Hello friends and thank you for taking the time to look at my post. I would very much appreciate some advice and guidance please on a problem with a care home that is worrying me very much so here goes. I am a 53 year old man living and caring for my elderly mum(87) and also have my uncle and aunt both of whom are in a care homes (locally) suffering from dementia. I am deputy for both my aunt and uncle and also hold power of attorney for my mum. As I am the last in line of our family (I am not married and have no children) so the responsibility for my family falls to me which is fine and I am not complaining. For the past 5 or 6 years things have been very hard going but manageable. But I have been worried a lot about my aunt running out of money. She is a self funder who started her care home journey with the thick end of £300,000 after having to sell her house. She is now down to her last £50,000 and last week I have received a letter from her care home informing me that as of 5th April her care fee’s will be going up from £2789 per month to £3937 this is an increase of £1,148 per month. I am worried sick about this and it’s really affecting me. Can someone please advise me what I need to do once my aunts money runs out. I am just a normal person who goes to work and lives in a world where £3937 per month may just as well be 3 million. By the time I pay my own mortgage and pay the bills there is not much left. There is no way I can pay for my aunts care once her money runs out. I am at my wits end and don’t know where to turn. Any guidance or advice would be a really big help for me…Thank you
Hi Chris
Try not to worry which is easy to say I know. There is a solution to everything. It’s just connecting to the right people for the answer. There are others member who are very knowledgeable re: your situation. Who will come along shortly.
Even when the money has run out. The fees will still be met.
Hi Chris,
First of all, don’t panic. Only your aunt’s money is considered, NOT YOURS!
You don’t mention your uncle’s situation - is he self funding?
Presumably aunt and uncle are brother and sister, not married to each other?
It would help to have a bit more information about your aunt’s health, and situation.
Does aunt own any property?
Is she currently receiving Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance?
Does she have serious mental problems, or phycial problems?
What does she need help with, very roughly.
Is if a care home, or a nursing home?
Is she entitled to “Funded Nursing Care”.
Are you aware of NHS Continuing Healthcare?
Hi Chris,
I suggest contacting the helpline for advice
Our telephone Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm or you can contact us by email (> advice@carersuk.org> )
Melly1
Hi There
Thank you for the reply. My uncle is in a separate home and he is not a self funder. He has schizophrenia so the state is funding him. My aunt looked after my uncle all her life until she become to ill with dementia (yes they are brother and sister). She is in a nursing home and no my aunt does not own any property or have any other assets other than what’s left of here money in her bank (now about £50,000). She does receive attendance allowance at the higher rate which is paid directly into her bank. Once I became deputy I moved all of her monies into one account set up a direct debit every month to the nursing home and redirected all monies in to the same account so it ticks over well with minimal supervision from me. All I do is monitor how much is left. She does get Funded Nursing Care which is paid directly to the nursing home. Due to the dementia she is no longer able to talk and is not really aware of much and needs help with pretty much everything. . She does not know who I am when I visit her neither does she recognize my mum (her sister) she is also unable to walk and has to be moved around the care home with a hoist type contraption. I have tried for NHS Continuing Healthcare with no success. I go to a meeting every year at the home and some guy comes in to asses my aunt and every year they send me a letter saying she does not qualify. A few years ago I got a solicitor to try on a no win no fee basis and even that was unsuccessful.
Thank you Melly1 i will indeed ring the number you have so kindly provided. Can i just say what a great web site this is. I feel my load is little bit lighter just knowing there are fantastic people like you guys & gals offering advice.