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Who pays Care Home Fees ?

Hi

My Father may have to go into a Care Home.

He has no savings and just receives his pension.

He qualifies for Local Authority funding.

Do they take his pension from him to cover this ?

I only ask as that would take all his money from him - which I suppose is fine as all his meals, bills etc are covered - but he would have nothing left for himself.

Just a bit confused with it all...........
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Comments

  • antrobus
    antrobus Posts: 17,386 Forumite
    whiteswan wrote: »
    ...

    Do they take his pension from him to cover this ?......

    Yes, and whatever other income he has as well.
    whiteswan wrote: »
    ...
    I only ask as that would take all his money from him - which I suppose is fine as all his meals, bills etc are covered - but he would have nothing left for himself...........

    No, he will be left with 'something for himself'. It's £20ish a week at the moment, I believe.
  • whiteswan wrote: »
    Hi

    My Father may have to go into a Care Home.

    He has no savings and just receives his pension.

    He qualifies for Local Authority funding.

    Do they take his pension from him to cover this ?

    I only ask as that would take all his money from him - which I suppose is fine as all his meals, bills etc are covered - but he would have nothing left for himself.

    Just a bit confused with it all...........

    Welcome to the world of 'Caring in the Community'.

    You get 'spending money' only - which might buy some chocolate as a treat and a couple of packets of fags if he smokes a week!
  • margaretclare
    margaretclare Posts: 10,789 Forumite
    tiddlertot wrote: »
    Welcome to the world of 'Caring in the Community'.

    You get 'spending money' only - which might buy some chocolate as a treat and a couple of packets of fags if he smokes a week!

    He won't be allowed to smoke within the care home.

    AFAIK it's approx £23-£25 'pocket money' he can keep from his pension. As you said, everything else will be paid for - board and lodging, food, laundry.
    [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Æ[/FONT]r ic wisdom funde, [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]æ[/FONT]r wear[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ð[/FONT] ic eald.
    Before I found wisdom, I became old.
  • tiddlertot
    tiddlertot Posts: 103 Forumite
    edited 11 November 2012 at 2:25PM
    He won't be allowed to smoke within the care home.

    AFAIK it's approx £23-£25 'pocket money' he can keep from his pension. As you said, everything else will be paid for - board and lodging, food, laundry.

    I'm talking about outside. Of the four care homes that I have seen over the past 4/5 years there is always a place outdoors if you want a smoke.

    Even worse, you won't be able to treat yourself to much in the way of a can or two a week of Guiness!

    'Care in the Community' - of the council homes that I have seen, they are nothing less than a 'camp' for which the 'inmates' have to abide by the rules in order to make it run efficiently for the staff - never mind the poor old bu**ers who have to live there - some in shared bedrooms!!

    The food!!! If someone put that in front of me - it would be sent straight back to whence it came - I wouldn't give it to a dog!

    Many sit around in the same chair all day long, bed is at 7.30pm, no TV in your room etc. As for the sounds and smells that I experienced when visiting, I couldn't sleep or stay there for one night!
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    He won't be allowed to smoke within the care home.

    The care homes I've looked round recently have had indoor smokers' rooms. The homes are caught between the building being a workplace but also the residents' home.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    whiteswan wrote: »
    My Father may have to go into a Care Home.

    He has no savings and just receives his pension.

    He qualifies for Local Authority funding.

    He will have little choice about the home he is put in. He will go into the cheapest one the LA can find.

    Be aware that the LA may try to get other family members to pay "top-up" fees. You are not obliged to do this - if he needs a home that costs more than the LA basic payment, they should fund the more expensive home.

    AgeUK do some useful information sheets on care homes.
  • Dory68
    Dory68 Posts: 40 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    My father is in a care home, and has been for several years,he has spending money of around £20 which he uses for cigarettes,the food at the home is pretty good,and a variety of foods is served,i.e. fish,beef,chicken,the deserts are very good too:) I guess every place is different,the residents have what they want in there rooms,my dad has a t.v.radio,cd player and lots of photos from home,bed time is around 9.30.There is a smoke room,although he likes to go outside when possible,i believe the newer homes don't have them.Hope this helps,its hard enough letting a parent go into a home,sometimes its the only answer,unless your lucky enough not to work and can dedicate all your time to the loved one.
  • mumps
    mumps Posts: 6,285 Forumite
    Home Insurance Hacker!
    He won't be allowed to smoke within the care home.

    AFAIK it's approx £23-£25 'pocket money' he can keep from his pension. As you said, everything else will be paid for - board and lodging, food, laundry.

    Some homes will allow smoking in a smoking room, I don't know if it is all homes but definitely some.

    £23 to £25 isn't much is it? How much will a new pair of shoes cost, or pyjamas, dressing gown etc. Perhaps a newspaper everyday, hair cut occasionally, something to drink, cigarettes. Perhaps when grandchildren come he might like to give them something for birthdays etc. Razor blades, a little walk down to the local betting shop or a football match. Not much to ask after a lifetime of working.

    Referring to the money a grown man has for his personal needs as "pocket money" is frowned on.
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    2831.00/£1500
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    mumps wrote: »
    Referring to the money a grown man has for his personal needs as "pocket money" is frowned on.

    Officially, it's a "personal allowance".
  • miduck
    miduck Posts: 1,800 Forumite
    tiddlertot wrote: »
    I'm talking about outside. Of the four care homes that I have seen over the past 4/5 years there is always a place outdoors if you want a smoke.

    Even worse, you won't be able to treat yourself to much in the way of a can or two a week of Guiness!

    'Care in the Community' - of the council homes that I have seen, they are nothing less than a 'camp' for which the 'inmates' have to abide by the rules in order to make it run efficiently for the staff - never mind the poor old bu**ers who have to live there - some in shared bedrooms!!

    The food!!! If someone put that in front of me - it would be sent straight back to whence it came - I wouldn't give it to a dog!

    Many sit around in the same chair all day long, bed is at 7.30pm, no TV in your room etc. As for the sounds and smells that I experienced when visiting, I couldn't sleep or stay there for one night!

    whiteswan, please ignore this, tiddlertot is a nasty old troll who only posts to upset people.

    Whilst council run care homes are never going to be the best available, they are in the majority well run, with staff that genuinely care about their residents. Most either have tv's in the rooms, or allow the resident to bring their own - you would need to check if they need a portable aerial or not. They have activities coordinators who arrange activities and trips out where suitable. As for the food, my mother works in a home and chooses to eat there - I know how fussy she is so it can't be that bad. ;)
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