My question about Care Home fees.

[Tilly2]

I apologise for the length of this post.

My Dad has been in a care home for eight years (2004). His fees are partly funded by social services. Dad pays his contribution and I pay a 'top-up'.

When he went in my top up was £16.00 per week. The top up stayed the same for five years but over the last three years has risen to £30, £61.00 and now finally, £100 per week.

I cannot, having retired, afford to pay £400 per month and have spoken to the owner and said so. Having 'looked into it' he has come back to me and said that he can reduce the fee to £80 per week but it will mean that Dad will have to move to a cheaper room without ensuite facilities.

Dad has been in this room since August 2010, when I was paying £30 per week. Suddenly, the room is so very much more expensive.

I have spoken to both Social Services and The Older People's Team who are both teling me to stick to my guns and refuse to pay the extra . The contract I have doesn't stipulate the top up sepserately, it just gives the overall figure of £560 per week to be paid. My question is how do I go about my campaign of refusal. Letters? phonecalls, meetings? solicitors? I don't know where to start really.

[Kassee]

Is it just the top-up that has increased - if it is just a cost of living increase then surely Social Services' contribution should be increasing too.

[Tilly2]

No, the fees have increased but the S.S. contribution has reduced (Cuts). Hence, the hike in the top-up. What they are not getting from S.S. they are getting from the relatives.

[Goodsoulette]

He wont be asked to leave the home if you don't pay, it becomes a safeguarding a vulnerable adult issue. It could be a case of the company even getting as far as asking them to leave but they probably have "block bed" bookinghs and like I said he will be Safeguarded by social services.

[Tilly2]

I'm not worried that they might throw him out of the home. I know that he will be sageguarded by the S.S. team.
I just need to make them realise that they can't possibly raise the top up by 500% and still expect relatives to pay.

[Tilly2]

At my request, I have received a booklet from S.S. about going into care. In this booklet it states we would always expect any increase that the home applied to be in line with inflation

Can someone work out for me the percentage increase for these figures.
£16.90 to £30.00
£30.00 to £61.60
£61.60 to £100.18

Also, what has the rate of inflation been since 2010?

Thank you. Maths is not my subject.

[Tilly2]

Can anyone help with the maths please? I make it a 500% increase over the three years. I need to get my facts right before I go any further.

[chcdirect]

Care home fees in the UK can be covered by the NHS CHC plan, speak to our team of funding experts to find out more about care home fees and check to see if you are eligible for NHS funding. http://www.continuing-healthcare-direct.co.uk/paying-for-care-home-fees/