Care home fees

Monica, my mother’s (dementia only) care home accepted both council and self-funded residents. I don’t know what the ratio was but I’d imagine about 50/50. However the care was excellent, they all had the same sort of rooms, and it was by no means the most expensive we looked at - out of many, I might add.

The very worst home I ever knew of, was the outwardly very plush, seafront one, where dh’s old aunt (no dementia) put herself for a month while her helper was away. I visited her there more than once - the staff were surly and miserable, the atmosphere was very far from welcoming. She hated it and couldn’t wait to get home.

M0nica

Bluebelle state funded residents in homes with fee paying residents are having their fees subsidised by other residents, because the Local Authority do not pay enough to cover the cost of their care.

I have told my children that if I need to go into a care home it has to be one that takes fee paying residents only, so that I pay only for the cost of my own care.

I have no objection to paying extra taxation through any form of taxation to ensure that all older people who need care, but cannot afford it, get a good standard of care, but the state must pay every penny of that care, not rely on other residents in the same care home paying up to £100 a week extra in fees, to subsidise those residents whose fees are paid by the local authority.

It is a nasty sneaking tax that no one notices inflicted on the weakest and most vulnerable people, who have no say in whether they pay this extra 'tax' or not.

You are so right M0nica, my mum pays £1050 a week for her care home, a friends mum lives at the same home but now her money has run out, the LA pays £675 for her room. At least she did not have to move care homes and had already paid for her own care for a number of years but the difference in fees is staggering.

I have had the same conversation with my children!

It is called "deprivation of assets" and if it can be shown that this was an attempt to avoid paying for care, then the LA will treat her as if she had those assets and pay/not pay towards her care accordingly.

If she is going to do this you need at the very least to make sure she pays the new owners the going rate of rent, and can prove this.

BlueBelle - it is true that everyone in a home gets the same level of care regardless of who is footing the bill; but the LA will only fund up to a certain level, which eliminates the possibility of going to a really good home. Some homes that accept LA residents are brilliant - some are awful.

Thanks everyone I will let her know what's been discussed. I didn't think it would be simple. I think the best thing she can do is take some legal advice.