Funding

[amnmont]

I'm sorry I expect this question has been asked a million times already!

My mum went into a care home - initially for two weeks respite - but is now staying in permanently. Dad was meant to have a funding meeting but it's been postponed so he is still none the wiser as to how it's paid for.

It's a private home - what sort of help can he expect - if any? He does work - but if he can't afford the fees what happens then? Will they move her into a nhs home? My mum has settled really well and is really happy there - it's close to by and the staff are lovely so we really don't want her to move but are worried she'll have to.

Any advice would be great. Thank you x

 

[jenniferpa]

Hmm - we generally get asked this question where people don't have much in the way of income, but may have savings. Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidelines (aka CRAG) should cover it. Thinking about it, the fact that your father has an income is irrelevant, it's your mother's income and/or saving that are the issue.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publication...tions/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_086008

This is the draft but is essentially what they are using.

It's many pages long, I'm afraid. I have to leave I'm afraid, but I will have a look there and see what I can find.

Generally, there are very few NHS or LA homes anymore. Most of them are private homes with whom the LA contracts. On that basis, it is unlikely that the LA would move her. However, what often happens it that while the home will charge, say, £600 a week privately, and will accept £500 from a LA, your LA will only pay £400. In that case another person, probably your father, can undertake to pay that additional £100 (this is always assuming that your mother qualifies for funding based on her income and assets).

It's complicated

 

[jenniferpa]

O.K. I've gone back and read some of your posts. I had not realised that your mother was so young. I'm assuming that your mother has no income nor a pension. When they come to the financial assessment they will (should) make sure she's getting all the things she is eligible to in terms of financial assistance. What will then happen is that all of that money (less whatever is the current personal allowance) will be paid to the LA in partial payment of her care. However, when someone is this young, it's hard to believe that they should not be eligible for NHS continuing care so you need to check that out.

Incidentally, if they did propose moving her because of cost, they would have to prove that such a move would not adversely impact her well-being. If she is happy there, you have a strong case that this is the sort of situation she needs.

 

[jenniferpa]

I've had a look through the guidelines, and I can't see that the situation varies with age so I believe it is as follows: when it comes to calculating whether your mother is entitled to assistance from the local authority (LA) this calculation with be based ONLY on her own savings and income. Your father could be pulling down a 6 figure income and it would be irrelevant. Most private homes accept LA clients - they wouldn't stay in business if they didn't. What a home might charge to a private client is often more than they would charge for an LA client. As I indicated above, if there is a shortfall between what the home will accept and what the LA will pay someone (e.g. your father) may make up that shortfall. However, if the LA proposed moving her if he couldn't/wouldn't make up that shortfall then they need to prove that she does not need the care provided at this specific home, and since that has to take into account well-being, it could be difficult for them to do.

The basic calculation goes like this: if your mother has more than £22,500 in savings she will be considered "self funded": i.e. she'll be paying for all her care herself. If she has savings of less than £13500 she will be LA funded. Any savings between those 2 numbers will be considered to produce "tariff income" (currently I believe this is £1 per week per £500 of savings. If she has any income that will be taken by the LA up to the total funding amount (less the personal allowance). If your parents own the house they live in, that will be ignored for the calculation of savings. However, any savings in joint accounts will be considered to bee owned equally by your parents.

Also you need to consider what NHS contribution might be forthcoming - the basic one is registered nursing care contribution, but your mother could (in my opinion should) be eligible for full NHS continuing care. It was one thing for them to say that my 90 year old mother's care was primarily "social care" but for a 60 year old - that's an entirely different kettle of fish.

There are also specific rules that apply to your situation: where respite turns into a permanent placement, but despite the guidelines, those tend to be applied variably by each LA.

 

[amnmont]

Thank you so much for that info

I'll pass it on to my dad. He's really worried by it all.

Thank you again for all your help - this really is a great forum!!

 

[waterwoman]

http://groups.msn.com/freenursingcareinformation/_messageboard.msnw

It is important for dementia sufferers to have fully funded NHS continuing care from as early a time as possible. Dementia is incurable and becomes progressively worse with time and local authority will not be willing or even legally competetent to fund such care which should be in an EMI Nursing Home. You apply for Continuing Care by writing a letter (keep a copy)to the Head of Continuing Care at your local Primary Care Trust.

The link above will take you to a forum which specialises in NHS funding issues.

If there is a word missing in the link after this post it is "messageboard".

 

[Brucie]

It is important for dementia sufferers to have fully funded NHS continuing care from as early a time as possible.

Everyone would agree with "as early a time as possible"

Caveats apply.

Lest anyone get needlessly disappointed,

Anyone assessed as requiring a certain level of care need can get NHS continuing healthcare.

It is not dependent on a particular disease, diagnosis or condition, nor on who provides the care or where that care is provided.

If your overall care needs show that your primary need is a health one, you should qualify for continuing healthcare. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publication...tions/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_079515