10 Tips About Care Fees You May Not Know
Blog updated 12/05/21: various links have been updated and the article has been fact checked for changes that have occurred in the CHC system.
If you’re involved with your relative’s care, you’ve almost certainly spoken to someone in health and social care about who pays. The chances are they won’t have explained these 10 tips about care fees…
Here are some very typical care scenarios that many families can relate to – and there are some very typical conversations about care fees that most families find themselves having. We’ve highlighted three such scenarios here:
Alice
Alice is in her 70s, she’s fit and well, plays golf, enjoys life, has a good circle of friends and all seems well. But then she has a major stroke.
She’s in hospital for many weeks until, eventually, the hospital discharge team tell Alice’s family that she will be discharged and that the family need to find her ongoing care.
The discharge coordinator at the hospital asks whether Alice owns her own home. The answer is yes, and the family are told that Alice will therefore have to sell it to pay for her care.
The family accept what they’ve been told because, well, everyone knows you have to pay, don’t you? Actually, no. You don’t.
George
George is in his 80s and still living at home. He also has a form of dementia. He has two care visits a day from the local authority, and his family also care for him on a daily basis.
However, George is becoming increasingly unsafe at home and and his social worker has suggested that his family find a care home for him. George is currently paying for his care visits, and the social worker tells the family that he’ll need to have a further financial assessment.
The family acknowledge that this should be done – because they’re none the wiser, and no one has said anything to the contrary. So it must be true, yes? Actually, no. It’s not.
Dorothy
Dorothy’s already in a care home and has been for two years. She has multiple health needs – as she did when she first went into the home.
When she arrived two years ago the care home told her that she’d have to pay if she had the money, and so began the usual means-testing and financial assessments.
The family have not challenged this, because they know (from what they read in the press and what people in health and social care have told them – and indeed from what friends have told them) that Dorothy has to use up her own money before any state help is available. That’s correct, isn’t it? Actually, no. It’s not.
The first thing that should have happened in every one of these cases is an assessment of health and care needs, NOT the person’s money. There should have been an assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding (‘CHC’).
What does NHS Continuing Care cover?
It covers 100% of care fees for people who need full-time care primarily for health reasons, i.e. they have a Primary Health Need. It’s available whether you’re in a care home, in your own home, in a hospice or somewhere else.
- If you’re in a care home, NHS Continuing Healthcare covers all care fees, including the costs of accommodation.
- If you’re receiving full time care at home, Continuing Healthcare covers all nursing care plus personal care (bathing, dressing, etc.) plus any household costs directly related to care needs.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a residential home or a nursing home, the same rules apply: It’s about your health needs first, not where you live or how much money you have.
The landmark Coughlan case, reinforced the difference between health needs and social care needs.
New to NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding? Here’s a guide to the basics you need to know…
16 useful tips you need to know at the beginning of your CHC journey
10 Tips about care fees you may not know:
Here are 10 tips to help you respond when you’re in a conversation about care fees:
1) It doesn’t matter whether your relative is at home, in a care home or somewhere else, no one should ask them to pay for care until it’s been properly decided who is legally responsible.
Are You Missing Out On Your Entitlement To Care At Home? The Gunter Case
2) NHS funding for care is called NHS Continuing Healthcare; it is available to people who meet certain criteria. Make sure you read the criteria in the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care (2018).
Getting Started: Some Frequently Asked Questions About NHS Continuing Healthcare
Understanding the Checklist Assessment
3) If anyone in health and social care tells you your relative has to pay for care, ask them why and on what basis they’ve reached that conclusion. They can only reach that conclusion after NHS Continuing Healthcare funding has been considered.
4) You don’t have to complete ANY financial assessment forms – and certainly not before a Continuing Healthcare assessment. If you’ve had the Continuing Healthcare assessment and your relative is not eligible, you still don’t have to complete any financial assessment forms; you can simply choose to pay from private means (‘self-fund’). Also, be sure to also appeal any Continuing Healthcare funding decision you disagree with. The health and social care authorities have no business looking into your or your relative’s finances until the Continuing Healthcare process is complete. It is none of their business.
Know your rights – Appealing the CCG’s refusal to grant CHC funding
How To Avoid Selling Your Home To Pay For Care…
5) Some people working in health and social are have not had adequate training in the legal context in which they work. In other words, when they’re giving you incorrect information about care fees, they may not even realise that they may be in beach of their own code of conduct, and possible also the law.
6) Familiarise yourself with the Care Act and how it helps you with Continuing Healthcare funding.
7) It doesn’t matter what diagnosis a person may have; this does not affect their eligibility for Continuing Healthcare. It is their day-to-day healthcare needs that count.
8) If your relative receives NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, this covers ALL their social care needs, too. It also covers the costs of accommodation, food etc in a care home.
Part 1. Explaining The Vital Difference Between Social Needs vs Healthcare Needs
Part 2 – Explaining The Vital Difference Between Social Needs vs Healthcare Needs
9) Make sure that your relative gets an assessment for CHC once they enter into a care facility or are discharged from hospital if they require a new or additional package of care.
10) Just because your relative may have been paying for care up until now doesn’t mean they should be – or that they should be in the future. Consider making a retrospective claim for CHC funding to get reimbursement for care fees that shouldn’t have been paid.
Confused? Read This Before You Start Your Retrospective Appeal for CHC Funding…
…and an extra tip:
11) Don’t let anyone put you off having a Continuing Healthcare funding assessment. People are likely to tell you it’s “not worth it” or that you’re “not eligible” or that they “don’t have time to do an assessment” or that you “have to start paying first” – and many other untruths. Get informed. Perseverance and stubbornness pays off, so don’t give up! Read as much as you can in advance. Read our blogs.
So if you find yourself having conversations about care fees with people in health and social care – and also care providers – be vigilant. Don’t let them steer you into paying for care before it has been properly ascertained who is actually legally responsible for paying. Never assume it is your relative.
If you need to help, call us on 0161 979 0430 or email your enquiry to enquiries@caretobedifferent.co.uk
If you want to speak to a specialist CHC nurse or just get some general advice about your case, visit our Advice Line Services or else get 1-2-1 expert legal support and advocacy help with your assessment or appeal.
I have a relative deemed not eligible for continuing healthcare now in a care home but just diagnosed with non operative cancer . Can I resume fight to get her funding ?
Many thanks for this insightful advice. I have a relative who was discharged from hospital without a (DST) assessment. He was placed in a home by the local authority (Adult Care) and we were forced to complete a financial assessment and thus contribute to his care fees. Nine months later we are receiving our first DST assessment despite lengthy correspondence with the local authority and our MP.
Would you be able to pinpoint where in policy terms it states that a DST assessment should have been conducted prior to discharge from hospital.
And equally where it states that we needn’t have contributed to care until the assessment took place?
Any advice prior to the DST assessment would be very valuable!
Kind Regards,
Luke
My Dad has been in a Care Home for 21 months and is self funded. I have now had to sell his house to meet funding costs. Prior to leaving hospital I had a meeting with the Doctor to ask about continuing healthcare but was told Dad was not entitled to this. Dad has Lewy Body Dementia and prostate problems therefore requires an in/out catheter. He has had to fund his care for 21 months along with minimal funding from Social Work. Can you advise if there is anything I can do?
We had already paid nearly £20,000 on care fees and I decided to challenge the system. I did a lot of research and found two High Court judgments which supported my view that my husband’s condition should place him under NHS continuing care, not Social Care. We gained another assessment, our GP was fully informed and the outcome was in my husband’s favour. Sadly he died within two months. Be prepared to persevere and challenge!
Just got Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding for my dad. Armed myself with as much info as poss. Got a meeting with everyone who needed to be there. He got 1 severe and 2 highs. Also got the much needed bed witch comes through district nurses. This website is a fantastic starting point – really helpful. Read all i could felt very confident. Nobody tells you about the NHS’s best kept secret. Don’t let health pros put you off and be at every meeting about your relative. Good luck – if i did it you can too.
Following my earlier comment about challenging an Assessment, here are some links which may help, bearing in mind that I challenged my husband’s case nearly four years ago.
The Coughlan Case For Care Funding – Care to be Different
caretobedifferent.co.uk/paying-care-home-fees/the-coughlan-case/
Pamela Coughlan’s case clarified the law regarding NHS Continuing Healthcare. … She pursued a case against the NHS to secure NHS Continuing Healthcare, fighting it in the High Court. … In Pamela Coughlan’s case, the Court of Appeal ruled that her nursing care was the …
Coughlan case and Grogan case checklist for NHS Continuing Care
caretobedifferent.co.uk/the-coughlan-case-and-grogan-case-your-9-point-checklist-fo…
11 Jul 2012 – The landmark Coughlan case was brought by Pamela Coughlan, who had been seriously disabled in a road accident. When her care funding …
NHS Continuing Healthcare Landmark Legal Cases
caretobedifferent.co.uk/paying-care-home-fees/landmark-legal-cases/
The Coughlan case and Grogan case – and NHS Continuing Healthcare. Landmark legal cases. Many families have challenged the NHS on decisions to deny …
All those scenarios are so similar to mine. After mum had two broken hips, several strokes, heart attack, she was diagnosed with vascular dementia. I was asked by social worker at hospital if mum had her own house, which she did. I was then told she would have to pay for a care home. Then I was given a huge list and told to find a home. As you can imagine I was devastated about my mum and began my search. I was later told she would be nursing – meaning an extra 100 pounds a week. I enquired about Continuing Care last November. We had an assessment in March. She was then officially nursing. Had to wait over a month for Continuing Care assessment. By this time mum couldn’t walk hardly, not able to feed properly, very confused. Had to wait for second assessment. During this time mum was readmitted to hospital. On day of next assessment my Mum went to sleep. I am now waiting cos they did a desk top assessment two weeks ago.
Hi, I have father-in-law and his brother who I have looked after for 5 years now in care homes. Both have under £10.000, but still have to contribute both state and private pensions with £20-30 a week pocket money, as dad calls it. Is this right?
I have just had my late mother’s retrospective claim refused by the Ombudsman who said that although my mother’s DSTs scores exceeded Pam Coughlan’s it was not for them to compare my mother’s with someone else’s. They also ignored their own guidelines by accepting there is no issue in having a sole RGN determine eligibility despite my mother having vascular dementia, with the decision apparently being ‘ratified’ by an unspecified MDT. I was unable to get prime records from the CCG but was able to demonstrate the hospital records were incomplete. There are numerous inconsistencies in their review yet they have determined their decision is final without the right of appeal. My only recourse now is to go to my MP so I hold out little hope of ever getting my £60k back. The whole system is a joke.
A friend who I care for and at the moment and is his LPA came out of hospital after a fall he is 92. I was told he need 24 hour care. The social services got involved and helped pay towards his care fees. However to be able to pay for 24hour care I was encouraged to release equity on his house. He had no other means to pay for it. He has pleaded for me not to go put him into a home and to let him die at home. I have released the maximum equity on his house which will only last about two years. As soon as I got the equity release, the social services dropped him like a stone financially and we had to pay back the fees that they paid on his behalf whilst waiting for the equity to come. He has dementia, cannot walk and has macular degeneration. Do you think he would qualify for NHS funding to help him? It would be wonderful and could keep him at home for longer.
Thank you
My father in law had a stroke a bleed to the brain has to have 24 hour care we have tried at least 4 times been told not poorly enough to get Continuing Healthcare funding . He is now on oxygen breathing problems he has been paying at the end august 4 years at £1200 pounds a week it’s not fair his poor wife is still alive she has leukaemia can not afford to spend money to go to see him every day as it is £15.00 a day to get there and back we do weekends he is so poorly purée food it’s so sad he worked so hard all his life . Now he us on oxygen I have asked his doctor to fast track him to try and get Continuing Healthcare but I won’t hold my breath.
Hi, firstly thanks for all the info and guides that you publish, I have picked up many tips.
My Mom has been in a care home for 18months, she has no savings and so her care is paid for via pension and I have too pay the top up fee of £196. When she first went into the home I mentioned to the manager about contunuing healthcareas mom has never been assessed, she didn’t really want to discuss it and then went on to say that if she got it for any reason, she would have to move care home as they didn’t accept it there and it wouldbe a lesser home, so I have left it, I take it that is not true?
Thank you, Michelle.
Hi there
My mum is currently in a nursing home that specialises in dementia. She was admitted there after being in hospital after a near death experience and was granted continuing care1. This was about a year ago. We havent paid anything, but lately she was pre assessed. The assesor advised that mum was no longer cc1 and basically they should have only paid for 6 wks. The assessment is down to her manager and we will know in a month or so. How can they suddenly say a 91yr old with dementia, doubly incontinent and can’t feed herself properly isnt deemed as cc1 anymore. In my eyes shes not going to get any better. Can they do this?
This post sums it all up and I am convinced I would be wasting my time and energy if I were to try and get ongoing care for my wife 82 + yrs old who has vascular dementia.
This is not a weakness or cowardice of myself but at 92 yrs old I don’t believe in bashing my head against a brick wall and will use my energy to try and help my wife to bear with this terrible disease and live at home as long as possible as this is what she wants.
Dealing with the problem of ongoing care is not going to be solved by individuals, the only way forward is by someone or some organisation and all the charities like Alzheimers, cancer, stroke etc to promote a group strong enough to make the government take action to sort the rules, instead of spending money employing staff to use every possible excuse to prevent extremely ill people and their families from all the extreme stress at this horrible time of their lives.
Angela has done a wonderful thing and hopefully it can be built up to really make the people responsible take notice .
All the newspapers should be galvanised to work together and hit the public in one fell swoop to enlighten everyone to the situation.
And what about social media surely there is plenty of scope there.
Time to stand up and be counted folks.
My mother suffered a stroke 7 years ago and was unable to care for herself. She received full Continuing Care funding and has continued to do so until this year, Due to changes in the eligibility, she was told she would no longer receive the full funding, but would get £156 towards her nursing needs. The Nursing home is privately run and the local council is refusing to meet the top up costs. There is a shortfall of £130 a week, which they say I should provide as she should have most of the state pension she was paid, intact! With 7 grandchildren and a generous nature this is not the case! She has spent the money on clothes , hair and chiropody costs and books and magazines, etc, because she assumed it was HER money to spend! The council is suggesting “depravation of assets” that I may have taken the money so she wouldn’t have to pay! They want to move her to a Council run home that is cheaper and are refusing to meet the full costs of her current home, despite both the continuing care AND social worker’s recommendations that she should remain in her current home as a move could have a devastating effect on her health! her Doctor and the home are currently writing reports to support this but I don’t know if this will be enough to prevent this happening. She is 88 and unable to walk. She is having panic attacks and breathing difficulties as a result of the worry. She considers her current Nursing home as “home” as it has been for 7 years and the staff and other patients as “family”. I cannot see her surviving a move and as the home she is in scored “Good” in all the reports this year and the home they wish to move to “Needs Improvement” I can’t see how they can justify such action? She has no assets, I’ve provided 2 years Bank statements and I don’t have £130 per week disposable income to pay. I’m beside myself with worry and would be grateful for any advice
I have been trying to get the ball rolling the past month. But everyone is ducking the question. My mother had a stroke in 2010 and was left disabled down her left-hand side, and she has since required 24/7 care – according to my assessment. She was discharged by the Hospital. The Ward Manger at the hospital has no records for her. I am now chasing the CCG for her records, but they don’t reply to my questions. The cost of all this – incalculable. In monetary terms, somewhere around the cost of a house, 300K.
Still no replies from the CCG, so now I will write a letter and send it by registered mail. If they still refuse to reply, then I will need to employ a lawyer to demand the information under the Freedom Of Information Act. This is starting to get even more expensive.
Marcus, you don’t need a lawyer, search “Subject access request ICO” for how to do this.
Just thought I would share my experiences with you. My father had two Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessments and was refused. However at the third he finally qualified. His case: 95 with severe dementia, violent behaviour, bed bound, had to be turned every two hours, had to be fed etc etc. Had review and was advised that he no longer qualified. Mainly due to the fact that the home kept him sedated and his behaviour was therefore better. Asked for details of appeal and was advised that as I did not hold power of attorney and no signed authority from my father I could not appeal. Despite the fact that I had been involved all through the four assessments. He then took a turn for the worse and the home told they had put his end of life plan into effect. I telephoned NHS about getting funding put back and was told to get the home to fill in a form to apply. He sadly died a week later. Appears that they were even trying to pull a fast one in the final stages. This whole system is an absolute disgrace. Just calculated that my father had paid a total of £125,000 in care fees before he died.
My husband was transferred from hospital where he has been under Section 3 for over two years and is in supported housing which the council just pays for 24 care and I pay rent bills food etc. because its not classed as care home. I managed to get 50 per cent housing benefit. this has been a stressful time for me. My husbands social worker and the doctors and the private agency have applied for a domestic least restrictive Deprivation of Liberty Act to the courts of protection in June without telling me until last week. This is worrying me. as I feel it could progress to other deprivations like financial his pensions which Im in charge now but dont have power of attorney made in past or applied to Court of protection for depytiship which I might have to now. I asked the social worker why they could not apply for a normail local authority one and why higher? There is another resident living there normally without this dols. I heard many people live in supported housing after being from hospital without any legislation and the council pays the care fees. She said they had to apply as the council pay the fees but that is not true. What are they up to? Is not my husband entitled to a mental health advocate?
My son has severe learning disabilities and various health problems. He is fully funded by Continuing Healthcare. He gets ESA and DLA (higher rate for both the Care and Mobility components. If he goes into residential care does he have to pay his DLA Care Component over towards the care cost?
Ok short version ; Mum in law (MIL) in hospital (140 days delayed discharge and counting). Objectively worse than Pamela Coughlan.
CHC in April refused and since then condition deteriorated. NHS refuse to do another assessment despite 3 grade 4 pressure sores, when prior to April never had a skin problem; local authority (LA) social worker says needs 24 h nursing care beyond what the LA can provide. The LA refuse to challenge but refuse to challenge the CCG decision.
NHS have now written to mum in law to revoke her “licence to occupy”. LA social worker refuses to attend to discuss mum’s care needs beyond the point blank assertion she has to go into a nursing home. MIL adamantly does not want to be forced into home and has been deemed as having capacity.
Social Services take is “done our bit” by finding a self funding care home to put you in!
Have any of you had experience of what steps the hospital practically or legally will take next?
Hi – my dad has end stage heart and kidney failure and is unable to do things for himself. His heart failure nurse applied for fast track NHS Continuing Healthcare. He was told they would start twice but now that’s not going to happen and they’re trying to push him for social care, even though he has been told his care is more palliative based. His span is limited and his heart could stop at any time. Any advice welcome?
My daughter looks after her elderly aunt (her father’s sister). Her father held power of attorney for some 12 years, although it was never used and until recently he has been diagnosed terminally ill and therefore asked his two daughters to take over, which was done. For the past year or so my daughter gave up a full time job to care for her aunt and was paid well privately by her aunt and her father. My daughter has for over 20 years been a matron in a residential home so knows her trade well.
Auntie has just been awarded Continuing Healthcare due to her ongoing health problems and since her last stay in hospital she was also assessed as needing two careers twice a day to wash and dress her as she cannot weight bear and a hoist has been fitted.
We are grateful for the outcome in her assessment and did not have any trouble getting it, but she is a very poorly lady and on an end of life plan .
We have not asked for any payment yet for her care which at the moment is paid privately. Could you advise me how we claim this, do we just send receipts in monthly and can we claim for the care my daughter is employed to do or will we still need to pay her privately.
I would also like to know if this award will also Affect her Attendance Allowance.
Many thanks
.
Hi – just after some advice, my mum is a palliative COPD elderly lady who was fast tracked for Continuing Healthcare (CHC) in June 2016. No one informed me of that the funding could end or be reviewed. CHC said they sent a letter in June which I never received. She is in 24 hour nursing care at the end of life. 12 Oct a CHC review was done with social worker, CHC nurse, care home nurse and myself. I had no idea what the meeting entailed or implications on funding. CHC removed as a result. Social care will contribute towards care home, Funded Nursing Care (FNC) funding also being received but I now have to pay £200 top up per month which I cannot afford but feel a move to another home will have a detrimental affect on my mum’s health. She is aware of this situation and it is causing her stress upset and further health issues. Is there anything I can do as the only option I have been given is move to her to a cheaper care home, move her into my home although social care and myself say this willing her at serious risk or keep her at current home and pay top ups which I simply can’t afford. I have sent complaint letter to hospital discharge team, CHC funding and social services. What can I do as I’m worried sick about this situation when the funding ends. Do I have to pay the top up if no resolution is found? Thank you
Sadly many Social Workers don’t have proper training with regard to their legal duties and pick things up ‘aunt sally’ from their colleagues who are equally ignorant of what their statutory duties are. Its rare to come across a Social Worker who knows the full extent of their statutory duties and few fully understand what they are under the Care Act ’14 and wont have read the operating guidance on the Care Act. See this link.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/care-act-statutory-guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance
Have a read as to what must occur with regard to assessments, CHC, deferred payments, financial assessments, top ups, direct payments, Care Act advocates… etc ….. Everything that is legally required by Social Workers is contained in this guidance. Most of them will have limited knowledge of this guidance.
It is a legal fact that discussions about a persons financial status cannot take place until after there has been a full Care Act assessment of that persons eligible needs. Discussions about a persons finances should not occur during a CHC assessment process.
My mother fell downstairs in her home, and went to a local hospital. (I started a diary of every day that she had in the system.) On her release within 4 hours she fell and fractured her right hip, return to local hospital, for operation. Contracted MRSA / superbug in the nose, put into a side ward. Left that hospital, and entered another hospital for rehab, Contracted Pneumonia, then entered care home.With no medical condition that would stop her going into a care home.
(Diabetes type 2 Diet, Bed sores 3-4, MRSA in nose, bleeding from back passage, high water flow 17,Urinary Tract infections,wheelchair bound / bed bound,doubly incontinent,falls,injuries following unknown incidents,Asthmatic,Dementia, Hiatus hernia, Barretts Oesophagus, mouth ulcers, Kidney disease, pacemaker etc.) I was informed that the doctor and care home manager would submit assessment, but she was not there yet. Then a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting arranged and issues were raised, and a letter to be sent to care home, after score of 8, needing 24 hour care.
Doctor called after weekend, and on examination of stomach, transported to hospital, consult would not operate, ruptured bowel, medication and fluids.My mother died two days later.
Formal complaint sent, no real issue to investigate.
Care home, Council in legal actions with solicitor, and matter reported to Public services
Ombudsman, who investigated the complaint, and up-held it over POVA action, still waiting to hear about council care home fees. Keep a record of every thing and names and dates, you have to evidence all your points.
I have been ringing the Continuing Healthcare (CHC) for the last two months. They told us they would assess him within two weeks then the two weeks went bye I phoned again to told they never said that. My father in law has got worse, now oxygen, purée food now not eatin much. The home he is in are brilliant. I phoned the CHC which have changed from the Council. They’ve been taken over bye different people. They have lost all paper work for the last 4 years we have been trying to get CHC. I rung the brough council and spoke to a lady who told me to ring back the CHC and tell them they are to do a new accessment on my father in law which I did but they are not going to do. They could not even give us a date when they will assess him. How poorly do you have to get to get CHC. I have told the CHC what if he passes away they said they can still assess. How can you do this if he dies. Can you give any advice on what we can do please. Many thanks, Petrina
My father in law passed away on the 19th December I rung them to tell the CHC that’s he had died
She said she had sent a a form to fill. I told them we did all that 4 years ago. They said they would be writing to us. I won’t hold my breath. I will ring every week as they said they can still assess him. They need the paperwork from the home but they did all that before. It’s such hard work. They still could not tell me how long it will be to assess now he has passed away. I bet they don’t bother well I will keep fighting for the mother in law.
It’s not fair on my mother in law. She has been paying £1200 per week for the last four years. He was bed ridden double purée food catheter had 24 hours nursing care turned every 2 hours in the night used to be 4 hourly since getting worse in the last year every 2 hours day and night.
He lost weight. The home has been amazing. The care he received is brilliant. The matron there said there are patient there not as bad has my father in law and they get CHC. I have lost all faith in the system it’s seems if you have money you have to pay. He spent 4 years 4 months at £1200 per week.
We are to going fight all the way, I am so upset they did not even listen to me they need to go and see him to access how poorly he was. He suffered for 4 years, 4 months and paid for all that time out of his own money. When he left hospital they told us he could not go home, he needed full nursing care. And he had to pay for his nursing care but I know now he should of been paid for. We will still keep fighting .
Well here we go again my father in law passed on December 19th 2016 I rung the CHC that day to tell he had passed they said I did not need to phone again as they can still access from paper work . And they also said they would write to us so no need to phone . We had the funeral on December 11th 2017 thinking well we had no letter or any contact since he died from them as promised. So I rung them again on 12th said to man on the phone we not had any letters from you. He said he would speak to the lady dealing with my father in law’s paper work then 30 mins later I had a call from gentlemen saying they had written to the home to get paper work. Well I rung the home the matron had not had any letters from the CHC so I rung them again and the home had not received any letters from you. So I gave him the home’s number and asked him to call the matron. Which he did he said to me that the home were going to photo copy the paper for my father in law to be accessed. I did ring the home to check as I have no faith in the CHC any more. The matron rung me to say she got it all ready for them to pick up tomorrow she had tried to ring them no answer, so I am going to ring them first thing to make sure they pick it up. Let’s see how we get on if we get turned down again we will keep fighting and appeal not happy have we been treated.
Angela, my brother suffers with dementia, epilepsy and anxiety, he is now 74 and he has lived in a carehome for the last 15yrs. The council (local authority) have been contributing for the last 12yrs towards his care. In November he had a fall and broke his hip. He has been in hospital until now, the hospital say that as his needs have changed, he now requires a nursing home. They asked me to attend a meeting to discuss Continuing Healthcare, to assess whether he would qualify for full NHS funding. When I got to the meeting, it soon became apparent that the first part of the assessment had already been completed in my absence, and my brother would not be receiving the full NHS funding. It became clear that they had decided that the NHS would make a contribution towards his care, and had already been in touch with a nursing home who are prepared to take him. They then told me that I would have to pay a top up of £25 per week. I told them that I am not in any position to pay top ups, as I am a pensioner myself and have commitments of my own. I signed the assessment document, but I cannot commit myself to pay any top ups.
i feel like im going mad! My Nan,92, was issued with DoLs whilst in hospital after a fall back in feb then we were told we needed to find her a care home as she had unfortunately deteriorated mentally very quickly. Very strange because there has been no true diagnosis, just old age. she’s in a care home that my mum is currently paying for as they cant access nans money even though they have information that indicates nan can pay the full expense due to her bank balance. How do we get them to use her money and not my, now retired, mums?! No one is providing us with answers and I’m really worried about mum who is struggling with high blood pressure (retired early to try and lower stress…) Has anyone else been in tis position? Nan has not got power of attorney set up because she is stubborn and ‘independent’ oh how this has bitten us on the behind! we want to enjoy what time we have left with her, not worry about this making my mum homeless 🙁
My mother of 96 is in a residential care home and has been for almost 2 years. It has come to the stage where she needs new items of clothing. As she only receives £24 a week to which she has her hair done at the home weekly costing £6 each time along with paying for chiropody which is £16 every 6 week i also have to pay for her toiletries which include shower gel soap powder steradent paper tissues any cough mixture or sun cream along with her few luxeries of food which she likes to have such as crisps sweets fuit and pop i am now finding it hard to cope as £24 does not pay for this and i am funding out of my own money im in my sixties and could do with reducing my hours of work but i am unable to because of paying for the extra costs of my mothers needs . Is there any funding which we could be entitled to to help with just her clothing costs.
My mum in law has Alzheimer’s dementia and has now started to go out all hours of the night in which care line call me as her door is alarmed I am currently feeling so much pressure to go out and find her. My husband is now looking to get her in a care home as she can no longer wash or feed herself and often goes out with no trousers on. His mum gave the family home to him and his brother 8 years ago as she was talking about getting married which concerned us about inheritance for what ever reason they did not marry but we are reading about care fees and read they may be able to still use the house to pay fees. Also she has pensions from her job and also from her late husband and her state pension plus AA which amounts to over £500 per week can you advise we’re we stand with this situation please
Thank you paula
It’s looking like my mum will have to go into residential full time care as she has alzheimers. She has her house but there is still a small mortgage on it. Can we be forced to sell the home to pay for her care?
Hello, I have suffered a c6 spinal injury and am in a care home being funded by NHS continuous care. However The care home expects me to pay for my hospital visits. I need to pay fora carer to come with me or I go alone with the ambulance. Apparently they say it is bupa policy. I feel this unfair as chc funds all my social needs. Please I heed some advice. Thank you.
My mum been in care home for 6 years I’ve been paying her care home fees from her private pensions and state pension shes left with £23 a week as they take in total £956 every 4 weeks. She never had capacity to give them permission to take her money as she has dementia and we care for her at home till she got so bad we could not keep her safe anymore as she keep thinking she was going work or home to her parents and we could keep her home and safe as she just wouldn’t understand that her parents had pass away years ago and she was retired from work years ago.
This s very good information and helpful. Thank you for the post.
Do you have to pay if your relitiave has been sent to a care home for physio by the hospital?