Grandma in a care home

666Rocker666

Hi,

Hope somebody can help?
New to this site so might be in wrong place:-)
My Grandma also has dimetia of the same type, and is coming out of hospital today, but all my family are against the idea of her going home. I want her to go home and try if it doesn't work then a care home it will be....Which leads me on to the question we have POA and her home is also in my name deeds and all as my grandma wanted me to have this as my mother died when I was 14 and this is my mothers mum, this was done about 3 months as I am the next of kin and the person that cares for her. If she does go into a care home what will happen to her house??? Will I be forced to sell this?

Please help this is all to worrying

666Rocker666

Hi a

Hope somebody can help?
New to this site so might be in wrong place:-)
My Grandma has dimetia and is coming out of hospital today, but all my family are against the idea of her going home (Dad & Step mum, Uncle and Auntie). I want her to go home as I feel this will be the best thing for my Grandma if it doesn't work out then at least we have tried before sticking her in a care home....Which leads me on to the question I have POA, and her home is also in my name deeds and all as my grandma wanted me to have this as my mother died when I was 14 and this is my mothers mum so she feels its only right to be passed on to me, this was done about 3 months ago before any dimentia was identified. I am the next of kin and the person that cares for her.
If she does go into a care home what will happen to her house???
Will I be forced to sell this value aprox £80-90k?
My Grandma is on Gaurentee Credit and receives £212.00 every 2wks

Please help this is all to worrying

soolin

Personally I would urge you to get some proper advice here via a specialist lawyer as this could be problematic. I found a free service for basic advice via the Alzheimer charity site although I was prepared to pay for advice if that hadn't worked.

The hospital should have made an assessment of your grandmother before letting her leave hospital, they would have recommended either her own home with support or a car ehome as appropriate. if she has not been assessed then get in touch with the hospital now and social services and tell them you want a proper assessment. (someone with more knowledge will be along soon I'm sure and be able to tell you exactly what to ask for)

What sort of POA do you hold, is it a 'new' style that has been registered or are you using an old style one ? If your grandmother can't make her own decisions anymore then the POA must be formalised via the special court 9again I just can't remember all the details sorry) and they will assist in taking care of her assets.

As the house or part of it was gifted to you so recently I htink it may be seen as a deliberate attempt to remove assets that would otherwise pay for care, and this is why I htink you need specialist advice. Depending on how the ownership was transferred or how it is now held will make a difference as to whether the home can be sold or not, that will also depend on whether you are permanently living in it.

The one thing I would urge though is that you step back and consider what is best for your beloved grandmother. As clear headed and fit indivduals we always think that it is best to be at home with our own things rather than sitting all day in a chair in a home. However, my father is in a home and he has never ever looked better.The tired worried man with a lined face has been replaced by someone without a care in the world, he has vascular dementia so his decline has been immediate and catastophic, but as far as he is concerned he is in a hotel in Germany where he spent many happy holidays. He remarks about the food being bought to him, he loves the attnention he gets and he has almost reverted to a childlike state and loves being bathed and cared for. It would break hi sheart to know that I have sold his house, the one that is left to me and my eldest son in his will and where he planned my son to live once he finished uni. However, that sadness is now mine, my father does not know nor will he ever know.

Oldernotwiser

I don't mean to be harsh but it does sound as if your parents have your Grandma's best interests at heart whereas you're hoping you can hang on to her house.

Are you going to offer to be the one who looks after her full time?

pinkshoes

If you live in the house too, and can be there pretty much 24-7 and be her full time carer, then her moving into the house would probably be the best option for her.

My grandmother went into a car home almost a year ago now, as we decided that we couldn't give her the 24-7 care she'd require at home. It's a tough demanding job, depending on her needs, so please think this through carefully before making the commitment.

I'm not sure what happens to the house, but surely this money/equity in the house was saved to pay for care when the time came? Try reading this:

http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2421

Will the value of my home be taken into account?
In certain circumstances the value of your home has to be ignored. These circumstances are as follows:
We can never take the value of your home into account if you are only moving into a care home for a short stay. If, however, you own more than one property we can only ignore the value of the one you live in.
If you are moving into a care home permanently we have to ignore the value of your home for the first 12 weeks of your stay. If you sell your home during this 12 week period we do have to take the money from the sale into account in our calculation of your charge at once. After this 12 week period we will carry on ignoring the value of the home in any of the following circumstances:

• If a partner lives in the house (this means your husband, wife or somebody you live with as your husband or wife);
• If a relative who is 60 or over lives in the house;
• If a relative who is disabled lives in the house (by "disabled" we mean somebody who either is or could be claiming any disability benefit);
• If a child under 16 who you have a responsibility to maintain lives in the house.

We can also ignore the value of your house if anybody else is left living there after you have moved into a care home. Although the law says we do not have to use this power the guidance gives examples where we would have to consider it very carefully. The examples it gives are if there is a former carer or an older person who is not your relative left living in the house.
In all other cases we have to take the value of the house into account after the initial 12 week period.

Mojisola

If the house is in your name, then it doesn't belong to your grandmother. Your property can't be taken to pay for a relative in a home.

Have you thought carefully about the care your grandmother will need and how it will be provided? Has she got a social worker? Has she had an assessment as to her needs? Does the house need adaptions to help her cope? There lots to consider if she is going to stay in her home.

schmink

Its a tricky one but you may have to accept that you will be unable to look after your gran if her dementia has become quite agressive. How long has she had the illness for and what struggles does she face? I guess the fact she has been in hospital indicates she is fairly poorly. I used to work for a carers charity and it is such hard work being a family carer even though most people do give it a go until they can no longer manage.

The other concern would be when your gran made you POA as it has changed over the past few years to give you more powers as to her care as well as her finances. She may have to agree with some of the decisions if she hasnt yet lost capacity through the dementia. Otherwise you have to register the POA with the court of protection to give you enduring power of attorney.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/5361240.stm

The date of when her house was put into your name is relevant. The benefits agency/local authority may deem that she gave you the deeds because she knew she was poorly and didnt want them getting their hands on the house to pay for any nursing or residential care. Its a grey area but they could accuse you of this (deprivation of capital) even though its untrue. They can be mercenary B*&%$rds. My best advice would be to get in touch with your local carers charity who can make you an appointment to see one of their advisors who can cover a lot of your concerns. They can also help you with a benefit check to makse sure you are both getting what you are entitled to, especially your gran if shes not claiming Attendance Allowance.

http://www.carers.org/

I wish you all the best.

Oldernotwiser

Mojisola wrote: »

If the house is in your name, then it doesn't belong to your grandmother. Your property can't be taken to pay for a relative in a home.
.

If the house was transferred to someone else so recently it's highly likely that it could be looked on as deprivation of assets. If it were that easy then even more people would be trying to do it!

simpywimpy

I also think they will take the transfer into account with it being done so recently. I suppose it depends on how your particular area works. Some enforce these things more than others.

If she comes home you can ask for the social services to make an assessment of her needs beforehand so that things are in place before she returns home. You can also ask for a separate assement for your own needs as her carer.

MrsTinks

Both of my grandparents are now in a nursing home together (they have their own rooms but on the same hall so they spend what time they want together but have their own space too) and for years my grandmother cared for my grandfather and then struggled on her own when he finally moved to a nursing home. Both of them (in their lucid moments) agree they should have listened to everyone much earlier on - they are in a nice nursing home with full time care and nice carers.
Unless you are willing to care for your grandmother 24/7 then stop putting obstacles in the way for her to go into care - instead spend your energy on finding the right and best nursing home for her. At least there she will have a social life with other people her age and you can visit her as often as you want.

Errata

If she does go into a care home what will happen to her house???
Will I be forced to sell this value aprox £80-90k?

If the council believe the house was given to you as a way of getting the council to pay the care home fees, then it may consider it as deprivation of assets. This means they will NOT pay the care home fees.