Care Homes

[Deleted User]

There there's the issue of self-funders paying about a third more to live in the SAME home as a state funder. Self funders get nothing exta for paying all the extra.

Errata

Some homes give self funders rooms with a nice view, or perhaps are a little larger.
I expect an LA to do the best purchasing deal it can on everything it purchases. Of course ............ if we're all content to see our council tax rise to enable LA's to pay the same residential care fee as self funders do, then we only have to say so.

pollypenny

My father was self-funding in a council run home. It was good, with the ladies having their done by the assistants, who enjoyed it too, and my dad having eyebrows and hair cut.

Food was not marvellous, but the usual institutionalised stuff.

There is a home near us, care rather than residential, which has a superb reputation. But if that's the best, I would not like to see the worst, Charges are made for the smallest thing and old people sit around the walls.

Yes, there is the occasional trip and concert. But the families pay through the nose for them.

Torry_Quine

The home my relative is in is very good. Initially they were self-funding but now funded by local authority. No top ups and the care is exactly the same as always. £8 a week extra pays for all newspapers, toiletries, hairdressing and postage. They fundraise for a fund which provides outings to shows such as the panto and lunch clubs.

Merrywidow

My head is in a spin after reading all the posts from you all. I will share with you my experience when my mother needed a retirement home when she could not longer walk without help at the age of 92.

She was recouperating in hospital after an illness and the social worker attached to the hospital explained that she would not be allowed back into her old sheltered housing and would need a place in a retirement home. She came back to me with the name of a home which she highly recommended. I took Mum there for a look and she loved it and moved in next day. The social worker asked me if Mum had under or over £20,000 capital. I replyed "under".

All Mum has ever had to pay was her income from her OAP pension and two widow's pensions from my Father. She is allowed £24 a week for personal items. As luck would have it the home was being rebuilt on the same site and she now has a wonderful en-suite room with hoists built into the ceiling and a magical hospital bed with an air filled mattress.

Over the years she has become blind, has developed breast cancer and is for 80% of the day confined to bed. She will shortly be 99 and is still receiving the same wonderful care from loving people.

I have never been approached for extra funds and heard just recently that some of her funding is now coming from the NHS under the title of "End of Life Care" The only monies I pay are for the on site hairdresser and chiropdist. I provide all toiletries.

The Home has many self funded residents and their level of care and supply of food is no different from the rest. The Home is part of a charity concern rather than a Council home. Her pension money is paid directly to the local County Council.

My experience with my mother seems very easy compared with all I have read above. If I have forgotten anything please feel free to ask.
janet

seven-day-weekend

Lovely to hear from you agin Merry Widow!

soolin

pollypenny wrote: »

My father was self-funding in a council run home. It was good, with the ladies having their done by the assistants, who enjoyed it too, and my dad having eyebrows and hair cut.

.

That brings back memories. For most of the time Dad was in a home he was the only man and was awfully spoilt. However he noticed the ladies would have their hair done once a fortnight by a visiting hairdresser and asked if he could have the same. So once a fortnight he was sat in the chair and they faffed around , took a little off over the ears and sprayed a bit of mist over his bald patch and he was as excited as a child.

cavework

Deleted_User wrote: »

There there's the issue of self-funders paying about a third more to live in the SAME home as a state funder. Self funders get nothing exta for paying all the extra.

Then there is the issue of one of the married couple remaining in the house they BOUGHT and worked for.
All these married couples joint assetts are in the value of that house so when one needs to enter a Nursing home they are State funded while the partner remains in the marital home. (Much Cheaper) and don't be fooled, all the partners income who enters the home, from State pension and half their occupational pension minus £22 pocket money per week allowance from that income is included in the charges.
There is also no attendance allowance . Self funders are still able to claim this against their expenses.
Adult Social Services will only pay for suitable accommodation that is deemed neccessary , so doubly incontinent usually means no ensuite and the room may be shared with no pretty view but the standard of care remains the same as self funding.
Often State funded residents are receiving a top up which has been sourced by their families in Private Nursing Homes which accept state funded residents
What do you suggest?
Evicting the partner who is still at home?

seven-day-weekend

I would GLADLY sell my house so that my husband did not have to share a room etc in a home. I'd get a little sheltered flat for myself, or even throw myself on the mercy of the Council. I would not care about the marital home if he was not there to share it with me.

I'm glad to say that we are only in our early 60s and quite capable of looking after ourselves. I hope neither of us ever get to the point where we are not.

But still, unfortunately, it has to be thought about.

cavework

My Mums 87. She has no help from carers and as the only child I take sole responsibility for her care and wellbeing as well as working.
My father had a stroke one year ago at the age of 88 through no fault of his own.. non smoker and one small whiskey a week.
My Mum and Dad were born in the 1920,s and when Dad returned from WW2 after 5 years in Burma he got a job , met Mum and they spent the rest of their married life working to buy their own home and bringing up their kids with NO help from the state.
You might be happy to give up the marital home but then you are not 87 and still managing to support yourself in your own home rather than living in sheltered accommodation with a carer visiting every day which would be supported by the state.
you really have NO idea .. you are way too young.
I would be interested to see your reaction to having to move when you are over 80 years old.. I hope you are never put in this position.