Care Needs Annuities

sav4it

I've seen the following website mentioned on this forum:
http://www.sharingpensions.co.uk/ann...iate_needs.htm
I've got a mishmash of questions as I am just starting to research options and want to have a plan in my mind before anything becomes a necessity and end up having to make rushed decisions:
Just how up to date are these figures?I know some websites are quite old and not updated.
1. How much would residential care roughly be for SE of England? Would the fees be all inclusive or food etc on top?
2. Same question but for full nursing care.
3. The reason I ask is because care in the home fees ( approx £13 per hour)seem much more expensive than residential figures quoted on the website.
Finally has anyone who's been at the point I am got any advice on what things to consider?

Savvy_Sue

sav4it wrote: »

3. The reason I ask is because care in the home fees ( approx £13 per hour)seem much more expensive than residential figures quoted on the website.

I don't know a lot about any of this, but it occurs to me that the 'care in the home' figures would appear to be much higher per hour, because you don't expect to need them 24/7, but you would expect individual attention while they were there.

So if you're in a nursing home, the staff are there 24/7, but not caring for any individual 24/7. This means that 'core costs' are shared by a number of residents, and the workers only need to travel once per day to one place of work.

Whereas if you're employing someone to come to your home, possibly for quite short periods of time, your carer may well be going to other places as well. If they're self employed, they won't be paid for the time they're travelling from one client to another, and they'll need to set aside tax and NI, and add a bit on to cover the times they're not working - eg when they go on holiday and won't be charging you.

Things may be a bit different if they're employed by an agency, but even then I don't expect they'd be paid while travelling from one client to another.

I could be quite wrong about this, but it sort of makes sense to me ...

Biggles

Those figures seem waaay out of date, you were right to suspect them.

In SE England, you would be looking at anything from £30,000 upwards. In E Anglia we were quoted up to £42,000 and that was without nursing care.

The figures are normally shown inclusive of food, laundry etc.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection's website gives access to inspection reports and these usually list the range of fees.
http://www.csci.org.uk/

Care in the home is the ideal where suitable but, as Savvy Sue says, you are only getting maybe a couple of 15-minute slots a day there but with a care home you are getting care 24/7. The former would suit some better but it will often get to the point where 24/7 is needed.

treacletoffee_2

I don't know what the care home fees are for the SE of England, but in the Midlands they are usually between £400 - £600 per week for residential care.
Depending on the needs and savings and/or assets of the individual, financial assistance may be available from social services and/or the relevant primary care trust. This can also apply to home care support. If someone's health needs are complex then they may be eligible for part or total funding of their fees from the NHS, under the Continuing Health Care legislation. They have a right to request an assessment for this from their local health authority, and to appeal if they are refused.

Although home care support has traditionally been provided via care agencies, there is now another option called 'Direct Payments' (not to be confused with Social Security Direct Payments). If a person is eligible for home care support from social services, they can request a Direct Payment, and social services will give them the money (less their assessed contribution) to employ and pay for their own carer. This could be a friend or a relative living elsewhere, but there is even support to assist the person to advertise for and interview carers if this is what they need.

Everyone who may be in need of care is entitled to an assessment of their needs and advice from social services, regardless of whether they qualify for financial assistance. Local Carers Support organisations are also good sources of information.

People over the age of 65yrs who need help to live at home may be eligible for Attendance Allowance (contact local Benefits Agency or look online for details). This can provide approx £40 - £60 per week, and is non taxable. If the person is entering residential care and is meeting all their own fees, they can retain the Attendance Allowance, but if they are being funded by Social Services or the NHS, they will lose it.

If a person is under the age of 65yrs with less than 18K savings (I think), in receipt of a high level of support from social services (this can include home care, day care, respite care, transport) and also receiving Disability Living Allowance (High rate care), they may also be eligible for financial support from the Independent Living Fund, to enable them to remain living in the community. This can amount to several hundred pounds per week, and can make a significant financial contribution to provide 24hr care at home.

Hope this has helped. If you have any questions, please email me.

L.

EdInvestor

Here's an example of what you get for 400 quid a week in the Southeast for residential care (nursing care is obviously higher):

http://62.73.173.233/CSCI/CRH/17/DS0000066217.V290276.R01.S.pdf

Errata

EdInvestor wrote: »

Here's an example of what you get for 400 quid a week in the Southeast for residential care (nursing care is obviously higher):

http://62.73.173.233/CSCI/CRH/17/DS0000066217.V290276.R01.S.pdf

That's really helpful and also quite surprising. The current cost the LA will fund in West Yorkshire is £430 pw. for residential care.

EdInvestor

Here's another one for comparison, same area.This one provides full nursing care for between 500 and 660 pounds a week - the latter buys you a private room with ensuite.

http://62.73.173.233/CSCI/CRH/69/DS0000013969.V291837.R01.S.pdf

You can search for local care home costs and inspection reports by postcode here:

http://www.carestandards.org.uk/registeredservicesdirectory/rsquicksearch.asp

IMHO it would be good if older people and their families took an interest in this well before it's needed (and even if it probably won't be).After all many people spend a very large amount of time studying the housing market for where they want to live and the hotels they want to stay in on holiday.Most people wouldn't even think of leaving decisions about this to the Council would they?

Mind you it would be good if the Government started thinking about some tax incentives to encourage self funding. It's not really fair to load all this on councils, and just contributes to the wrong sort of bad blood.

Errata

Thanks Ed. In my not humble opinion it would be a great help if the inspection reports gave a better indication of what's what.
For instance, just a couple of months ago the care home in the south west that was closed suddenly and ex residents remains were exhumed had a good inspection report six months before it was closed. No change in staff, owners, managers and the inspection six months later was bad enough for it to be closed.

EdInvestor

Might be a bit early to start apportioning blame on that one - we should perhaps await more information.

suzyq

Another option to consider is live in carer's usually they work two weeks on two weeks off I have used www.uk-care.com they charge in the region of £600 per week this includes their travel and admin fees. Definately worth considering as an alternative to a nursing/care home and probably more cost effectiveif you are a couple. Other agencies that I know of are http://www.directpayments-support.co.uk/index.htm http://www.activeassistance.com http://www.consultuscare.com/

Biggles

EdInvestor wrote: »

IMHO it would be good if older people and their families took an interest in this well before it's needed (and even if it probably won't be).After all many people spend a very large amount of time studying the housing market for where they want to live and the hotels they want to stay in on holiday.Most people wouldn't even think of leaving decisions about this to the Council would they?

A very good point indeed, Ed. When your parent is assessed as needing a care home instead of the status quo, possibly as a result of some sudden 'event', you will normally have only a very few weeks to come up with a decision. And this would be from a 'standing start', ie with no knowledge of what is available, what is good or bad, or what the going rates are.