Help and Advice

Assisting you through the care process

FAQs

Answers to popular questions

Please select from the following:
The care process | Funding care | Residential care | Close care | Home care

Funding care

How do you pay for long-term care?
If you need long-term care you should check with your local authority about the support they give. The social services department will make an assessment of your care needs. They will also assess your income and savings. If your income and savings are low, the local authority will pay in full or in part the costs of your long-term care.

What happens if I have savings above the limit set by the local authority?
If your savings and capital are worth between £14,000 and £23,000, the council will contribute toward the fees of the care home, but you will have to pay a charge known as ’tariff income‘ from your savings.

If you have savings and capital worth over £23,000, you will have to pay all of the fees of the care home until your money reduces to this limit.

How much does long-term care cost?
Long-term care charges vary from one area to another and according to the type of care you need. As a very rough guide, personal care provided in your own home might cost around £13 per hour. So, if you needed two hours help every day, it could cost £9,490 a year.

In 2005, average care home fees were roughly £19,500 a year for a residential home and £27,500 for a nursing home. But they can be significantly higher depending on location and care facilities.

What happens with nursing care needs?
If you have been assessed as having needs that should be met in a nursing care home, you will be eligible for the nursing element of your care in the home to be paid for by the NHS. A registered nurse, either at your care home or appointed by the Primary Care Trust, will conduct an assessment of your nursing needs. If a social worker or care manager is involved in your care arrangements, they should arrange for an assessment for nursing care to be carried out before you move into a care home.

If you have nursing needs that require 24-hour continuous nursing care, you may be entitled to full NHS funding for your care home fees.

What about the property I own?
You may consider funding your care by releasing equity (money) from the value of your home by using a ’lifetime mortgage‘ or ’home reversion‘ scheme; but if you do, you should seek independent financial and legal advice. It would also be a good idea to contact the Department for Work and Pensions to find out if this would affect any social security benefits you are receiving.

What if I need care and support at home?
You may be able to claim social security benefits to help meet the cost of any extra care and support that you require at home.

If you qualify for free or subsidised care organised through your local authority, you can choose to have 'Direct Payments' or 'Individual Budgets' where upon you will receive payments from the local authority to choose and arrange your own care needs independently. Alternatively you can ask the local authority to arrange your care for you.

Should you wish to arrange your own care and support, either self funded or by using a 'Direct Payment' or 'Individual Budget', the charges for the help you need will depend upon the type of help you want and when you want it.

A number of things affect the cost of your care and support; there may be extra charges for care provided early mornings, in the evenings, at weekends, and on public holidays and the length of visits may affect how much you have to pay.


find out more

the following organisations offer detailed information about the care process or visit our links page here >
Age Concern | Care Quality Commission | Elderly Advice Council | First Stop Care Advice | Help the Aged | Housing Care

more information about care >
Residential Care | Dementia Care | Rehabilitation Care | Respite Care | Nursing Care | Close Care | Home Care