Care home fees

Derekbirmingham

Hello im derek from birmingham..
Recently my dad was in hospital for a week hes 90..
Any way while i was in there i was approached by a head nurse who recognised my from our last visit a year ago..
Anyway she struck up a conversation with me with a serious look on her face and even pulled the curtain around the hospital bed for privacy and said..”does your dad own his house”
I said”well me and dad bought the council house 15 years ago were joint owners on the deeds etc”
She shook her head and said do you realise if dad goes into care thell have the house to go towards care home fees..”
She said has he got money in the bank ..i said yea 70 grand..again shes shaking her head saying thell have all of that..
She says youll need power of attorney and looking at me as if i havent got a clue about life and just fell off a coconut tree..
Ever since these comments 2 weeks ago at the hospital ive been on edge and panicking is any of what she said true because the nurse in the short conversation she had with me has put the fear of god into me..

Derekbirmingham

Ohh also im the youngest of 4 brothers and i texted my brothers what this nurse told me and there pressuring my to sort the problem out..what have i gotta sort out..

Alter_ego

I would expect your dad to use his assets to pay for care if he needs it. There is nothing to sort out at the moment.

xylophone

She says youll need power of attorney and looking at me as if i havent got a clue about life and just fell off a coconut tree.

If you don't have PoA and your father is capable of granting it, then it is indeed a good idea to sort this out.

https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

See https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs10_paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf

[Deleted User]

It might be that if he goes into a home it would be continuing care for which there is no charge, if thats not the case they cannot force him to sell a house he doesn't own outright, they can expect him to use his capital but he will be allowed to keep £23,000. There will be a long way to go, meetings with social services etc before he goes into a home, before which you can seek advice I would start with AGE UK who are good at this sort of thing.

xylophone

See also

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/nhs-continuing-healthcare/

Derekbirmingham

What does power of attorney mean..

Mojisola

Derekbirmingham wrote: »

Recently my dad was in hospital for a week hes 90..

How old are you?

Have you been Dad's carer?

p00hsticks

Derekbirmingham wrote: »

What does power of attorney mean..

A power of attorney gives someone the authority to make decisions on another persons behalf when they cannot (or choose not) to be able to do so themselves - for example, if that person is suffering from dementia or left unconcious after an accident.


There are actually two types of power of attorney - one to cover health and welfare issues, the other for dealing with financial matters.



https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

elsien

You can't "get" power of attorney, dad has to grant it if he has capacity and the wish to do so.
However it won't make the slightest bit of difference with regards to whether he would be eligible for care home fees or not.

Derekbirmingham

Well my dads has 2 care visits a day and i live here..i work full time and yes i am an unofficial carer..