Long term care & costs, LA Top up

[Pete2108]

hello all
Hope to get some light on this subject.
My father in law has recently gone in for respite care into a local care home.My mother in law is his only carer and, well shes done all she can and needed a break.
He seems to have settled well and is being cared for well, plus importantly for us mum is now getting some rest and is beginning to think that permanent care may be the best option ( to see them holding hands watching the tele yesterday was one of those special moments)
Anyway as with all things finance has cropped up. They are lucky that had funds put aside that will support the care for some time but will then need assistence from local authority.
If he has been there for a period of say 6months or longer can they really just move him? the home is walking distance from their house etc and he seems content.
Im just trying to get some answers so would appreciate any help.
sorry for long post.........first time ever on any forum.
thanks loads

[jenniferpa]

Hi pete and welcome to Talking Point.

I'm not sure how much your father has in savings but if it is below £23250, the local authority will contribute to his care costs. Note that it is just your father's savings or his 50% of any joint savings - your mother's assets are not assessed.

The thing you should probably do is check to see whether this care home accepts LA funded clients with no top ups. If they do, then you're all set. If they accept them but request a top-up it's still not an "abandon all hope" situation. The fact that the home is so close to the marital home, allowing your mother to visit with ease and that (assuming this is the case at the time) he has settled there and he now considers it to be his home is a fairly compelling argument for the LA to pay the top-up as well. I say "fairly" because if they can show that there is a home that can meet his needs (both physical and emotional) that is cheaper then they do not have to pay for the home you want.

So the answer to your question "If he has been there for a period of say 6months or longer can they really just move him?" is "Possibly". 6 months is not long at all in the scheme of things.

I'm sorry: there is no way to be certain about this, except if the situation is completely negative: as in, if the care home only accept self-payers.