My dad has severe Alzheimers and prostate cancer and after being in hospital from June-Nov 22 he was placed in a nursing home by the hospital discharge team in Nov 22. As a family we were not involved in/consulted at all/I could never get hold of anyone about where he was placed, in fact I was called on a Tuesday to say they had found him a place and he was being moved 3 days later to a nursing home where he's been since on a Pathway 3 discharge till March. Dad was under DOLS when placed in the home.
As POA for dad I was on a call with ICB/carers at the home/social worker for a DST on 6th March and he was found not eligible for CHC (pretty borderline IMO) and I was told that he would be self-funding from this date onwards. He has savings so I said a financial assessment was needed.
After the DST call I was also told by the social worker the cost of the home is £678pw plus a top up of £25 per week. However I've now received the first invoice backdated to 6th March and that's for £878 + £25 top up. The £878 is what they charge for private self-funders.
So my questions are:
1. Although we/dad didn’t ask to be placed in this particular home it was the LA that placed him here, should we be paying the same rate the LA would pay because they placed him here or because he is self-funding does it automatically go to the private self-funding rate? We didn't get any choice/consultation at all, I just remember his consultant saying that dad had been refused from a few homes so they would keep trying to place him. I tried on several occasions to speak to dad's social worker/discharge team but they never got back to me.
2. If he is paying at the higher private self-funded rate why are they asking for a top-up? I was under the impression that top-ups were for when the LA pay for the home and the family is asked to top up. If he is self-funded at full rate then can I refuse the top-up? They haven't said anything about who pays the top-up (e.g. dad or family) it's just on invoice as a separate charge and I have received no details/T&C's about a top up or the home in general.
3. When he was moved to this home he was at the very end of a corridor and nurse said if a room closer in becomes available they will move him. A few weeks later he was moved closer to a room slightly bigger. We never asked for this move and as far as I can see the room is the same as others, all en-suite. Surely the top up fee can’t be for moving him closer? From what I’ve seen this has no more benefit to him being checked on as he spends most time in his room as he’s immobile and needs a hoist for everything. Again the use of a hoist was never mentioned as a top-up issue?
4. On the invoice backdated to 6th March there is also no mention of FNC contribution. However dad is eligible for it and I have this in writing that it has been paid to the home from 15th Jan 2023 onwards. On carehome.co.uk (which I presume the home gives information to for its listing) it states self-funded nursing dementia care from £878pw but no mention of FNC. So the home are also getting the £209pw FNC for dad but not removing it from his bill.
I have questioned all of this with the finance manager so I’m waiting a reply but I don’t want to be on the back foot if they start claiming I have to pay higher rate and top ups.
I have also asked for the homes T&C’s and details of what is actually covered in the fees. All I have had from them is an introduction letter and basic invoice.
I have also asked for a copy of dad’s care plan. Am I allowed to have this? A nurse ran through it with me when he moved there and said it was held on computer and they don’t give it out. Is this correct?
We are happy with the home, it’s not fancy but staff are nice and dad is settled. However its 30 minutes away for mum who doesn’t drive so she has to rely on my brothers to take her as I live 200 miles away so I can only visit dad once a month. There is a much more expensive home 5 mins walk from mum so she’d be able to go every day so I am considering this although it will wipe out dad’s savings.
I am about to call re AA as dad was getting this at the higher rate before he went into hospital so I’m hoping they will re-instate it now he’s in a nursing home.
Many thanks.
As POA for dad I was on a call with ICB/carers at the home/social worker for a DST on 6th March and he was found not eligible for CHC (pretty borderline IMO) and I was told that he would be self-funding from this date onwards. He has savings so I said a financial assessment was needed.
After the DST call I was also told by the social worker the cost of the home is £678pw plus a top up of £25 per week. However I've now received the first invoice backdated to 6th March and that's for £878 + £25 top up. The £878 is what they charge for private self-funders.
So my questions are:
1. Although we/dad didn’t ask to be placed in this particular home it was the LA that placed him here, should we be paying the same rate the LA would pay because they placed him here or because he is self-funding does it automatically go to the private self-funding rate? We didn't get any choice/consultation at all, I just remember his consultant saying that dad had been refused from a few homes so they would keep trying to place him. I tried on several occasions to speak to dad's social worker/discharge team but they never got back to me.
2. If he is paying at the higher private self-funded rate why are they asking for a top-up? I was under the impression that top-ups were for when the LA pay for the home and the family is asked to top up. If he is self-funded at full rate then can I refuse the top-up? They haven't said anything about who pays the top-up (e.g. dad or family) it's just on invoice as a separate charge and I have received no details/T&C's about a top up or the home in general.
3. When he was moved to this home he was at the very end of a corridor and nurse said if a room closer in becomes available they will move him. A few weeks later he was moved closer to a room slightly bigger. We never asked for this move and as far as I can see the room is the same as others, all en-suite. Surely the top up fee can’t be for moving him closer? From what I’ve seen this has no more benefit to him being checked on as he spends most time in his room as he’s immobile and needs a hoist for everything. Again the use of a hoist was never mentioned as a top-up issue?
4. On the invoice backdated to 6th March there is also no mention of FNC contribution. However dad is eligible for it and I have this in writing that it has been paid to the home from 15th Jan 2023 onwards. On carehome.co.uk (which I presume the home gives information to for its listing) it states self-funded nursing dementia care from £878pw but no mention of FNC. So the home are also getting the £209pw FNC for dad but not removing it from his bill.
I have questioned all of this with the finance manager so I’m waiting a reply but I don’t want to be on the back foot if they start claiming I have to pay higher rate and top ups.
I have also asked for the homes T&C’s and details of what is actually covered in the fees. All I have had from them is an introduction letter and basic invoice.
I have also asked for a copy of dad’s care plan. Am I allowed to have this? A nurse ran through it with me when he moved there and said it was held on computer and they don’t give it out. Is this correct?
We are happy with the home, it’s not fancy but staff are nice and dad is settled. However its 30 minutes away for mum who doesn’t drive so she has to rely on my brothers to take her as I live 200 miles away so I can only visit dad once a month. There is a much more expensive home 5 mins walk from mum so she’d be able to go every day so I am considering this although it will wipe out dad’s savings.
I am about to call re AA as dad was getting this at the higher rate before he went into hospital so I’m hoping they will re-instate it now he’s in a nursing home.
Many thanks.
