How to pay for a nursing home: A guide
Welcome to Fonthill House
How to pay for a nursing home: A guide
Fonthill House - Hertfordshire
There are around 410,000 people in the UK living in nursing homes across the UK. The government calculates that there are approximately 5,500 different providers in the UK operating 11,300 care homes for the elderly. Around half of the people living in nursing homes in the UK pay for their care themselves, and the rest are supported fully or partially by their local authority or the NHS.
Before paying for a nursing home, the first step is to get a free needs assessment from your local authority. Whether you intend to self-fund or not, getting a needs assessment from your local authority can provide you and your family with information on the time of care you will need to help choose the perfect nursing home for you. You can apply for a needs assessment by calling the council or applying online.
When will the local authority pay for a nursing home?
Your local authority will decide if you’re eligible for financial support for your care by undertaking a free needs assessment to work out the level of care you’ll require. After they’ve assessed your needs, your local authority will carry out a financial assessment. They will look at your savings and income and decide whether you’re eligible for financial support towards your care.
If your savings are under £14,250, the local authority will pay for all of your care. If your savings are between £14,250 and £23,250, you’ll need to pay for part of your care, and if you have over £23,250 in savings, you’ll need to pay yourself.
If you are eligible for financial support from your local authority, they will send you a selection of nursing homes that will suit your needs. However, if you want to live in a nursing home that’s more expensive than the one you’ve been offered, a relative or friend can offer to pay the excess. This is often known as a third-party top-up fee.
Self-funding a nursing home
You will have to arrange and pay for a nursing home yourself if you have savings over the £23,250 cap, have a regular income that’s sufficient to cover your nursing home fees or don’t qualify for local authority funding because your needs aren’t eligible.
If you don’t qualify for financial support, it’s still a good idea to get a needs assessment done. It’s free and can help you and your family better understand the type of care you’ll require. Your local authority can provide information on different nursing homes and keep a record of your care needs.
When will the NHS cover the cost of a nursing home?
6 skills needed to work as a care assistant
Working in a care home can be an incredibly rewarding job, but it does require some specific skills. Whilst many careers focus on academic abilities, care home staff are often recruited based on their personalities. We’ve put together a helpful guide on the six main skills needed to work within a care home, so you can see if you have what it takes.
What Is the Difference Between a Care Home and a Nursing Home?
Most of us know that when someone becomes unable to take care of themselves in their own home, it may be necessary for them to receive residential care. However, one thing many people aren’t sure about is the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home. That’s why we’ve broken down the key differences between these kinds of facilities, and how to tell which one is more suited to you or your loved one’s needs.
When should someone with dementia go into a care home?
Caring for someone who is suffering from dementia can be an extremely challenging and emotional task. However, deciding if and when they should move into a care home can be equally difficult.
Dementia can progress rapidly, causing the person living with the condition to deteriorate both mentally and physically within a short space of time. This means that it is important to prepare for the future and ensure that the person will always receive the right level of care that they require.