Care home deferred payment

Angie200963

Well it’s 1.23 am and I can’t sleep through worry, why is this so difficult, I went to the hospital today they put in front of me a single sheet of paper to sign, trying to get me to sign it in mums best interest.
The offer on the table as far as I could understand it the council would pay £508 a week but the home they were sending her too cost £750 a week which meant they wanted me to sign this paper saying I would find the difference which works out to nearly £1000 a month, I can’t afford that i have just had to scrape together £1135 for the solicitor to carry out the court of protection for me. I did called the solicitor for advice but was told the process can’t go any quicker. I am not in a position to fund this I don’t know where to turn now, my mum has a house and over £100 000 in a savings account which will all go to look after her in the care home but I cannot touch it to help her, what would happen if she had no one and no money the council would have to fund her care, I am back to square one.

Fire_Fox

Don't think I can help much, but thought it might help to know other stressheads/ insomniacs are awake too. (((Hugs))) at this upsetting time.

Be a 'broken record' verbally or e-mail or whatever you can cope with. Keep repeating the same facts: you are not (power of) Attorney nor Deputy. You cannot yet access your mother's assets. You have no such assets or income of your own. Repeat, no need to explain or justify.

Did you get a copy of what they were pressurising you to sign? Do you know who all the 'involved professionals' are? Meaning name/ job titles/ organisation/ e-mail address or phone number? They should be communicating with one another: NHS hospital, Council Adult Social Care, Care Home .... but are not. :mad:

As others have said, the council can and should fund your mother's immediate residential care needs. They have the power to legally claim back from your mother's assets later, either directly or via the Deputy (future you). The Next of Kin (you now) is not responsible for paying, and you should not sign anything. Who can or should sign forms now? Medical doctor, social worker .....

Seek support from those with insider info. The charities already mentioned, your ward councillor(s) or Member of Parliament, your mother's family doctor perhaps? If you can give them contact details of the 'involved professionals' they may be able to help you quicker.

:A <-- Sending you this little angel!

I_Love_comps

Angie200963 I would suggest you telephone the council offices for the area where your mom lives. They hopefully will pay the fees until you become deputy.

Once you have the court of protection then your mom should be self funding, so I am not sure if you will have to pay top up fees as the money will be paid your mothers money.

If you cannot pay the top up fees then you will have to let them know, that you cannot afford it.

troubleinparadise

It’s never a good thing for a patient to be moved to a new residential home just before the weekend when there won’t be as many staff, and the duty doctor or nurses less available. So that is one good thing to happen this week.

Be prepared to be your Mum’s advocate in the home - don’t expect that all will be taken care of fully. If you are unhappy about anything speak up, and follow up any concerns you have.

elsien

They are being unethical pressuring you like that.
Signing that form will make you personally liable for the top up. If you are unable or do not wish to be on that position then don't sign it. This may well mean they have to look at a different cheaper home for your mum( it doesn't mean that they will abandon her; they have a duty of care to her.
You are not back to square one, you are just making your own position very clear.

In the meantime, contact the DWP and ask to be made an appointee for your mothers state pension if she has one. You do not need the deputyship in place to do this, and it will mean you can then have that money paid into an account in your name so you have some money for her immediate needs while the deputyship goes through.
It may still take a couple of months but it's a quicker of at least accessing some of her money.

ETA - it is also unclear from your OP whether you think mum can still manage at home with the caress and alarms. To make a best interests decision lawful you should have been part of the decision making process, not just told the outcome. You can challenge it on that basis if you feel going to a care home is not the best thing for your mother.

pollypenny

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Don't think I can help much, but thought it might help to know other stressheads/ insomniacs are awake too. (((Hugs))) at this upsetting time.

Be a 'broken record' verbally or e-mail or whatever you can cope with. Keep repeating the same facts: you are not (power of) Attorney nor Deputy. You cannot yet access your mother's assets. You have no such assets or income of your own. Repeat, no need to explain or justify.

Did you get a copy of what they were pressurising you to sign? Do you know who all the 'involved professionals' are? Meaning name/ job titles/ organisation/ e-mail address or phone number? They should be communicating with one another: NHS hospital, Council Adult Social Care, Care Home .... but are not. :mad:

As others have said, the council can and should fund your mother's immediate residential care needs. They have the power to legally claim back from your mother's assets later, either directly or via the Deputy (future you). The Next of Kin (you now) is not responsible for paying, and you should not sign anything. Who can or should sign forms now? Medical doctor, social worker .....

Seek support from those with insider info. The charities already mentioned, your ward councillor(s) or Member of Parliament, your mother's family doctor perhaps? If you can give them contact details of the 'involved professionals' they may be able to help you quicker.

:A <-- Sending you this little angel!

I second this!

Stick to your guns. Enlist Age U.K. for help, too. They will help you, her apply for Attendance Allowance if she doesn't have it already.

Don't put too much trust in your local council finance department. . One prat told me that if/when my father's money ran out the council wouldn't pay the fees.

Councils have to deal with your mother's situation from time to time. They know they will have to pay for a while and that they will be repaid. The pressure you're under is unnecessary and unfair.

Nick_C

Angie, don't let anyone put you under pressure. It must be very distressing for you just dealing with your mother's condition.

You are not in any way responsible for your mother. Legally or financially. Make that clear to all involved. You obviously want to help your mother and will, but you are not obliged to do anything.

When my mother was in hospital for several weeks after a major stroke, a hospital social worker eventually told me that my mother would have to go into a care home and I needed to arrange it. They gave me no advice or support. I started researching care homes (the official inspection reports were helpful https://www.cqc.org.uk/what-we-do/services-we-regulate/find-care-home) and visited a couple. The Hospital Social Worker came to talk to me about a week later. He said my mother was using a bed she didn't need, the hospital couldn't do anything more for her, and I had to move her out urgently. I made it quite clear that I had no responsibilities for my mother, and if he continued with this attitude I would walk away and leave the hospital to deal with the situation. He quickly changed his attitude. He only seemed to care about the hospital. He showed no consideration for me or my mother. Stand up to these bullies.

You will of course do what is best for your mother, but above all you must look after yourself too.

Unless your mother is very wealthy, try and find a care home whose fees would be covered in full by the council if her money runs out. If you (as Deputy) have to pay an excess of £250 a week, that will be £65k over five years. The last thing you want is to have to move your mother to a different care home in a few years if her money runs out.

My very best wishes to you. Be strong.

Gavin83

I_Love_comps wrote: »

4. If your mother does not have the assets, then I believe you may have to pay a top up fee or she may have to go into a cheaper nursing home. Top up fees can be up £100 per week.

Just to be clear there is no limit for what top up fees can be. It's the difference between what the council pay (which is a set amount) and what the home charges and given the care home is a private company they can charge what they wish.

Angie200963 wrote: »

The offer on the table as far as I could understand it the council would pay £508 a week but the home they were sending her too cost £750 a week which meant they wanted me to sign this paper saying I would find the difference which works out to nearly £1000 a month, I can’t afford that i have just had to scrape together £1135 for the solicitor to carry out the court of protection for me. I did called the solicitor for advice but was told the process can’t go any quicker. I am not in a position to fund this I don’t know where to turn now, my mum has a house and over £100 000 in a savings account which will all go to look after her in the care home but I cannot touch it to help her, what would happen if she had no one and no money the council would have to fund her care, I am back to square one.

If your mum has over £100k in savings then there is no property disregard and your mum will be self funding from the start and therefore they'll be no top up fees. The entire cost of the placement will come out of her assets from day 1. Are the council aware of her significant savings as well as the property?

Of course you can't pay the fees on her behalf as you aren't a deputy yet so while that's going through the council should pay the entire cost and reclaim the money once the necessary paperwork has been completed. You certainly shouldn't be signing anything.

Also is your mother claiming attendance allowance? If she isn't as a self funding care home resident she should be.

xylophone

As others have said, do not be bullied into signing this form.


You are not responsible for your mother's expenses.


You mother does have the funds to pay for her care but at the moment, you are unable to access those funds as you do not have the legal authority so to do.

she was assessed and I was told she could not go home although we already had all the care in place Carers and alarms

Then you have a contact whom you can telephone?

Angie200963

Just a quick update but a big thank you to all that have offered wonderful suggestions and advice.

On the Friday I called the council and asked to be put through to the financial department as I believe they have no idea of mums savings. I was put through to the different departments I finally ended up at Social Adult care at the hospital the same people who were trying to get me to sign the paper.
I asked to speak to the women dealing with the case and was told she would not be back till Tuesday, and was told someone would call me back, but of course no one did. So I am fed up stressing myself running around after these people who supposed to have the best care of my mum at heart, and will now just wait for them to contact me.

I know the NHS need the bed and feel quilt for depriving them of it, but also know there are lots of old people in hospital with nothing at all waiting for the social to pull there finger out and find them a safe place to live.