Free care for the elderly

Baldytyke88

There seems to be many different types or care and free care. My 98-year-old relative is getting towards the end of his life. I understand care can be free in the last 12 months, but that is if there is a terminal illness.

He is just very frail, living in a care home for the last 4 months, but presently in hospital.

The hospital has now said that he won't receive any more intervention, he will be going back to the care home within the next few days.

He is self-funding, but all the different schemes seem confusing and you need to apply for them.

Should he be paying, he may only have weeks to live.

Flugelhorn

I think the only route is the SR1 (special rules) which fast tracks benefit claims if there is a limited life expectancy 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-factual-medical-reports-guidance-for-healthcare-professionals/the-special-rules-how-the-benefit-system-supports-people-nearing-the-end-of-life

Catwales

Take a look at continuing health care funding, if he has 'a deteriorating condition which is in terminal phase' he may get fast track funding where Local health board will fund the stay. You are within your rights to ask the hospital for a continuing health care eligibility assessment 

elsien

Fast track tends not to apply in practice for people who are simply passing away through old age.
Catwales missed a word out because the guidance talks about “rapidly deteriorating condition” so people who have been on a slow decline over a period of time for example as dementia progresses, are probably not going to meet the criteria. 

In this gentleman’s case, he doesn’t have a rapidly deteriorating condition from the sound of it - the hospital have simply decided that continuing to actively treat is not in his best interests.
 

You can certainly ask for the CHC checklist to be done - all I’m saying is don’t hold your breath. End of life care in many circumstances does not meet full CHC funding, with or without the fast track.

gm0

If not done prior on care entry.  CHC.  

And if nursing is now needed where it wasn't prior.  Then the NHS nursing supplement element may now need revisiting.  The care home would likely have done / be on this.

Of course a hospice may be a better discharge destination.  Situational.

Some LA's do sometimes approve some CHC cases for terminally ill care in care home setting.  A relative was approved.  The short stay terminally ill aspect limits the ongoing cost to the authority.  So these cases are "promising" for low cost wins.  A case approved point is gained for the stats.  Points mean prizes in bureaucracy world.

Long stay demented and disabled cases are of course anathema - they just miss out on one of the many axes of eligibility - so can be denied and avoided lest the cost mount intolerably.  I have read the CHC policy document.  It is a civil service masterwork - beast of a thing for rationing and saying one thing while doing another - expensively.

Basically you can make the authorities jump the assessment hoops.  You can decide context life expectancy if this is worthwhile use of your and their and your father's lmited time.

Baldytyke88

gm0 said:

If not done prior on care entry.  CHC.  

And if nursing is now needed where it wasn't prior.  Then the NHS nursing supplement element may now need revisiting.  The care home would likely have done / be on this.

That is good to know, as relatives will often be distracted.

Baldytyke88

gm0 said:

If not done prior on care entry.  CHC.  

His family has now been told he may qualify for CHC funding, although it might be too late.

elsien

It may be possible for a retrospective claim in some circumstances even if the person has passed away.