Care home trying to charge for 2 days after death.

*Dory*

Hi
Can anyone tell me if a care home can charge for days after my Father in Laws death?
We have received a bill up to his death plus 2 days and they were informed on the day he died (by myself) as he had been in hospital for a few days before.
Can they legally charge?

Thank you in advance

nigem

Check the terms and conditions that were agreed at the time he moved into the home. In my fathers case we were liable for a week after he died, so they could redecorate the room before a new tenant. It was in his terms.
Nigem

*Dory*

Thank you.
We never signed a contract as he was self funding and have not seen one with his signature on. He was only there for 8 weeks before his death and the room wasn't changed in anyway so certainly won't need redecorating

nigem

In my Dads case, he was self funding for about 6 weeks, but I found the clause in the paperwork when I too was surprised to be charged. I expect there will be something agreed at the time he went there. Homes do seem to want contracts very early to make sure of their money, and who pays! He also didnt need room redecoration, but also they wouldnt have moved someone in after a few hours.
Nigem

monkeyspanner

Two days seems pretty reasonable. I think my MIL's contract was a week to allow for hand over to a new resident. I would be surprised if Social Services managed to get someone into a care home in that sort of time.

joolsybools

I'd ask for a copy of the contract.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss BTW.



One of my old work colleague's father passed away a few years back. The council expected a full months rent. I personally found that very harsh and insensitive, I mean what are you supposed to do, warn then a month in advance?

Savvy_Sue

How soon were you able to clear his room? That would also affect the charges.

chesky369

I think this sort of thing never occurs to most of us until it happens, when it naturally becomes personal. Certainly, when my mother died she was living in sheltered accommodation and the last thing I even thought about was her rent. And of course this meant that when I got a bill for it, it meant I had to get a bit of a move on to get the flat cleared out, otherwise I'd have had to pay even more. Didn't begrudge it, it just had never come into my mind.

Gavin83

Just confirming what others have written, this is fairly standard practice among homes. The standard is a week so 2 days seems fairly reasonable.

hotpot1000

My Grandma died in a home funded by her pension and DHSS. Afterwards my Mum got a bill for a so called shortfall of funds and incontinence pads.
My Gran didnt use pads and Mum pointed out that she wasnt liable for any costs, they quoted the contract but my Mum had never signed one.
So they gave up demanding money in the end, we didnt pay.

monkeyspanner

I have been told that specialist equipment (e.g. mattresses) and supplies previously supplied by the NHS to care homes free during end of life care will no longer be supplied and it will be up to the care home to source. No doubt these costs will be added to the final invoice in many cases.