Choosing a nursing home funded by the government / tax payer

qprjames

Hi
My partners mother has recently been submitted to hospital after a fall.
It is now time to move her into a nursing home and it is the 2nd time to happen at her home and see requires 24 hour care to avoid anything like this happening again.
There are 2 nursing homes to choose from.......
The first nursing home (the one everyone wants to choose) is expensive her family sadly cannot afford the monthly rent.
The second nursing home is a free government run centre, but is not very nice - you don't get your own room for a start. Not really a nice way to finish out your years.
She is not entitled to any support for the 1st home, as she have a principal place of residence worth approx 250,000 GBP
Is there any way around this? Are there any tactics going forward. 
And sorry if I'm being a bit vague, but this is my partners mother.
Andy advice would be much appreciated

unforeseen

She is not entitled to any support for the 1st home, as she have a principal place of residence worth approx 250,000 GBP

That is where the money needs to come from to fund the first if they want her. Or is it a case that the family see that as their inheritance so want to keep it? 

JoeCrystal

Sell the residence and use the fund to pay the monthly rent at the nursing home. That sounds to me the most appropriate way of doing it. It is her asset, after all.

qprjames

JoeCrystal said:

Sell the residence and use the fund to pay the monthly rent at the nursing home. That sounds to me the most appropriate way of doing it. It is her asset, after all.

So I guess having a residence, or selling the house and having 250k in the bank would be the same thing in regards to entitlements?
Perhaps she might be best to rent the house out long term and use the rental money to pay for the nursing home. Then the family could perhaps top up the rest.
Her house will be left to the family. They are in no worry for the inheritance. Her care is the most important factor in all this.

olgadapolga

Has she been assessed for NHS funded nursing care or NHS continuing care?
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/nhs-funded-nursing-care/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/nhs-continuing-healthcare/

huckster

Care home costs unlikely to be covered by renting the house out, so family would need to pay quite a lot. Do some sums, rent plus pension and other income compared to care home fees. From what I have seen care home fees can be £30000+ a year.

Look into other care options within County. A neighbour had a fall in her house, but rather than go into a care home, she has 24 hour care in her own home.

qprjames

huckster said:

Care home costs unlikely to be covered by renting the house out, so family would need to pay quite a lot. Do some sums, rent plus pension and other income compared to care home fees. From what I have seen care home fees can be £30000+ a year.

Look into other care options within County. A neighbour had a fall in her house, but rather than go into a care home, she has 24 hour care in her own home.

thanks, I will advise to look at home care. She is only on the basic government pension and does not have any other income. She basically lives off the pension, and her house wouldn't rent for very much.

TELLIT01

When friends of ours were in a similar situation the local authority basically had in 'interest' in the mother's property which meant they would get the money if and when the property was sold.  I don't know if that is something available nationally or determined by each authority separately.  Bottom line is that the family cannot retain the assets of the mother (the house) and expect public funds to pay for her care.

pmlindyloo

Has your partner's mother been appointed a social worker as regards her discharge from hospital?
Has your partner's mother been assessed for requiring nursing care or residential care?  Could she manage at home with visits from care workers?
Has the reason fro her falls been assessed?  Has she aids to make her life easier?  Has she other medical problems?  Has she been asked want she wants to do?  Unless she is no longer able to make decisions herself then she has the right to decide.
A member of her family should be asking all these questions before any decision is taken.  There may be other 'answers' rather than her going into a nursing home.
Is she receiving Attendance Allowance?

Teahfc

From experience in last 2 years. 

Parent had become disabled needing care. 

 Had 2 nights in private care home cost per annum with own room £59500.
After 5 years money (house sold) money gone moved to council run care home. Like moving from 4* to 2* hotel. 

We as a family opted to keep parent at home. 

Received X amount care package from social services plus attendance allowance. 

Parent has private carers which means a £450 top up per month over and above council care package. 

Had a bathroom turned into a wet room so parent can now stay at home. 

Parent kept the pet which was not allowed in the council or private home.
Gets more visitors Oh family and friends at home as no restrictions on times and number of people. 

When her savings or pension start to dry up will look at selling % of house until such time that it is sold fully or they pass .... will concern about that as and when .

PLEASE try to keep at home as much as possible. 

Lovely to leave an inheritance but should the person have a poorer end to her lifestyle to save money which in theory is theirs ? 

Give this lots of thought and think with your heart and your head ! 

Get hold of your social worker and ask options there is lots of help out there ! 

TELLIT01

Teahfc said:

Lovely to leave an inheritance but should the person have a poorer end to her lifestyle to save money which in theory is theirs ?

Nothing theoretical about it.  The house is the property of the mother and therefore any proceeds from the sale are theirs.  Nobody has any absolute right to inherit parental property unless they are dependant on the parent.