Architectural Designs

Care home for elderly UK, plans, cost?

My mother in law is getting a bit old and slower with bad hips, she started using walking stick. She resides in a property owned by her husband(they have seperated 12 years ago) but doesn't own any assets on her own. Even tho my father in law agrees the house to be sold and she buy herself a bungalow in exchange, that he will still own, she is adamant the only way out of that house is in a home when she can't manage stairs or in the crem(she hopes for) due to it being her home. Despite the life improvement it will be if she moved in a single floor residense and closer to the kids she doesn't want to hear. Living with any of her kids is out of the question too as she claims she would be inconvinience. There is no way convincing her otherway, when we try talking to her she shuts us out and puts the care home on the table. Now, neither of us is rich and we can't afford to pay for the care if it ame for her to go in a home for elderly, nor can she, she has nothing to her name. How does the care home thing work? I never had to face anything like this before. How do we found out, what we are looking to pay for it too, or where do I seek advice? The town council? Social services?

Public Comments

1. Yes ring the council, they'll give you an appointment to sort things out. There is lots of them. It's sad to see she is going in to a home when she has got family around her, they're not ideal places to finish the rest of your life. I'd never EVER see the day my nana/grandad going in to a home. I'm only 18 but I hope when I'm old my family do not put me in a home.
2. erm its costs money? thats weird
3. In the uk, suggest you contact your local Citizens advice Bureau.
4. Contact social services. They will arrange for an assessment of her circumstances based on her care needs and available finance. Unless she has urgent health care needs it will be a fairly lengthy and thorough assessment. Don't expect a quick result. Residential fees are currently around £450/week, for nursing add another £100.
5. Yes Social Services is your first step.Give them a few details and a care manager will come to see you. They will discuss with you at length, the needs of your mother in law. Regarding costs, an Assessor will come at a later stage and look into the financial affair, It will be assessed on the savings of your Mother in law (in this county any one with savings over £20.000 would have to pay the full cost for residential care. I believe there are 3 different quotes in all. If she has no savings at all she wouldn't have to pay, But it also depends on whether your M.iL is in receipt of Attendance Allowance or any other benefits. You would be given a list of Care homes in her area, which she could visit with.you and a lot of these homes would take her on on a trail basis. You could tell her - that's like a little holiday for her. What you can also do to reassure yourself is to check on the Net the CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection) once you think you have found the right home, just put the name of the home and town on the Web, read about it and you will find the CSCI report.