Paying for elderly care: Q&A with Which? Elderly Care

The most worrying aspect can occur when someone has to go into care and a decision has to be made regarding 'Continuing Care', particularly if the person needing care is a home-owner.

There is a massive backlog of hundreds of cases in Sussex regarding people not being properly assessed at the correct time and families having to fight to get an assessment done. This has left families paying out of their own pockets, believing that when the assessment is done they will be reimbursed, but waiting years for a final decision - and then finding that they do not qualify for reimbursement. Others have sold the person's home in a frantic rush, at a knockdown price just to release the money within the three month time limit that has been foisted on them (This was on BBC Radio Sussex this morning)

What should families do in this situation?

My Mum has recently been diagnosed with mixed dementia and I want her to come and live with me. If we sell her property and hold the money in case of her eventually needing to go into a care home, can I draw an income from the proceeds of the sale to cover the cost of caring for her myself?

I've read recently about investing in a buy-to-let room in a care home which you can then use yourself when the time comes. Is this a good idea and a safe investment? We are thinking of down sizing in the near future and wondered if this might be a solution to care home fees.

My husband will soon be needing to be moved to a nursing home. We have no savings to speak of. I will be staying in our home. If I should die would my husbands fees then have to come from the sale of the house? Or, if I needed to go into care while my husband is alive and in care, would the house be used for both our fees? Thank you.

When the local authority charge, does any money in the name of the 'fit' spouse come into the case? (Scotland)

What is the difference between attendance allowance and care allowance. Can both be claimed or just one or the other?

Alex, I've been paying a third party contribution of £886 per month for my mother's residential home since last July. It is financially crippling and was sneaked in under my radar by the local authority without me realising what I was letting myself in for. I've asked for a review and they have agreed. Is there any chance I could get back the money I have already paid, over five grand!?

I would want to know the position re the purchase of an annuity as well. Can she explain the difference between English and Scots law.

Is there any benefit in buying an annuity now for elderly care. My husband is 72 I am 66 years old. We are fit at present but don't have any children. We are concerned that although we have savings and own our own house, we don't want to run out of money in the future and not be able to fund care.

My mother at 98 recently went into a residential home leaving vacant our family home. Whist the building's structure has been well maintained the last time it saw a paint brush was in about 1975! Therefore it is need of serious decorating and to an extent investment in modern heating system etc. In your view is it worth doing the property up and then either selling it or renting it out using the income to offset her Residential fees? If we let it our plan is to manage it on her behalf. I appreciate we would need to take legal advice and conform to all manner of codes of practice etc but letting houses is in the blood for my mother - who is now living comfortably off the proceeds of early years property/letting investment.
In anticipation of your help, thank you.

If you have more than the agreed amount of savings, which I believe is £23K+ and find a suitable care home, what happens when you run out of money? Would the local authority move you to a cheaper, maybe less suitable home? This is assuming a spouse is living in the family home.