Caring for mum in her own home

M_Barreiro78

Hello thank you for any advice and feedback received in advance.

My husband and I live with my mother who owns her own home to care for her due to Alzheimer's and chronic depression.  I have two siblings who will in the future be entitled to a portion of the house when mum passes.  No qualms with this.

We would like advice on where we would stand if we could no longer care for her needs and she needed to go into a care home.  We understand that she will have to pay for her fees in a care home.  We also understand that the sale of the house would eventually go towards these fees. The question is, would we be able to continue living in the property whilst mum is in care and potentially until she sadly passes?  Who would we need to speak to in order to have this in writing?  I am solely mums power of attorney for health and finances.

Many thanks. 

  

RAS

How old are you?

Keep_pedalling

Do you also own your own home? 

london21

Have you always lived with her or this arrangement is recent.

As she has asset they will expect her to pay towards care fees.

lisyloo

london21 said:

Have you always lived with her or this arrangement is recent.

As she has asset they will expect her to pay towards care fees.

Not necessarily true (we need answers to previous questions).
Depending on the age and whether it's their main then the property may be disregarded.
So the questions about age and whether it's their main and only home are crucial.

Gavin83

How long have you been caring for your mother for? Is this a 24/7 arrangement?

M_Barreiro78

yes 24/7.  thank you.

M_Barreiro78

I am 45 years old.

Mum started living with my husband in our rented property in January 2022 (one year ago) due to carers breakdown with my father and her diagnosis of Alzheimer's, and her mental health deteriorated.  

Dad passed away December 2022 and the property was free. 
We moved back into the property December 2022 as mum wanted to be in her own home.   

She has savings over £22,500 and owns the property we are living in presently.

I hope Ive covered all the questions to get a clearer picture.

Thank you again.

M_Barreiro78

To add my husband and I have no assets i.e. our own home.

Keep_pedalling

Your young age means the house would not be disregarded as far as a financial assessment is concerned but it might bee possible to arrange a deferred payment.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/long-term-care/deferred-payment-agreements-for-long-term-care#deferred-payment-agreements-explained

lisyloo

You haven’t said how old you husband is (he does qualify as a relative I believe).
if you are both under 60, then I’m afraid you don’t have any right to have the home disregardde (unless you are incapacitated or there is a grandchild under 18).

she can use her savings until they run out.
a deferred payment agreement (basically a loan) can be used until the property is sold but that only delays payment, the debt will still rack up.
bear in mind that the average length of stay is 26 months. That’s because people are elderly and in decline when they enter. There can be a huge variability but it’s possible at least that her other money could suffice for a while?