When your family is making the decision to seek residential care for your family member, it can seem daunting. One of the main concerns is meeting the cost of care and the system of handling fees and funding can seem complicated and difficult to navigate.
You may be eligible for financial help from your local council or, in some circumstances, from the NHS. The AgeUK website offers some guidance on how to access any assistance. You can read more about is here:
Some of the key points shared in the Age UK advice are:
Local council assistance – If you are eligible for funding support, your local council could pay some or most of the fees. The council will carry out a care needs assessment.
NHS funding – If your needs are primarily health-based, the NHS arrange and pay for your care under NHS continuing healthcare (NHS CHC). If you are eligible for NHS CHC, your care home placement will be free. When assessing your needs, the council must refer you to the NHS if it appears you may be eligible for NHS CHC.
The level of personal finances might affect your council assistance -If your local council carries out a care needs assessment and finds you need a care home place, they will do a means test to work out how much you must contribute towards the cost of your care. The value of your property may be included as capital in means test.
