Avoiding Care Home Costs

Morgan_Ree

SammiD wrote: »

And thats where this country needs to sort out its priorities. Brand new flats/houses are being built around my area which are solely for council tennants, 90% of who are probably on benefits they don't actually need/deserve. Yet the care homes get left in a disgusting state with sub standard levels of care.

Its a crazy, crazy place is this once amazing island we call GREAT Britain...shame there's less emphasis on the "GREAT" these days

I do believe the Daily Mail is thata way

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peachyprice

It's all very well jumping up on your little high horses, shouting what about the tax she's paid, what about the NI she's paid, she deserves free care.

But the woman has 4 children, 4 for goodness sake, and she's sitting there worrying about what will happen to her house if/when she goes into a care home, how about those 4 darling children, all wanting to avoid care home costs to protect their inheritance, actually looking after their own mother in her old age. Now there's a though.

SammiD

Im not really sure what the Daily Mail comment is getting at, so I'll just ignore it. Ignorance is bliss as they say! LOL!

As for this particular case, I made no comment regarding her 4 children, I was more talking in general. In this instance I agree, if at all possible, the 4 children should rally together and sort something out to have her living with one of them. I know I will do my best to look after my Mum and Dad before having to resort to putting them in a home.

However, I still think a high level of care should be available for free, or at least a very small fee. Not over £1000 a week as some places are charging.

samandona

I agree with peachy. Why should the elderly woman leave ANYTHING to her children when none of them are willing to look after her in her old age? My parents have a million £ plus estate and since I was very small my mother has always said she will be leaving it to 'the dogs home'. Since she will outlive my father, that is almost certainly what will happen and I couldn't agree with her more. Its her money and if she chooses to give her money to a charity then so be it. She will still be offered a place in my home (regardless of the situation) if she ever gets too frail to look after herself.

euronorris

peachyprice wrote: »

But the woman has 4 children, 4 for goodness sake, and she's sitting there worrying about what will happen to her house if/when she goes into a care home, how about those 4 darling children, all wanting to avoid care home costs to protect their inheritance, actually looking after their own mother in her old age. Now there's a though.

Which is a very valid point. But....we don't know the circumstances of the children. They may not have the space, time or money required to look after her properly.

My parents looked after my Grandma when she could no longer look after herself properly, but....my Mum was only working a few hours a week by then and my parents were still in the family home, we'd all moved out (the kids), and my parents outgoings had decreased so they were able to offer all that she needed. My Uncle could've done the same also, but he preferred to let my Mum do it and only bother to call about once every 2 months, when prompted by my Mum (but that's another story).

peachyprice

euronorris wrote: »

Which is a very valid point. But....we don't know the circumstances of the children. They may not have the space, time or money required to look after her properly.

In which case isn't it only right that they use the money from her house to either modify their homes to accomodate, or to pay for nurising home fees it not one of the 4 can/will do that.

They have options, expecting the state to pick up the bill should be the last. I'd want the best care possible if I wasn't able to look after my parents and relying on the state isn't going to get that!

I hope my children don't think I'm living my life worrying how much I've got to leave them, they'll be in for a shock if they are

chewmylegoff

Under the 'continuing care' rules, if she ends up needing care as a result of a serious medical condition, her care home will be funded by the NHS.

So - she has paid her taxes and is therefore entitled to an NHS funded care home (or carers at her home) if it becomes a medical need.

This is clearly consistent with the purpose of the NHS. If you need medical care, you get it regardless of whether you could afford to pay for it yourself. That's what your taxes pay for. But, consistent with most of the rest of our welfare state, which is means tested, if you can afford to pay your own living costs (living, not medical), then you are required to do so.

I don't see what is so unfair about that. I suspect most people's opinions on this are clouded by not knowing that free long term care is provided, regardless of means, when it is a medical necessity.

Quite apart from this, others have already made the far more practical point that who on earth would want to be in a state funded care home if they could afford not to be!

onlyroz

peachyprice wrote: »

They have options, expecting the state to pick up the bill should be the last.

Couldn't agree more.

chewmylegoff

SammiD wrote: »

However, I still think a high level of care should be available for free, or at least a very small fee. Not over £1000 a week as some places are charging.

since £1,000 is what it costs to provide that level of care, then you are going to have to be happy to fund that money out of your taxes.

and who gets the £1,000 a week stuff? everyone, or just those who "worked hard"?

the state is there to provide a basic safety net. one reward you get for working hard all your life is that you can afford to pay for a decent standard of care should you need it and not have to put up with the basic minimum. same as not having to scratch around on the state pension.

euronorris

peachyprice wrote: »

In which case isn't it only right that they use the money from her house to either modify their homes to accomodate, or to pay for nurising home fees it not one of the 4 can/will do that.

They have options, expecting the state to pick up the bill should be the last. I'd want the best care possible if I wasn't able to look after my parents and relying on the state isn't going to get that!

I hope my children don't think I'm living my life worrying how much I've got to leave them, they'll be in for a shock if they are

I agree.

My Mum couldn't bare the thought of my Grandma going into a state run home (she's worked in them before, so has first hand experience), but also couldn't afford private fees. So, the only solution left was to look after her herself.

I would prefer private over state anyday, given the choice.

Ironically, my Mum doesn't expect or want any of us to have to look after her, should it be needed. Keeps telling us to 'stick her in a home by the Sea, and she'll be happy'. Bless her. I'm never going to put her in a home, unless she has medical needs that I cannot/am not qualified to meet. I couldn't bare it, and I know that she wouldn't really be happy.