Care Home Fees, Deprevation of Assets and buying a car

EliTom

Hi all

My question relates to my Mother who is in a nursing home after a severe stroke.

She cannot walk (full left side immobile)

She is self funding with assets of c£100k (savings and half value from sale of my Parents house)

Recently when my Parents visited her consultant geriatrition he suggested that to improve her quality of life she should consider buying a Wheelchair Adapted Vehicle (WAV) so that my Father can take her shopping, to the beach out for a coffee etc etc.

Her consultant told her she should buy the WAV in her name and my Father should be her "driver"

I am fully supportive of this idea, as is her Occupatiuonal Therapist and the Care Home Management Team. We are actively looking for a suitable WAV at teh moment.

However I have only one concern. Will the Local Authority consider this as Deprevation of Assets on the grounds of extravigent expenditure.

I know from readinf posts here and looking at the Fact Sheets on the Age Concern website this is a very grey area, but does anyone have any experience of this kind of situation.

I have asked that her consultant give her a letter stating that the purchase of a WAV was his recommendation to improve her quality of life.

What I want to avoid is that the LA come after the family to pay back the "extravigent expense" should they deem that to be the case.

Any ideas / comments greatly appreciated

EliTom

chesky369

Common sense dictates that, if her doctor, OT and care home people ALL agree, then it would not be considered extravagant.

However, having said that, not sure if common sense always prevails.

sloughflint

I'm sure I've read somewhere that this is fine. I'll see if I can locate.

EliTom

chesky369 wrote: »

Common sense dictates that, if her doctor, OT and care home people ALL agree, then it would not be considered extravagant.

However, having said that, not sure if common sense always prevails.

That is exactly my point, will / does common sense prevail ans what is the best way to "cover all bases"

My Parent accept the law as it stands, although like myself, they are not overly happy at having to use all their life saving to pay for care when others in Mother's home are getting all their care paid for by the State, but that's another debate.

We just do not want to get caught out with "technicalities"

EliTom

EliTom

sloughflint wrote: »

I'm sure I've read somewhere that this is fine. I'll see if I can locate.

That would be really great if you could find such a reference to this kind of situation

many thanks

EliTom

margaretclare

My Parent accept the law as it stands, although like myself, they are not overly happy at having to use all their life saving to pay for care when others in Mother's home are getting all their care paid for by the State, but that's another debate.

I learned long ago that you cannot live your life dictated by envy i.e. 'he/she gets this, and I don't'. I learned it many years ago, when other little girls were chosen to be bridesmaids and I was not!! I do not worry my head about what others get.

That said, I can't think of a better use for your mother's money than to get this vehicle, which will allow her to get out and about a little bit, even down to the sea-front for an ice-cream, or similar. Remind yourself that those who appear to be 'getting all their care funded by the state' will not have this option. Unless they are mobile enough to get into a relative's car, they'll be stuck there day after day, reliant only on any mini-bus outings or similar, provided by the home. Your mother can afford something extra, which will enhance her quality of life in the final phase of life.

Just my thoughts.

seven-day-weekend

Excellent post Margaretclare.

To the OP - I wouldn't have thought that this could be classified as deprivation of assets for two main reasons.

One is that it is something that will greatly improve your mother's quality of life and this is not an extravagant gesture.

Two is that I have a feeling that if she is self- funding, that providing spending the money has no affect on that (i.e. doesn't put her into the bracket where the State would have to fund ), then the question of deprivation doesn't apply anyway.

Hope I'm right and someone will correct me if I'm not, but this is what I believe the situation to be.

sloughflint

EliTom wrote: »

That would be really great if you could find such a reference to this kind of situation

many thanks

EliTom

Sorry EliTom, I am going to have to admit defeat here. It was a very long time ago and I lost my bookmarks a while back.
Googling didn't produce much.
Point 3.4 on here caught my eye:
http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/downloads/resources/2338.pdf

It's not exactly extravagance.

I would buy it and not worry about the consequences until they arose (if they did). Your mother's quality of life is far more important.
I would dispute any attempt to class it as DOA.

chesky369

citizens' advice?

EdInvestor

EliTom wrote: »

She is self funding with assets of c£100k (savings and half value from sale of my Parents house)

Have you looked into buying an immediate needs "care annuity" to top up your mother's pensions/AA/savings income to pay for the care?

Depending on her age and estimated life expectancy, you may well find that this would enable her to retain a significant chunk of the 100k in the long term.Income from the annuity is paid tax free.

hassie

Hi,surely this money is not just your mums but your dads' as well.He surely has a right to spend his own savings on some thing that will benefit them both ? regards hassie xx