.I read recently that you can get CHC funding for care services in your own home as well as in a care/nursing home. Has anyone here achieved this? I assume you have to be really, really bad to get it.
I wish you luck, we tried to accessCHC funding for dad who is in a care home. He was placed in the home by the mental health team following a crisis at home. He had numerous long stays in various mental hospital prior to this. He developed vascular dementia following a stroke 3 years previous to diagnosis.Thanks, I will read that story tomorrow.
I hear what you say Kevin about 'smoke and mirrors', I've read plenty of stories on TP about people trying for, and failing to get, CHC. My argument would be that mum had a stroke last August which has left her with further issues, on top of the ones she already had (mainly cognitive before, more physical after the stroke). After further strokes and TIAs (some documented by ambulance crews and out of hours doctors) she has become a lot worse. They may class agency carer visits as 'social care', but she wouldn't need all this extra care if she hadn't had the stroke!
Right at the start of all this, in December 2015, there was a very forceful Social Worker who was looking after mum's case during the build up to her discharge from hospital. I remember her pushing the ward staff to conduct the CHC check and she emailed it to me (mum failed at the time), but unfortunately it's got lost on a broken laptop and old email account. I'm going to ask SS when they come to reassess mum for a copy of that original check. It would be interesting to see the comparison if they did one now.
My concern is that as I need more and more help with mum at home (mainly due to the incontinence - can that be classed as a 'social issue'?!), I am going to be expected to pay towards it, but I'm not sure where it will come from. Mum's remaining savings won't last long (and I will argue that some needs to be left to go towards her funeral), all of my savings are geared towards providing me with a pension one day - should I be expected to fund her care from that? This is the first time I have really had any financial worries about mum's dementia, and they are making me feel quite uncomfortable.
If SS come up with an increased level of support for mum, then my worries will ease, but I'm still going to ask them to conduct another CHC review (or ask them to ask whoever does it). I fear SS are going to try to push me to change to an agency they use, but I won't do that due to mum being familiar with our regular carers, and also a language issue.
Probably not good to go to bed with these worries, but there you go! I guess some little part of me wants to have a prod at 'the system' because of the hard time I've had since December 2015. Not that I'll get too much sympathy from the 'system' on that front!
Hi @Marnie63 I'm a little confused (the norm Im afraid these past few years!). I believe mum is at the stage where she should be considered for CHC. As it's NHS funded, why does it appear that SS have to be approached? Who do I ask initially for an assessment to be carried out? I'm under no illusions it would be granted but I believe it is worth a try. Mum is in a CH, bed-bound and can do nothing for herself. Many Thanks xThanks, I will read that story tomorrow.
I hear what you say Kevin about 'smoke and mirrors', I've read plenty of stories on TP about people trying for, and failing to get, CHC. My argument would be that mum had a stroke last August which has left her with further issues, on top of the ones she already had (mainly cognitive before, more physical after the stroke). After further strokes and TIAs (some documented by ambulance crews and out of hours doctors) she has become a lot worse. They may class agency carer visits as 'social care', but she wouldn't need all this extra care if she hadn't had the stroke!
Right at the start of all this, in December 2015, there was a very forceful Social Worker who was looking after mum's case during the build up to her discharge from hospital. I remember her pushing the ward staff to conduct the CHC check and she emailed it to me (mum failed at the time), but unfortunately it's got lost on a broken laptop and old email account. I'm going to ask SS when they come to reassess mum for a copy of that original check. It would be interesting to see the comparison if they did one now.
My concern is that as I need more and more help with mum at home (mainly due to the incontinence - can that be classed as a 'social issue'?!), I am going to be expected to pay towards it, but I'm not sure where it will come from. Mum's remaining savings won't last long (and I will argue that some needs to be left to go towards her funeral), all of my savings are geared towards providing me with a pension one day - should I be expected to fund her care from that? This is the first time I have really had any financial worries about mum's dementia, and they are making me feel quite uncomfortable.
If SS come up with an increased level of support for mum, then my worries will ease, but I'm still going to ask them to conduct another CHC review (or ask them to ask whoever does it). I fear SS are going to try to push me to change to an agency they use, but I won't do that due to mum being familiar with our regular carers, and also a language issue.
Probably not good to go to bed with these worries, but there you go! I guess some little part of me wants to have a prod at 'the system' because of the hard time I've had since December 2015. Not that I'll get too much sympathy from the 'system' on that front!
Who do I ask initially for an assessment to be carried out?
Thanks Marnie - glad I'm not alone in my confusion(!) and also I 100% agree with your other views! We are dealing with a dreadful, dreadful illness that bit by bit takes away our loved ones. It has a profound and devastating effect on Carers and families and if this isn't bad enough, we also face a series of brick walls and, in my case anyway, a really callous professional who clearly enjoyed seeing my distress. I kid you not. I was too drained to do anything about it then but it's documented so perhaps one day ...... That said, other professionals were wonderful. I wish you luck with your application - Thank You so much xxxI find it confusing too Jezzer - I think it's intentional so that we're all a bit in the dark about it! SS are involved in mum's care as she was assessed at the start and qualified for funding towards her home care (thank God). So, I would start by asking them, but I'm not 100% sure what the official channels are. We also have an excellent G P, so I'm sure he could advise. At the bottom of my 'wish' is that I, like most people, find it incredulous that PWDs are treated differently to people with other serious health conditions. If the brain is damaged by disease, how has that become a 'social' issue?! So part of me wants to test the system, just to see how it would apply to mum.
My other bit of confusion on my part is SS funding vs NHS funding. I know ultimately it's from the same pot, but not sure how the two work together, if at all.
Hopefully I will get more financial support from SS to be able to see this through to the end with mum at home. In that case, the CHC issue is not so important to me.
I also agree with Leeds that the systems that are supposed to help, are often against us, though have to say that I have had nothing but good support so far from GP, SS and the care agency we use.
Thank you so much for this. I recall seeing this way back. The CH manager (who has nowNobody has to pay a top up in any situation no matter what SS or care home say.
First party top up are only allowed in specific circumstances.
From what you have said the manager is suggesting your mum (or you acting on her behalf) act illegally.
- Funding is via s117
- The person has gone into a care home on a temporary basis with a view to making a decision to remain in care permanently, then during the first 12 weeks at this temporary stay, their own property will be disregarded and they are able to pay their own top up fees.
- A deferred payment agreement has been agreed
The care home contract should be with the LA, you should be paying any voluntary top up to the LA not directly to the home.
If the home charger more than the LA rate (and most do) then the top up is "compulsory" is so far as without it the home will ask her to leave, it isn't a question of rocking the boat the home has a rate and however much that is over the LA rate will have to come from a third party.Thank you so much for this. I recall seeing this way back. The CH manager (who has now
left) was insistent with my brother that top up was compulsory and he has been paying this to the Home - by direct debit - for 20 months. No contract/written agreement has ever been signed by either of us (we hold joint POA jointly and severally). My brother should have retired 18 months ago but has continued working to help with these fees. Our worry is that "rocking the boat" may result in mum having to move to another home but I am concerned about my brother. He isn't in great health and I worry about him. I'm not sure who we approach now but I feel this must be addressed asap. Thanks so much for your clarification.