Nursing home fees.

[BIG DAD]

I notices a question on nursing home fees and wanted toask a question, my Nana is in a home with dementia and my mum has had to sell her house and use the money to pay for her fees, i dont think this is right, she has heard they can appeal against this and received a form but after filling it in she was told it would cost £5000 + to go ahead with the claim, does anyone have any knowledge of this.
Thanks

[ummmm]

Why do you think your Nana shouldn't pay her fees?

[BIG DAD]

Because she is in a home because of a medical condition, they wont have her in hospital and she is a danger to herself, surely she should be entitled to the care she requires on the nhs.

[ummmm]

No, she's not.

You could have her live with you and you can care for her.

[ojread2]

Why do you think her daughter should pay them?
She shouldn't have had to sell her own home to pay these fees anyway, regardless of what type of home she is in

Or was it your nana's house that was sold? If it was, then yes, thats right, but if your mum sold her house then you are right
It was wrong
Try Help the Aged

[ojread2]

ummm obviously has no idea quite what that would entail

[ummmm]

I thought the mother had to sell the nans house.

[ummmm]

OJ - yes I do as it happens.

[ojread2]

Well, it isnt worded very well, which is why I have asked
Who's house got sold, OP?

[BIG DAD]

Its my nans house that had to be sold, and she is too violent to live outside a home.

[ojread2]

Then you must understand how difficult it is and how very many 1000's of people could not manage or cope with a relative who suffers dementia

[ojread2]

Ah, in that case then, Big dad, it is perfectly correct

However, you may be entitled to some kind of top up via the NHS - again Age Concern

[ummmm]

I do understand but that's the only way of getting out of paying care home fees.

[jake-the-peg]

I looked at this when my father went in.

It's called continuing healthcare

http://www.nhs.uk/chq...=68&SubCategoryID=681

He also has dementia but that's very unlikely to qualify on its own.

There is a checklist that is done first and if the score is high enough it goes for a detailed evaluation. There is an appeal process I guess that money is what it would cost to have a lawyer argue the case.

As I say though if the only medical condition is just dementia it would not really have any chance of sucess.

[joko]

i too read it as being they expected her daughter to sell her own house to pay for her mum.
cant help just noting that the wording was indeed a touch miseading

[BIG DAD]

Thanks for your answers, Jake, you are right, we went through that process as she has several other conditions and we were told the money was for just that, the money cannot come from my nans estate and my mum would need to pay it.
They also said if we win they may move my nan to another home and we decided against that as she is as settled as we have seen her where she is.

[Connemmara]

Umm - just looking at your postings and whilst you are right in saying that nan should pay for her fees that is pc - however, what about the people who have been living in rented accommodation all their lives (the ones I know) and their rent has been paid for them and they too end up in a home and don't have to pay. A person who has worked all their lives to buy their own home and end up having to pay their home fees. What and where is the point of working - this comes from me who has worked for 40 years without a break.

[ummmm]

I didn't post on the rights and wrongs of it.

I'm of mixed opinion on the matter. I agree with what you say. On the other hand, why should tax payers have to fund someone's care when they have their own money/assets. Basically you're expecting the tax payer to fund someone's inheritance.

My grandad pay app £1,200 per week for his and nans care so I do understand both sides of the argument.

[jake-the-peg]

Personally my objection is not that we have to pay but rather that we actually have to *subsidise* those paid for by social services.

Because Social Services have a huge amount of leverage in the numbers they place they can negotiate a price far below what private individuals have to pay.

I managed to knock 10% off of the asking price by bargaining with the home but I'll bet most people don't think of that when they're upset and finding a home.

There should be an approved price for all

[Connemmara]

I know you do Ummm - I did think you were personally involved but it is an extremely 50/50 situation.

It is like you are better off not working cos you are entitled to more benefits etc. Like the scroungers you read about every day. Never worked a bl dy day in their lives - God it makes my skin crawl.

Like a single parent (I know) with 2 children to 2 different men - never worked one hour - has just walked in to a brand new house with solar power from a brand new house. All the rest of her family exactly the same.

[factor-fiction]

That's a separate debate though, Connemmara. If there is no means testing people say why should the better off get benefits or get free care/free bus passes etc. If there is means testing people say (rightly) that it penalises those who have worked hard and looked after their money.
This debate though I think is about whether legally someone should have to pay fees for HEALTH care (as oppose to other care). They shouldn't.
There is a claims process but you'd need to look it up- i thought there was a deadline. You can employ a claims company(at great cost) but can also do it yourself