Care home fees and treatment of couples (1,167kb)Having spent many years living together it can be a very difficult, emotional and worrying time when one or both members of a couple need to move into a care home. This factsheet aims to clarify exactly how couples are treated by local authorities in the financial assessment for care home fees.
Care home fees and treatment of property (1,453kb)Almost 40% of older people in care homes pay for their own care and many of these do so from the proceeds of their former homes. There are circumstances where a property can be disregarded in the means test for care and where it is not, it is important to understand how property is treated in order to make informed decisions about the future.
Care Home Fees: paying for them in Scotland (395kb)Living in a care home can be very costly. Although some people are able to pay their own fees, many need financial support to meet the cost of their care. This explains the system of funding for people who need to live in a care home in England, and are unable to pay their own fees.
Care Home Fees: paying them in England (370kb)Living in a care home can be very costly. Although some people are able to pay their own fees, many need financial support to meet the cost of their care. This explains the system of funding for people who need to live in a care home in England, and are unable to pay their own fees.
Care Home Fees: paying them in Wales (649kb)Living in a care home can be very costly. Although some people are able to pay their own fees, many need financial support to meet the cost of their care. This explains the system of funding for people who need to live in a care home in Wales, and are unable to pay their own fees.
Care Home Fees: third party top ups (in England) (249kb)This factsheet explains your right to choose the care home you move into, and what local authorities should agree to pay in England. It explains third party top-up agreements, where a preferred home is more expensive than the local authority can pay
Care Home Fees: third party top ups in Scotland (260kb)Moving into a care home is a big step. It is important that you move into a care home which meets all of your needs and is where you want to live. This factsheet explains your right to choose the care home you move into and what local authorities should agree to pay.
Care Home Fees: third party top ups in Wales (580kb)This factsheet explains your right to choose the care home you move into, and what local authorities should agree to pay in Wales. It explains third party top-up agreements, where a preferred home is more expensive than the local authority can pay
Deprivation of capital: what can I spend before moving into a care home? (176kb)Guidance for people considering giving away or disposing of assets to avoid paying for care. Local Authorities may deem the following to be deprivation & this would adversely affect financial assessment - transferring property title deeds to someone else, giving a lump sum to someone else, transferring assets into a Trust, or unusually high expenditure.
NHS Funding for Nursing in Care Homes (1,310kb)The NHS is responsible for providing nursing care in any setting to people who need it. However, because people living in nursing homes have to pay for their care, of which nursing is part of it, the NHS make a financial contribution towards their care home fees to compensate them: the NHS Nursing Contribution.
Self-Funding Care Home Fees (546kb)If you, or someone you care for, are self-funding care home fees, fully understanding what the State provides and being certain about costs and affordability is essential. This straightforward factsheet provides a useful starting point.