Care Home Fees

Cnkp21

middlewife said:

I'm sorry you are having to go through this . Age UK have a very readable guide to how the " care" system works, or sadly, in many cases doesn't.
Are the savings in her name alone or joint? 
Is she in a care home or nursing home?
The criteria for funded nursing care is ridiculously narrow, so she will as you say, need a needs assessment from Social services, for which there is usually quite a wait. It would be worth speaking to the home manager to ascertain their policy on funding. We are, 2 years after my mum's death, waiting for a refund of care fees after the care home and GP failed to submit paperwork in time once she was given a terminal prognosis. Few people are aware that the State pays the fees for end of life care, I appreciate that your mum isn't at this stage, but just a heads up as if you go down the posthumous claim route they will drag their feet, complaint procedure does nothing and the only route left open to us now,.( Involving the local MP achieved nothing) , is to go via the ombudsman.
You can also get advice from Citizens Advice, but I would try to find out as soon as you can,.Good luck, splitting health and social care was the worst decision IMHO.....

Hi Middlewife

Thank you for your message and the information. All savings are in joint names and she is currently in a care home that has a specialist nursing care unit. 

I’m also so sorry you having to go through your struggles considering your Mum’s death. It is extremely disappointing that finances seem to be the most important topic when in reality it should be about providing the best care to meet a persons needs. 

We had the CHC assessment on Friday and it was extremely difficult for my parents having to run through all the fine details and struggles of my Mum’s illness. To be rejected was heartbreaking. It is plain to see how poorly my Mum is but this isn’t enough. 

Keep_pedalling

middlewife said:

Forgot to add that if she is in receipt of state pension, most of that will be used to fund her care, she will retain a small amount of "pocket money" but the rest goes to fund care

That depends on the income of her husband. If he is also on a low income some of her income may be retained for his needs. 

Keep_pedalling

badmemory said:

Please forget those savings, they are gone.  What I would be far more concerned about is when the care home discovers she is not self funding & tells the LA how much her care is going to cost them & they have to find another home.  Not what you want to hear I know.

At least £14,250 will not be touched, and if the current care home already takes LA funded people a move is unlikely to be needed. 

middlewife

Cnkp21 said:

Hi Middlewife

Thank you for your message and the information. All savings are in joint names and she is currently in a care home that has a specialist nursing care unit. 

We had the CHC assessment on Friday and it was extremely difficult for my parents having to run through all the fine details and struggles of my Mum’s illness. To be rejected was heartbreaking. It is plain to see how poorly my Mum is but this isn’t enough. 

I am assuming that it is still the case that your dad is entitled to his share of the savings, so you shouldn't include that in the amount. I would also telephone SS first to highlight the urgency of the situation and follow up with an email. SS may want to move mum if their needs assessment concluded that she doesn't need a specialist nursing unit. Care homes can manage a variety of "nursing" tasks as long as they can get district nurses in or, as was the case for my mum, have access to their own  continence nurse, speech therapist for swallowing issues etc. The cheapest options for SS are 4 times daily package of care, once care is needed at night, then care home, lastly nursing home, but as you've discovered they may not cover fees.
A friend's mum exhausted her savings, was "allowed" to stay in the same home, but needed to move to a cheaper room. There is an acute shortage of places in residential homes as you're aware, and the onus is on the LA to find an alternative place, which they may struggle to do, so may well leave mum where she is.
I nearly took a job as a CHC assessor until I realised how many people I would have to refuse. Morally, I couldn't live with that....

dnpark38

Cnkp21 said:

Hi 

My Mum has a degenerative brain disorder called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and because of the rapid deterioration over the last few months she was placed in residential care. Prior to this my Dad was caring for my Mum, however this has become too much for him. 

Similar to what has recently happened to my wife and myself.
My daughters called the Emergence team of social workers at our Council as I as carer of my wife and I was just about to go under, Within 4 days my wife was in a care home chosen by the emergency social worker for 4 weeks assessment and then 2 weeks for reports to be made and agreed this six weeks to be paid by the council.
It was decided the best for both of us my wife would should stay in the care home.
This care will accept Council funded and an agreed price the council will pay. This has to be topped up from my wifes savings. Last week I completed the Councils Finance dept financial questionnaire.
I now await this to be processed.
I'm very satisfied with care home, it is run by the Anchor group.

Keep_pedalling

middlewife said:

7Cnkp21 said:

Hi Middlewife

Thank you for your message and the information. All savings are in joint names and she is currently in a care home that has a specialist nursing care unit. 

We had the CHC assessment on Friday and it was extremely difficult for my parents having to run through all the fine details and struggles of my Mum’s illness. To be rejected was heartbreaking. It is plain to see how poorly my Mum is but this isn’t enough. 

I am assuming that it is still the case that your dad is entitled to his share of the savings, so you shouldn't include that in the amount. I would also telephone SS first to highlight the urgency of the situation and follow up with an email. SS may want to move mum if their needs assessment concluded that she doesn't need a specialist nursing unit. Care homes can manage a variety of "nursing" tasks as long as they can get district nurses in or, as was the case for my mum, have access to their own  continence nurse, speech therapist for swallowing issues etc. The cheapest options for SS are 4 times daily package of care, once care is needed at night, then care home, lastly nursing home, but as you've discovered they may not cover fees.
A friend's mum exhausted her savings, was "allowed" to stay in the same home, but needed to move to a cheaper room. There is an acute shortage of places in residential homes as you're aware, and the onus is on the LA to find an alternative place, which they may struggle to do, so may well leave mum where she is.
I nearly took a job as a CHC assessor until I realised how many people I would have to refuse. Morally, I couldn't live with that....

Anything held as joint savings will be considered 50/50 so only 50% will be used for her financial assessment. Now would be a good time to separate those into sole accounts to make things cleaner. does anyone hold financial lower of attorney for her?

middlewife

Cnkp21 said:

Hi 

My Mum has been refused for Continuing Health Care (CHC) funding because as this stage she does not need specialist nursing care. This is extremely frustrating considering my Mum is partially blind, is unable to speak and cannot wash or feed herself. She also cannot walk without falling over. 

My mum had dementia and required almost total care, she fell frequently, needed feeding, washing, had a catheter and colostomy, and was bed bound for the last 2 months of her life. What sounds like nursing care, is deemed social care these days, tasks that were once the responsibility of nurses are carried out by senior care assistants, far cheaper! Likewise, physician associates are often replacing GPs and anaesthetists. Care is in crisis and although many carers are wonderful, they save SS a huge sum by redefining what constitutes social care and what constitutes nursing care. If your mum required intravenous drugs, artificial ventilation and airway suction, complex  dressings, tracheostomy care, that would qualify. Activities of daily living, washing, feeding, toileting are classed in almost all cases as social need, it's a sad world 

HillStreetBlues

Is there a funeral plan for your parents in place?

Cnkp21

HillStreetBlues said:

Is there a funeral plan for your parents in place?

Not at this stage and would probably be too upsetting for my Dad. 

HillStreetBlues

Cnkp21 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

Is there a funeral plan for your parents in place?

Not at this stage and would probably be too upsetting for my Dad. 

Can understand that, if/when he's ready it's a way to reduce capital that's allowable.