On Thursday my Dad finally went into care eight years after his diagnosis of VAD. He is in a lovely brand new, purpose built care home, of my choice. The care home is part of a small local chain. It was arranged rather suddenly and his social worker was off work on leave until tomorrow, hopefully we will get partial funding.
I was given a contract to sign on Friday (which I haven't done yet) and I wanted to ask forum members about the clauses in it, it seems very harsh to me and I wondered how it compared to other care home contracts. Below I have posted the point that are bothering me, or I think are unfair and would like to know what other posters thought:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE
By signing this agreement on the Resident's behalf, the Terms will apply to you in the same way as they apply to the Resident. You will be personally bound by the Terms. You will
provide reasonable and satisfactory written evidence to the Home of your authority to act on behalf of a Resident before or in any event not later than seven (7) days from the date of this
agreement, but if you fail to do so, you accept that you will be deemed to have the necessary authority to act for the Resident and that you will be and will remain personally liable for all
the obligations of the resident under this agreement, including, without limitation the payment of fees.
OUR CHARGES
Fees or contributions payable by you are to be paid 4 weekly in advance by direct debit. A direct debit mandate form must be signed before admission. No other method of payment will
be accepted including cash. If nevertheless payment is made by any method other than by direct debit the Home will have to charge you an extra £25.00 per week to cover administration
expenses. This additional administration fee will also apply to any accounts operating in arrears.
PRIVATE PAYING RESIDENTS
If payment is not received by the due date of invoice the Company reserves the right to charge a late payment fee of £10.00 per day and interest at 10% over Royal Bank of Scotland
base rate calculated on a daily basis until payment plus any out of pocket expenses including legal costs for recovery, both before and after any proceedings for recovery are any out of
pocket expenses including legal costs for recovery, both before and after any proceedings for recovery are issued. on an indemnity basis.
ABSENCES
Should you at any time require hospital treatment the Home will retain the Room for you Our charges remain due to be paid in full throughout the duration. Should the duration of the
hospital stay exceed a total of 6 weeks or (42 days), then a 20% reduction our charges will be applied. Each hospital stay is separate. Should you return to the Home for 1 night, then
need to return to hospital, then this would constitute an absence beginning from day 1 again.
It is your/your family's responsibility to remove all personal items, including Room Failure to do this may result in the items being removed and a cost being incurred The cost of removal
of items depends upon the number of items and the size of the items being removed, however, this cost will not exceed £200.00. The Home will not be liable for any loss of or damage to
such items
I was given a contract to sign on Friday (which I haven't done yet) and I wanted to ask forum members about the clauses in it, it seems very harsh to me and I wondered how it compared to other care home contracts. Below I have posted the point that are bothering me, or I think are unfair and would like to know what other posters thought:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE
By signing this agreement on the Resident's behalf, the Terms will apply to you in the same way as they apply to the Resident. You will be personally bound by the Terms. You will
provide reasonable and satisfactory written evidence to the Home of your authority to act on behalf of a Resident before or in any event not later than seven (7) days from the date of this
agreement, but if you fail to do so, you accept that you will be deemed to have the necessary authority to act for the Resident and that you will be and will remain personally liable for all
the obligations of the resident under this agreement, including, without limitation the payment of fees.
OUR CHARGES
Fees or contributions payable by you are to be paid 4 weekly in advance by direct debit. A direct debit mandate form must be signed before admission. No other method of payment will
be accepted including cash. If nevertheless payment is made by any method other than by direct debit the Home will have to charge you an extra £25.00 per week to cover administration
expenses. This additional administration fee will also apply to any accounts operating in arrears.
PRIVATE PAYING RESIDENTS
If payment is not received by the due date of invoice the Company reserves the right to charge a late payment fee of £10.00 per day and interest at 10% over Royal Bank of Scotland
base rate calculated on a daily basis until payment plus any out of pocket expenses including legal costs for recovery, both before and after any proceedings for recovery are any out of
pocket expenses including legal costs for recovery, both before and after any proceedings for recovery are issued. on an indemnity basis.
ABSENCES
Should you at any time require hospital treatment the Home will retain the Room for you Our charges remain due to be paid in full throughout the duration. Should the duration of the
hospital stay exceed a total of 6 weeks or (42 days), then a 20% reduction our charges will be applied. Each hospital stay is separate. Should you return to the Home for 1 night, then
need to return to hospital, then this would constitute an absence beginning from day 1 again.
It is your/your family's responsibility to remove all personal items, including Room Failure to do this may result in the items being removed and a cost being incurred The cost of removal
of items depends upon the number of items and the size of the items being removed, however, this cost will not exceed £200.00. The Home will not be liable for any loss of or damage to
such items