Reclaim Care Home Costs for Free- New MSE guide

beardiedog

Could I make you aware of a petition started this week by an Alzheimer's Society forum member. It only has 202 signatures so far so there's a long way to go if we have any hope of this issue being debated in parliament.

Thanks.

Want to change the NHS's rules on Continuing care funding? Please sign the petition.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44333

tinkerbellkirst

Hi,

Is anyone still around who could help me out?

My mum is going through the process for my grandad, she has recieved a questionnaire from the NHS however its different to the template that we looked at. In one section it asks about his needs being 'health needs' rather than 'social' or 'personal' needs.

Some of his needs are social and personal but cause by his health condition, dementia and parkinsons. He also has continence issues, how can i stress the 'health needs' in this area.

Are we going to hit a problem as it also says about 'do you have the power to act' RE power of attourney, neither my mum or grandma have this, but my grandad isnt of the best mental ability to be doing any of this for himself, how do u get past this?

Thanks
Kirsty

monkeyspanner

Moneybox today.Short report on the 60,000 backlog of claims.

Sherbetfountain88

Hi,

I put in a claim in on behalf of my Late Mother's Estate in August 2012 after reading about my right to do so.

Mum was diagnosed with Dementia and Parkinsons in 2002 and by 2004 had deteriorated so markedly that she was placed in a local Care Home. This Care Home offered nursing of patients with quite severe problems but was not designated as a Nursing Home. The family was told by her social worker that she had to be self funding as she had her own house and some savings.

Over the next 4 years she suffered terribly. She became unable to walk or talk, she was incontinent and at times suffering from deep bed sores. She did not recognise any of her family and was unable to communicate in any way. Towards the end she could hardly swallow and became terribly thin. She sadly passed away in 2008. By that time we had paid over £80,000 for her care.

When I put our retrospective claim in I paid for and obtained all her health records from her GP, her consultant psychiatrist and the care home. They proved to me, without a shadow of doubt, that she should have been assessed for Continuing Health Care.

I have heard nothing from the Healthcare Trust about any review of my Mothers case. When I phoned them recently I was told that in our area some 250 cases are being reviewed and it would all take a very long time. The person I spoke to refused to give me any timescales or tell me how they were choosing which cases to deal with first or how many staff were working in the dept. It was also intimated to me that it would be "very difficult" to prove my case! I feel they are hoping that we will give up!

Does anyone have any advice please?
Many thanks

little_acorn_2

To Sherbertfountain, I am so sorry to hear that your mother and your family have been so badly served by the system.

People may have other practical suggestions from personal experience but with the NHS so much in the news, I think this could well become the next big health/welfare scandal. Why not contact your local MP and ask him/her to take up your cause, get answers to your questions? If enough of us lobby our MPs they will begin to realise the enormity of the issue, and come to undersatnd that it's not just isolated cases.

arnold49

Sherbetfountain88 wrote: »

Hi,

When I put our retrospective claim in I paid for and obtained all her health records from her GP, her consultant psychiatrist and the care home. They proved to me, without a shadow of doubt, that she should have been assessed for Continuing Health Care.

time. It was also intimated to me that it would be "very difficult" to prove my case! I feel they are hoping that we will give up!

Does anyone have any advice please?
Many thanks

Yes, just ignore the statement it "would be difficult to prove."

You have done the right thing in putting in for a retrospective claim.
and there is I believe a backlog.
I would just add, to do everything by e-mail, or letter, and recorded delivery. All conversations traceable in other words.

Good luck.:)

arnold49

BestBefore

Registered a claim with Health authority before the deadline, received claim form sent it back by return but heard nothing for over 10 months so decided to ring and ask for update.
Got through to relevant department to be told yes paperwork had arrived and was correct but they had 900 plus other cases and only one person was dealing with them and they could not request all the notes (GP, Hospital etc) at one time, despite the fact the claim was for a deceased person. Asked how long it might take and was told it could be a couple of years.
Is this a problem nationwide? I am considering approaching my local MP to get him to ask questions.
Anyone any thoughts?

Doc_N

BestBefore wrote: »

Is this a problem nationwide? I am considering approaching my local MP to get him to ask questions.
Anyone any thoughts?

See monkeyspanner's post above. Yes it is a national problem.

rubrenus

I've got a claim in before the deadline for my late mother's care costs, but the NHS want one of the following which I haven't got;
1. Holder of a Grant of Probate
2. A redacted copy of the will showing Executor/ Administrator or beneficiary
3. Legal evidence that a will is being contested.
As her only surviving living relative I'm the only one who can make a claim, but how do I get round not having the documentation they are asking for?
Any ideas would be appreciated!

John_Pierpoint

Who sorted out her estate when she eventually died?
Presumably everything else is sorted out now? So we can rule out item 3.
Presumably the amount you would like to reclaim is substantial and so your mother must have had some money in her own name or the NHS/LA would have had to pay rather than see her on the street?
Did mum die with a net worth of less than £5,000 ?
Perhaps mother died with al her property in trust - ie jointly owned or as the beneficiary of an interest in possession trust?
Does the NHS clerk realise that "letters of administration" are the same thing as a "grant of probate"?
The majority of estates go down the "letters of administration" route because there is no valid will?

Now tell me you are in Scotland where the procedures are similar but different.