I'll be very interested if Head Office is willing to confirm what you have been told.
The letter from the care home head office has arrived this morning. It says,
Quote : 'At (name of company) we are, and remain, committed to providing affordable quality care for all our clients. With our current banking climate, rising energy costs, together with Local Authority payments not reflecting quality, we have to address our current fee levels. It is with regret that we will be raising the minimum fee across all our homes to...' etc.
Many people will read this letter and not pick up on the line 'Local Authority payments not reflecting quality'. It's not a very transparent phrase that they've chosen to use. If I'd not heard it from someone at HO myself, I may well have just fluffed over it too.
Our local newspaper are interested in covering it, and the local councillor will be speaking to me next week.
I had to ask for this information in writing, i'm wondering if anyone else has questioned to rise in fees at my mothers care home.
The last energy bill increase from them was April 2012 when my mothers fee went up by £20 pw.
Now its up £60 pw, and according to the letter, part of the increase covers energy bills again. I wonder what percentage of these rises go to where they should. I've no idea how I could find out how these increased fees are shared out.
Ah well, looks like i'm going to be stirring the pot. Not looking forward to it, but this need a little clarity via publicity.