Pensioner couple need advice on a new will

eskbanker

wotsallthis said:

What do we do about avoiding care home fees please

Avoid going into care homes....

Croeso69

wotsallthis said:

What do we do about avoiding care home fees please ... 

Dying before you have to go into one seems to be the only way really.

Silvertabby

comeandgo said:

Can I suggest you visit a private home and visit one where the funded people go and see which one you would prefer.

Had a look round several nursing homes - both Council and private - when a friend was looking for a home for her mother in law.

At one end of the scale, in a Council home (that reeked of wee and cabbage), she would have had to share a bedroom with 2 other ladies until such a time that a single room became available (ie, someone died).  Toilets and bathrooms were not only shared, but were unisex.

On the other hand, the private home had single en-suite rooms, and a dining room menu and social activities that would put a 4* hotel to shame. 

wotsallthis

Thank you everyone. Mallygirl and Zylophophone, I am going to look into "Deprivation of Assets" etc.

scottiescott

Silvertabby said:

Would your children really want you to be placed in 'cheap' council run homes, perhaps miles apart if you have different needs, when you have the means to pay for somewhere decent?

I frequently hear " cheap, council run homes" quoted in threads of this nature. Where I live (small town) there are only two care homes and both are privately owned.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, who requires to go into a care home will be placed in either of these care homes whether you are the local Laird or Joe the jakey. It really ripped my mothers knitting to have to pay £1000  a week and the numerous local worthies paid nowt. 
I guess this scenario is far from uncommon. Being penniless does not always mean inferior care.

elsien

scottiescott said:

Silvertabby said:

Would your children really want you to be placed in 'cheap' council run homes, perhaps miles apart if you have different needs, when you have the means to pay for somewhere decent?

I frequently hear " cheap, council run homes" quoted in threads of this nature. Where I live (small town) there are only two care homes and both are privately owned.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, who requires to go into a care home will be placed in either of these care homes whether you are the local Laird or Joe the jakey. It really ripped my mothers knitting to have to pay £1000  a week and the numerous local worthies paid nowt. 
I guess this scenario is far from uncommon. Being penniless does not always mean inferior care.

There are no council run homes in my area. But what there is is the amount the local authority will pay in the cheaper private homes. This gets you the basics of varying quality. Some have good staff but they are limited in what they can offer. So going out for a walk for a change of scenery if you need someone with you? Forget it unless you can afford to pay someone. Day trips out? Not happening. Room of your own? Possibly if you don’t mind the cheap one in the attic. WiFi? Not a chance. 

I’ve seen ok cheap homes. I’ve seen a quite frankly appalling expensive one. But money gives you choices, in most circumstances. As opposed to “here’s a bed, off you go.”

DairyQueen

I just don't understand why those who have paid for their own housing throughout their lives think it's fine for the taxpayer to pick-up the tab in old age, and usually to safeguard a windfall inheritance for their children. Notwithstanding the legal and financial complications that invariably arise for those who attempt to do this by DoA or via some kind of 'trust' scam.

As with the majority of self-funders, late mum-in-law's house funded her care. It gave her the choice of where she would live in her final years - the same freedom that she had exercised throughout her adult life.

In her area the best home had a 6-month+ waiting list and only accepted self-funders. It wasn't the most expensive as that accolade was taken by a home that charged self-funders more for the privilege of subsidising those who were LA-funded.  The worst home we saw charged the lowest fees but had few self-funders (regimented schedule, no choice of menu, shared rooms and bathrooms, dementia residents sharing facilities with non-dementia, poor cleanliness, was not a great advertisement). I assume they cut costs to the bone in order to try and stay profitable despite the inadequate public subsidy that supported the majority of the residents.

It was worth the extra £200pw (and six month wait) for M-i-L  to live in comfort and safety for the final years of her life. Food was excellent and the chef would cook on request in addition to the daily menu. Lovely en-suite rooms and new, quality furniture on arrival of each new resident. Own furniture and bedding, etc. permitted. Plenty of activities and social opportunities with other residents. Separate floor for dementia-sufferers (M-i-L was thankfully spared). Family able to visit (pre-Covid) at any time. Personal landline and TV provided (and wifi for own computer if desired). Lovely restaurant, family room and residents' lounge.

An average house would fund care home fees for at least five years, not taking into account the contribution from pensions. The average stay is two years and M-i-L (in common with many others) still left her children an inheritance when she sadly died in 2019.

I am sure that there are some nice care homes for those who are taxpayer-funded but they must be in areas outside of my experience. LA-funding is a postcode and timing lottery. No different from being allocated any other type of social housing. You get what's available, and what's available may be awful and/or miles away from your chosen location.

Is that how you wish to end your life OP?

ukdw

Another benefit I guess from self funding is not being as restricted by location - i.e. you could potentially move local authority areas to be closer to potential visitors, or be able to search wider for available slots in nice cost effective homes.

Personally though I would hope to stay in my own home for as long as possible - even if that means getting in lots of daily paid help.

Plus am hoping they have developed personal care 'robots' before I reach that stage;)

AnotherJoe

wotsallthis said:

Hello All, just joined

We have two children, a London house and a house that we rent. 

What do we do about avoiding care home fees please and would seeking professional advice be wise and if so where to go?

Keep well

Wow, so if you or your partner needed more care than can be provided at home, one would dump the other in a crappy cheap care home rather than sell your second house and use it for better care? And your kids would be OK with that as well? Disgraceful how you raised them if that's their attitude. 
Try and find a good tailor to see if they can sew some pockets in your shroud. 

AnotherJoe

scottiescott said:

Silvertabby said:

Would your children really want you to be placed in 'cheap' council run homes, perhaps miles apart if you have different needs, when you have the means to pay for somewhere decent?

I frequently hear " cheap, council run homes" quoted in threads of this nature. Where I live (small town) there are only two care homes and both are privately owned.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, who requires to go into a care home will be placed in either of these care homes whether you are the local Laird or Joe the jakey. It really ripped my mothers knitting to have to pay £1000  a week and the numerous local worthies paid nowt. 
I guess this scenario is far from uncommon. Being penniless does not always mean inferior care.

Do you mean everyone who doesn't look afield for something better rather than assume they must go in a  home near when they used to live ?