pension credit. The house won't be taken into account whilst they are still living in it, only if they both went into a care home. You can access all the Age Uk factsheets online which will give you all the information you need.

No, they shouldn’t have to pay for carers if their money is below the threshold. Make sure carers are sorted out before he comes out of hospital, any modifications to house, ie stair rail, bath aids, walking frames etc are all carried out, they shouldn’t have to pay for this. I hope they are getting attendance allowance.

Claim Attendance Allowance and get a Blue Badge. Make sure everything is in place before he comes home. Be careful what you commit to with helping them, as you’ll be left to do everything.
If you’re offered, as an example, four one hour visits a day from carers you don’t have to use the time in that way. When the carer company contacts you, you could have one four hour visit a day or two two hour visits. Use it now you want it. And don’t say no to care as it’s a bugger to get back when you discover you need it later. Say yes to everything.
And write down the name and contact number of everyone you come into contact with, as you’ll probably need them in the future.
Are wills and POA in place?
Think about a home now as it may come to that.

I agree with pp, make sure you have claimed all the benefits and take the care when offered.

I would also add check if there is a continence service in your NHS area. Should you need them they may provide pads etc. as the costs mount up.