Care home funding

pioneer22

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

There should be no problem with those sort of expenditures. Deputiship has a far higher level of oversight than an LPA and you have to provide annual accounts to the court. More info on the following link.

https://www.gov.uk/become-deputy/accounts-gifts-and-expenses

Thanks I assume its so that you haven't applied for it then skimming their money off the side!

pioneer22

Without access to money and no capacity.

She is in hospital on a stroke unit, will she essentially be in limbo until the finances are sorted?

elsien

No, the hospital will be looking to discharge when she's medically fit (as in well enough to leave) partly because being in hospital is detrimental to wellbeing and puts people at a higher risk of infection, and partly because they need the bed.
It's not uncommon for people to be in this situation. Contact the hospital social work department as to what happens next and also ask about a health funding checklist to be completed.
If she needs further assessment without needing to be in hospital then they may consider a d2a/step down bed. This is a 6 week assessment in a nursing home which gives time to look at what the needs are now, and for any health/nursing need assessments to be completed. This would be free of charge - the outcome of the assessments wouid then determine what happens next.

troubleinparadise

Selling the house would be a much easier way to go unless you are well versed in being a proxy landlord. Tax on rental income would also need to be paid on Nan’s behalf - yet more admin to keep up with. Refurbishing the house to rentable standard whilst also paying the care home fees out of the liquid assets might prove too much.

A care home should be willing to do a deferment of fees to be paid when the proceeds of the home are sold.

This would need to be arranged with the home in advance.

Your problem with wanting to use your Grandmother’s savings to do the house up to sell is that until you have Attorneyship or Deputyship in place you will not be able to access any funds she has in her accounts.

You may need to work out just how much refurbishment would be worth doing to achieve a sale - this is not the time to embark on lengthy or costly improvements - and the house overheads such as insurance and utilities will still also have to be paid, eroding Nan’s funds further.

The hospital social worker can point you in the direction of care homes etc, but will not be very proactive as your Nan will be self-funding. Look into having an assessment for possible Nursing care funding, or Continuous Health Care funding in case she qualifies for either of these.

Age UK has lots of helpful information you might find helpful:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/paying-for-a-care-home/#

pioneer22

Hi all,

What if a family member decides to be a carer instead of going in a care home does that mean the house cannot be sold and nan relocated?

elsien

If Nan can manage at home with one person as a carer then I would query why she needs residential care in the first place.
If there is no power of attorney and Nan lacks capacity then a best interests decision should be made. This should always consider the least restrictive option first, which is returning home with support.
Hospitals default settings tends to be to say residential care without considering other options. But if she is going home you need proper care and OT assessments to consider if it is safe to do so.
Will you needs hoists or other adaptations?
Does she need help day and night, and can one person provide that without becoming unwell themselves?
It is possible for some people but it depends on specific circumstances.

You need to request a care act assessment for her. Have you spoken to the hospital social worker yet?

Keep_pedalling

pioneer22 wrote: »

Hi all,

What if a family member decides to be a carer instead of going in a care home does that mean the house cannot be sold and nan relocated?

If she was cared for by a family member in her own home then there would be no need to sell, on the other had the house my be unsuitable so selling up and buying somewhere more suitable would be an option.

Carting full time for someone is not something that can be taken lightly, and few people are really up to that sort of task without it taking a heavy toll on their physical and mental health.

Savvy_Sue

The other thing worth considering with nan going home, is that if someone moves in with her to provide care then there may be an issue if she needs to go into residential care later.

The issue is that if she needs residential care, and does not have sufficient capital to pay for it, then the house will be taken into account, and the person who's been living in it may end up homeless.

Not to mention what Keep pedalling said above ...