Care Home

Stevensuperbike

Afternoon, 

My father and mother in law are both in their 80s. Decline in health over the last few years and now both have been accepted in the same residential care home with both being offered nursing care funded by a couple hundred pounds weekly. Both have dementia and need a lot of care. They own their own home (£value 150k) and have no savings. The family are obviously upset that their parents have declined in health before their very eyes and now result in them living in residential care. They are unsure what will happen to the house as there are 4 children (all over 40 years) unsure if they need to sell the house for mum or dad or have any form of inheritance once they pass. My wife and her sister has equal power of attorney for both parents on financial and health. 

Would anyone know if the house can be protected for inheritance purposes or needs to be sold for funding the care home? Thank you all in anticipation.  

Seasalt3

I would think their house will be taken into account when they are assessed financially.  

sew_what

Stevensuperbike said:

Afternoon, 

My father and mother in law are both in their 80s. Decline in health over the last few years and now both have been accepted in the same residential care home with both being offered nursing care funded by a couple hundred pounds weekly. Both have dementia and need a lot of care. They own their own home (£value 150k) and have no savings. The family are obviously upset that their parents have declined in health before their very eyes and now result in them living in residential care. They are unsure what will happen to the house as there are 4 children (all over 40 years) unsure if they need to sell the house for mum or dad or have any form of inheritance once they pass. My wife and her sister has equal power of attorney for both parents on financial and health. 

Would anyone know if the house can be protected for inheritance purposes or needs to be sold for funding the care home? Thank you all in anticipation.  

Unfortunately the house will probably have to be sold to pay for care - to gift it or sell at lower than market price to a relative would be considered as deprivation of assets.  This is the rainy day they've been saving for.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/paying-for-a-care-home/do-i-have-to-sell-my-home-to-pay-for-care/

Make sure they're getting all the benefits they're entitled to; Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance.  The AA form is quite intimidating, but the care home staff may be able to help you with it

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/attendance-allowance/

Keep_pedalling

Unless both of them are being funded with continuing care from the NHS (possible if they both need nursing care) the house will need to be sold to pay for their care as it pushes them well into the self funding zone. 

Even if their care is being funded by the NHS the house will need to be sold with the proceeds being set aside for their benefit alone.

Albermarle

Unless both of them are being funded with continuing care from the NHS (possible if they both need nursing care) the house will need to be sold to pay for their care as it pushes them well into the self funding zone. 

From the OP it seems that the NHS is funding the nursing part, but not the residential part. That is how I read it, and I believe that is quite a common arrangement.

Would anyone know if the house can be protected for inheritance purposes or needs to be sold for funding the care home?

If you deliberately hide assets in some way to avoid paying for care ( and getting the council to pay) then that is illegal.

Marcon

Similar answers to your thread about your own parents, I'm afraid: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6456769/equity-release-to-pay-care-home-fees#latest