Pensions and Care Home Fees

Mojisola

Alibert wrote: »

I don't think that's right , it's the opposite isn't it
. as that is the whole point of deferring .. because the spouse needs the house.

If there is no spouse there is no need to defer, you just sell the empty house

No, a deferred payment agreement can be entered into if the person needing care is counted as a self-funder because of the value of the house but can't pay the care home bill until the house has been sold - it's basically a loan while the house is being sold.

If a partner (or certain other people) need the house to live in, its value isn't counted.

Keep_pedalling

Mojisola wrote: »

No, a deferred payment agreement can be entered into if the person needing care is counted as a self-funder because of the value of the house but can't pay the care home bill until the house has been sold - it's basically a loan while the house is being sold.

If a partner (or certain other people) need the house to live in, its value isn't counted.

This is absolutely correct, and why, if you can, you should aim to build sufficient savings to allow you to still self fund for a reasonable time if your other half still needs your home. If you some how successfully avoided having to pay care costs, you have also avoided any choice in who provides that care, when you start receiving it and where it takes place

lisyloo

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

If you some how successfully avoided having to pay care costs, you have also avoided any choice in who provides that care, when you start receiving it and where it takes place

That last part is not totally correct although definitely you limit your choice and rule out the nicer facilities and will only get a choice if you have good advocates and ideally a lasting power of attorney.

My MIL went into a home last August.
We (the family) chose where she went.
We said over my dead body on some and delayed until a suitable facility that fitted her/our requirements and was close to family.
We were strong advocates and did not bow to pressure and were articulate in arguing (not everyone has this and there is definitely a danger that those people end up in overmydead body grove).

We made a choice a second time too.
FIL needed a home in Jan.
The LA didnt want to use the same home as MIL as it was too expensive (although they were funding her).
We argued strongly as they had been married 60 years and we won.
Personally I think we won becuase he was bed blocking and the LA would be fined so they decided not to fight us which would take time. So we delayed until the one we wanted was available TWiCE.

So you DO have a choice but only between what;s affordable at LA rates AND you will need strong advocates to fight on your behalf (if you;ve lost capacity or are in hospital you wont be able to visit them).
I would urge everyone to get a lasting power of attorney as I am currently dealing with the court of protection. It!s not been as bad as I thought but still better to get your house in order first.

BTW we acted for MIL without an LPA, so absolutely you have choices. It's justthat the majority of places within the LA budget are not what you would ideally like and some are in overmydeadbody territory.

lisyloo

The best advice I can give anyone looking for a home is to find out whether any of the staff have put their mum or dad there.

Keep_pedalling

lisyloo wrote: »

The best advice I can give anyone looking for a home is to find out whether any of the staff have put their mum or dad there.

Chances are that very few of them would have parents in residential care. When it came to my mother, I spoke to existing residents and visiting relatives of those residence before agreeing that she could could be admitted to the home she ended her days in.

Mojisola

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

When it came to my mother, I spoke to existing residents and visiting relatives of those residence before agreeing that she could could be admitted to the home she ended her days in.

There's a lot to be said for just getting a 'feel' for the place when you walk in.

One of the nicest places we visited, we called without phoning in advance and apologised only to be told we should always turn up like that so that we could see the place as it truly is (avoiding meal times when staff are extra busy).

We also found that the length of time staff had been employed at the home was a good indication of the quality of the place. One of the poshest and most expensive places had such a fast turn-over of staff that it obviously wasn't a happy place to work and the staff weren't treated well - if the staff weren't cared for by the management, it's not likely that they would go the extra mile for residents.

Also kitchen workers, gardeners and handymen/women sometimes give a more realistic view of the home than the manager!

JoeEngland

lisyloo wrote: »

When I was at uni 30 years ago people were studying engineering, computing, pharmacy, business, metallurgy.

I was at Uni just over 30 years ago and remember jokes about arts (humanities) students. Even then there were courses that some people would consider useless.

bostonerimus

My grandfather had a stroke late in life and spent 10 years in care with my grandmother visiting him every day....she was too frail to take care of him at home. Back in the early 1970s I believe that the NHS or local county council paid for the care. It's worrying that the situation has now changed so that paying for long term care is increasingly falling on the shoulders of those in care who often haven't made provision to pay these costs. Some sort of insurance should be available, I'd like to see a small amount of NI used to cover care for everyone that needs it or at least some form of private insurance available.

bostonerimus

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

And they still do. There were also lots of people studying the humanities back then as well.

My children studied subjects lots of old farts would regard pointless, but it has not stopped them finding good and worthwhile employment.

A quick survey of my family does point towards the youngsters studying "useless" things. My brother and me are both PhD physicists....I ended up working for NASA and he did a Bachelors in Theology and ended up as a Methodist minister so as I'm an atheist, I tease him that "good degrees can be wasted". His three daughters have degrees in English, Theology and Philosophy, and French. When I visit I'm surrounded by holy rollers and humanities majors ;-)

lisyloo

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Chances are that very few of them would have parents in residential care. When it came to my mother, I spoke to existing residents and visiting relatives of those residence before agreeing that she could could be admitted to the home she ended her days in.

Those who work at the home my MIL is in put their parents in there.
Obviously not everyone will need care and not all staff will have parents of the right age, but it!!!8217;s a very good advert and if they aren!!!8217;t willing to then it begs the question why not?