how can you avoid house u own paying for nursing home fees

[Deleted User]

I am just thinking on my feet now: what if every single person who needed to go into a care home had that right to do so free of charge but that care home was of the most basic type. What if anyone also had the right to be able to top up this basic care so that they could then choose a super dooper care home. I wonder then , how many would bleat about not using their own assets

I personally believe that this may actually happen as the baby boomer generation gets older

marklv

kittie wrote: »

I am just thinking on my feet now: what if every single person who needed to go into a care home had that right to do so free of charge but that care home was of the most basic type. What if anyone also had the right to be able to top up this basic care so that they could then choose a super dooper care home. I wonder then , how many would bleat about not using their own assets

I personally believe that this may actually happen as the baby boomer generation gets older

This sounds acceptable to me. But 'most basic' should not mean sharing a room with a stranger or getting fed inadequate amounts of food.

marklv

slopemaster wrote: »

Yes, but in France, elderly parents have to be looked after by their children, this is also a law-given right

And that is how it should be. Too many people in the UK like to have their cake and eat it. You look after the oldies, and they help you financially in return - it's called the social contract.

[Deleted User]

of course not re food but by basic I would think sharing a room and toilet etc would be fine. I would expect food to be ok but not gourmet.

bendix

Personally, euthanasia is starting to look very appealing indeed.

Or, alternatively, a young sexy wife to take care of me in my dotage. Oh, wait, I already got one of those.

smk77

marklv wrote: »

My father in law's 84 year old aunt had to go into a private nursing home in 2003 following a series of strokes, which left her incapacitated and unable to speak or move around properly. The cost (in 2003) was £500 a week, of which the state paid the first £120 a week, leaving a balance of £380 a week to be met by her estate. Mercifully she passed away after four months, but £6,500 was squandered on this process. Surely she could have been kept in hospital for that time? But no.
.

squandered? How much do you think it costs to provide shelter, food and 24 hour care for 4 months? It's either a £6,500 bill to her or to the tax payer. Look at it another way - in the 24 years after since reaching retirement age she she would probably have received a state pension that would have been about the same as she would have paid in taxes each year during her working life if she earned the average wage.Add on to this health care throughout her lifetime (especially towards the end) and she probably got more money from the system than she paid in. I may be wrong but given her age I doubt it.

Taxes will only go so far. You can't pay tax all your life and then use that as a reason to make unrealistic demands on the state above and beyond what's available.

My grandad's nursing home fees were approxiately the same. He was 96 when he went into care and 98 when he died. I'm sure that after various allowances, pensions were added the fees dropped dramatically.

As for 3.5k a month. Well, quite possibly but then maybe that care home is aimed at the type of people who can afford £3.5k a month? Perhaps it's a millionaire care home? It's certainly not typical.

marklv

My wish is to die quietly and peacefully in my sleep at the age of 90, still in a fit state, both physically and mentally. I wouldn't want to live any longer than that unless some miracle discovery allowed the ageing process to be stopped or reversed. Dream on!

uberalles

kittie wrote: »

I am just thinking on my feet now: what if every single person who needed to go into a care home had that right to do so free of charge but that care home was of the most basic type. What if anyone also had the right to be able to top up this basic care so that they could then choose a super dooper care home. I wonder then , how many would bleat about not using their own assets
I personally believe that this may actually happen as the baby boomer generation gets older

That's a little different , it is choice. Then if you choose to do that, you can pay for it. Much like you can for private health.

You barely have a choice about going into a nursing home if you are unfit and unable to look after yourself, and no relatives or friends will help.

The basic care should be sufficient to ensure anybody can lead a comfortable life without pain.

How about those that bleat on about the 'money no object' carefree lifestyles they have, flitting away their money on luxurious goods like flash cars, only to find that when they are old and alone and unfit, have no assets and are in abject poverty.

The point is that people lead their lives differently in many ways. Those who are careful and value and save what they earn should not have it taken just because they are unable to look after themselves and the government see it as fair game that the money should be theirs.
Whereas others who were in younger life carefree, get the same for nothing.

Why don't we all just live for today, waste money, and get to the stage where we are incapable with nothing to our names. Then we can all claim the free basic service.

We should all contribute once, through NI and taxes, not twice.

So it further endorses your point about a basic service being available.

MissMoneypenny

marklv wrote: »

And that is how it should be. Too many people in the UK like to have their cake and eat it. You look after the oldies, and they help you financially in return - it's called the social contract.

Much better if the children are taught a good work ethic at a young age and can then look after themselves financially.

localhero

jammiev wrote:

hi, my mum and dad currently live at home but as they are getting on a bit and are both retired and own there own home have asked me is there a way of them avoiding having to pay the nursing home themselves ie; it coming out of the house?

they have read somewere you can go to a solicters who can sort it for about £1000 but it takes 8 years before it comes into effect!

anyone help?

thanks

In case your question hasn't been answered - yes they can. They can do this quite legitimately by updating their wills.

Get your parents in front of a competent will writing professional to get it sorted. There are several threads around that provides a bit more detail.