95K Care Home Fee's

[Xeenies]

This is what I understand, it has been going on a long time. I feel it is unfair. I think that the county should negotiate a fair price for all its residents. They do Pre buy commissioned beds.

One place I was told to consider takes all ages of adult who have mental health problems and need a secure setting. When I asked if older people were housed in a dedicated unit I was told that is the aim but it depended of bed space and the symptoms. I felt this too vague a policy for me.

Another said the adjoining county used them, this other county were up front and better payers too. How come one county pays almost twice the price of another. The council tax is very similar.

We are a small island we need transparent national policies.

Most people are living in fools paradise regarding social care. A good friend felt proud they had a good income and savings, she soon became worried as funds were draining away rapidly.
Many who think they are self funders soon realise that money does run out faster than imagined. One has to watch for the extras some places put on. Our friend's husband had a 'proper' shave, an outside barber had come in and charged £17 for a wet shave. My friend was not happy!
Another said her mum went into a hotel type, it cost £45000 for 6 months. She reckoned the care was not up to scratch the place paid compensation. I did not enquire to the facts, the woman a professional carer was too upset. She used to call in early morning, sometimes her mother had breakfast before her teeth were in.
Another told me how places advertised outings as part of the life style, she found her mother never had a chance to go. The mini bus only could take four at a time. Many have a Carer per person on trips.
The same with ensuites, many soon find they need help and prompting so really a commode works better.

We need to be very vigilant. We must not be sold gloss that pleases our eyes but is beyond the sight and needs of those with dementia.

Yes I had been thinking the same.

My concern is access to space, one care home had a combined lounge, kitchen and diner but apart from an outside court yard, that was it!! No other “living” spaces, or private family rooms, or alternative activity rooms, nothing. Weirdly that one was also the SAME price as the posh hotel type ones which still baffles me. I can’t believe they think that’s all my dad deserves or needs.

 

[canary]

one care home had a combined lounge, kitchen and diner but apart from an outside court yard, that was it!! No other “living” spaces, or private family rooms, or alternative activity rooms, nothing. Weirdly that one was also the SAME price as the posh hotel type ones which still baffles me.

My mum was in a care home that was shabby, had few facilities and an outside courtyard garden.
My OH has been in respite in a nursing home that has a hotel type vibe and a lovely garden.

They both cost similar amounts, even though nursing homes are proportionally more expensive because nursing wages are higher than carers wages. How do they manage it? Well, they cater for different residents. My OH is in cognitive decline, but he is never confused about where he is, can go out without getting lost, and understand where and why he is there. His problems are mostly physical - he needs regular catheterisation, falls a lot, has difficulty walking and bad hand tremor which makes many tasks impossible . He is typical of the type of residents who live there. Although they accept mild dementia it was made quite clear to me that they specialise in physical problems and if the dementia was more advanced they could not take him. They would not accept him if he insisted on going out and then got lost, if he was resistant to care, if he became aggressive, or exhibited challenging behaviour.There are not many nurse/carers on duty there - I think maybe three - and the residents are often left on their own because they know to press the button to summon help when required.

My mum on the other hand, was physically fit when she move into her care home, but had moderate dementia. She was in a dedicated dementia unit and all the residents had few nursing needs, but all had moderate to severe dementia. Mum exhibited all the things that OHs home would not accept. They needed someone to watch over them all the time, day and night, so there were far more staff on duty all the time (more than double the number in OHs place) and they were not left unattended - even at night they were checked regularly. Although they were carers they were more highly trained in dementia than most carers.

This means that in mums care home a far higher proportion the money was spent on carers, but in OHs there there was less spent on wages, so more could be spent on the building and facilities - which were actually used by the residents.

Edited for clarity

 

[AliceA]

Just been to one as I need respite when I have a radio therapy treatment in December. I felt they were short staffed. We rang but ended up phoning to be let in. The manager was with a social worker as someone was being moved on. It was not a nursing home, so that is a possibility, an unwanted one.

Perhaps we have been spoilt with the one we used got respite.
This seemed dark, people were sitting in rows. The dining area seated perhaps eight, others ate at the chair they all had low tables. We asked the senior carer who showed us around about people being able to stay in their room, they could but it was best they were down stairs because meals were down there. They could return when a Carer could take them we met the Manager, she was doing her best she was likeable. She gave me good advice. I came home, my daughter said how lovely I had got his room, the facilities so much better than the home.
I felt my resolve strengthen, he slept as worn out. I ate then he woke, we had a debate as he had to work out if it were logical to to use the toilet. I suggested it was a good idea, he then decided to. I cleaned him.
The time taken was quite long.
So back to drawing board.
Like Canary I need a house to live in, so funds will not last long. I am still waiting on care package.
I will try to continue. So back to drawing board.

 

[Sirena]

Hi booziefluziesuzie, post: 1659604

They had no interest in the residents, only the money coming in and how many more potential service users there are in the pipleine. The staff (carers) were all on minimum wage, to keep their overheads low. Only the Home Manager was decent salary +- GBP45,000. I was shocked at the greed, and left after a few months, as it depressed me. Its all too common in the moneymaking care home system. Now my own Mum will eventually end up in one of these horrible places.

Just to provide some balance, they aren't all like this. My mother's care home is independent, and the owner works in the CH and knows the residents. All the senior staff have been there for many years and it genuinely feels like they provide a proper home for the residents. And fees are reasonable (in CH terms).

 

[nitram]

All the senior staff have been there for many years

Low staff turnover at all levels is a good indicator of a well managed home.

 

[notsogooddtr]

Hi Jaded n Faded

I totally agree with you. Its all going to come to a huge crisis in the near future!.

My generation were encouraged by our parents to get on the property ladder as they did. We expected it to be a struggle, but were told it would be worth it in the end, safe in the knowledge of having a nice house, and something to pass on to our children. We had our families, settled down and saved for a rainy day. Then along came personal pensions. We were all encouraged to take one out via our workplace, or the banks would try to get you to sign up for one. So we did, thinking we were going to be a little better off when we retired. At age 30 retirement seemed a lifetime away. Fast forward a few decades, and we found out we were all ripped-off, the great contracted-out scandal and our State Pension would be greatly reduced now. So our retirement plans will suffer greatly and not the dream the pension salesman painted. No retirement at 60 for a woman, and a double whammy - the WASPI women are told they cant get their state pension until they are 66 now.

Then our children are at the age where they would like to buy their own home (like Mum and Dad), but the deposits are impossible to achieve, what 30yr old has GBP20,000 deposit for a basic house that needs tons of work. We start thinking, well at least my children will have their inheritance when I go. They should receive enough for a deposit for a house from the same of ours when we pass.

Then dementia happened! Mum's house will no doubt be taken from us to pay for care that in my opinion should be free, paid for by the NHS and our lifetime of NI Contributions. Its possible that we could get dementia, and our house be taken to pay for care as well.

I'm tempted to say to my children, don't bother buying a house, rather build up your pension instead, and spend everything, because if you have a house the government will take it off you if you get dementia. But if you rent your home its free. Its a disgrace, the UK government should hang its head in shame at the way it treats its elderly and vulnerable citizens. Who have paid into the system their entire lives. For what? to be fleeced at the end of life.

Sorry I'm really disgruntled today and need to vent

Do you really think that those who rent don't pay in to the system?None are working,paying tax and NI?My parents thought it better to buy a house because in the end it's cheaper.Most mortgages in our day were for 25 years,rent is for ever.There are certainly issues with the funding of social care but don't blame those who for many reasons rent their homes

 

[Duggies-girl]

Do you really think that those who rent don't pay in to the system?None are working,paying tax and NI?My parents thought it better to buy a house because in the end it's cheaper.Most mortgages in our day were for 25 years,rent is for ever.There are certainly issues with the funding of social care but don't blame those who for many reasons rent their homes

I agree with that @notsogooddtr We bought our own house and in the long run it has cost us far less than renting and the house is worth far more than we ever paid out for it over the years.

People who pay rent on council houses pay back far more into the system in the way of rent than any homeowner with little chance of saving as their rent increases over the years and will continue to increase until they die or need a care home..

Personal circumstances don't always allow people to accrue savings or pensions either. It only takes some kind of hardship such as illness or redundancy to mess with one's future finances.

I don't know what the answer is though.

 

[Mouse2014]

We’re in Scotland .
The Local Authorities in Scotland pay the personal and nursing care costs which for our LA were £1150 per 4 weeks
Mum paid £897 per week for accommodation/food. During her 3 years we paid £146,000 LA £53000.

We Would have paid £209,000 if LA didn’t help. We didn’t get AA as the council were paying personal care costs. Used pension,savings and house sale money.

It was helpful that Mum was self funding from the sale of her house because we could choose where she was living rather than being forced into somewhere unsuitable. It does still stick in my throat though

 

[Xeenies]

Thank you for everyone’s replies. These really help. I’ve found a great care home, specialist dementia and not super posh but in a nice area. Now we pray for a vacancy to arise.