Hi, have just joined the forum. My mum was diagnosed before Christmas and is now taking Aricept. We're off to our regular check up at the cognitive assessment clinic later today. She's not too bad at present - still able to look after herself pretty well, social services had a chat with her and she doesn't qualify for any help yet because she's not at the stage where she needs it. I feel a bit of a fraud here when I see the stories some others are posting, who are in far worse situations than myself.
Anyway, I am trying to think ahead. My mum lives alone, she's 70, my dad died 6 years ago and all the rest of the family live in Scotland. Mum doesn't want to move back up there. So I am only next of kin and having to deal with it all. I have organised Enduring Power of Attorney and had it witnessed by mum's GP (though not registered yet of course). Am going to see mum's financial adviser tomorrow to sort out exactly what savings etc she has. I know her and my dad have quite a few savings and investments etc. She also owns her own home, and owns a holiday flat in Scotland, so I need to talk to financial advisor about all that and the possible implications. I know it sounds callous to be thinking of such things, but I keep reading that one should always look ahead as much as possible.
Mum is fine for the present, and hopefully things will only slowly get worse, but I expect eventually she may reach the stage where she needs residential care. Hopefully this will be years down the line yet, but I am just wondering about how much it costs. I have found lots of information on the web about finances in respect of who has to pay and what legal obligations are, etc, but not much at all about the actual fees. What is the ball park figure for a typical nursing home, per month? Or is that impossible to answer - do the costs vary wildly depending on what type of care and where in the country? I am in the East Midlands.
Anyway, I am trying to think ahead. My mum lives alone, she's 70, my dad died 6 years ago and all the rest of the family live in Scotland. Mum doesn't want to move back up there. So I am only next of kin and having to deal with it all. I have organised Enduring Power of Attorney and had it witnessed by mum's GP (though not registered yet of course). Am going to see mum's financial adviser tomorrow to sort out exactly what savings etc she has. I know her and my dad have quite a few savings and investments etc. She also owns her own home, and owns a holiday flat in Scotland, so I need to talk to financial advisor about all that and the possible implications. I know it sounds callous to be thinking of such things, but I keep reading that one should always look ahead as much as possible.
Mum is fine for the present, and hopefully things will only slowly get worse, but I expect eventually she may reach the stage where she needs residential care. Hopefully this will be years down the line yet, but I am just wondering about how much it costs. I have found lots of information on the web about finances in respect of who has to pay and what legal obligations are, etc, but not much at all about the actual fees. What is the ball park figure for a typical nursing home, per month? Or is that impossible to answer - do the costs vary wildly depending on what type of care and where in the country? I am in the East Midlands.