My Mum has been in a Care Home since July and has vascular dementia. She has recently had a financial assessment and is fully-funded as she has monetary assets of under £2,000. However, the Care Home has asked my Dad to pay a "top-up" fee of nearly £20 per week. This is over and above the payment made by the social services and the social worker says that we should negotiate to get it reduced as it is entirely between the Care Home and us (even though she is fully-funded).
We recently visited a solicitor as my Dad was keen to make his will and she told us not to pay the "top-up" fee as it wasn't compulsory. So, where do we stand? The top-up fee is a considerable amount for my Dad to pay and he won't accept any help from us (too proud!) After numerous discussions and 'phone calls to the Care Home Manager I am constantly fobbed off with "the owner will have to decide and he is away/busy/on holiday in Mauritius" !! I have today written to ask for the top-up fee to be reconsidered. Does anyone have any experience of negotiating these top-up fees downwards? Any advice or tips to give?
I do appreciate that many people have to pay huge amounts for Care Homes and so our problem may seem inconsequential. We are very grateful that Mum's care is fully-funded, but for my Dad, this "top-up" fee is a huge sum out of his weekly income and I am worried about his ability to cope financially.
Sue
We recently visited a solicitor as my Dad was keen to make his will and she told us not to pay the "top-up" fee as it wasn't compulsory. So, where do we stand? The top-up fee is a considerable amount for my Dad to pay and he won't accept any help from us (too proud!) After numerous discussions and 'phone calls to the Care Home Manager I am constantly fobbed off with "the owner will have to decide and he is away/busy/on holiday in Mauritius" !! I have today written to ask for the top-up fee to be reconsidered. Does anyone have any experience of negotiating these top-up fees downwards? Any advice or tips to give?
I do appreciate that many people have to pay huge amounts for Care Homes and so our problem may seem inconsequential. We are very grateful that Mum's care is fully-funded, but for my Dad, this "top-up" fee is a huge sum out of his weekly income and I am worried about his ability to cope financially.
Sue