I went to a presentation the other day about care fees. 

Most people (including me!) think that paying care fees is a foregone conclusion, but I learned at the presentation that it is not. I learned the phrase ‘wrongly paying often care fees.’   

Yes, I said wrongly! My mind was blown! 

Going into care may be an inevitability for 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men but there are two hugely different pathways with very different circumstances and cost implications. These are continued healthcare and social care. 

The first scenario put simply, is if you need to be visited by a nurse, need help with medication or require day-to-day care from a health professional, it is possible that these continued health care costs would be covered by the NHS. The problem is that many people are not aware of this and continue to pay bills that may not be necessary. Many families do not know how to appeal against this bill or even realise that they can.  

The second scenario is social care. This is when someone is generally of good health, but they are unable to take care of themselves often due to a lack of capacity. This is typically where someone has Alzheimer's or dementia and needs someone to be responsible for their day-to-day needs. Things like getting up, getting dressed, preparing food; the general day-to-day living we don’t even think about. This type of care incurs a cost by us as individuals, as opposed to being one that could be passed on to the state.  

So, what is the solution?  

Planning! 

Firstly, ensure your will is up to date and affords your family the best protection available. A simple will is unlikely to be sufficient planning where care fees are concerned but there are other options. 

Secondly, make Lasting Powers of Attorney… both types; Property and Finance (to allow someone to deal with the money side) and Health and Welfare (to allow someone to deal with the medical side). All too often families are unable to appeal care fees that are being paid incorrectly as they are not allowed access to medical records. Both documents are vital. 

Thirdly seek help in a timely fashion. The meeting in which the appropriate care pathway is established comes at a terrible time in a family’s life. Someone who is deeply loved is going into care and the whole situation is extremely stressful. It’s difficult and emotional. 

Asking for help from someone who can be impartial and who has experience is sensible and can save a fortune. Give us a call… we can help point you in the right direction.