What do you do if a relative needs care? Advice for all

We all have busy lives, and there are many things we intend to get around to, but they just drop off the end of the To Do list.

One of these things may be finding out more about the kind of care and financial support that would be available for a relative if they ever need it. Then one day suddenly something happens, and they do need it. And you realise you really don’t know where to start.

So in this article we look at:

• Different types of care;
• How to arrange care;
• What financial support is available for care.

Different types of care

Short term care

• At home

If someone is discharged from hospital, and needs ongoing care, the NHS should provide some level of care free of charge for up to 6 weeks. If this does not seem to be happening, contact local social services to arrange this.

Another option for short term care at home is to arrange this privately. There are many organisations that offer care within the home, and a good place to start is by asking around or checking local social media sites for recommendations. 

It is also worth contacting charitable organisations such as Age UK for advice, and possibly also some voluntary help with day to day tasks such as shopping and light housework.

• Residential

If your relative needs a longer period of convalescence or rehabilitation, there may also be residential options available. Check this with NHS staff. 

Another option here could be to look for temporary respite care at a care home – see later in this article for more information about care homes.

Permanent care

If your relative needs more permanent care, either because of an illness or accident, or due to other factors, the first thing to do is to get in touch with social services and arrange a needs assessment. This can be done either face to face, by phone or online. There is no charge for this.

The purpose of the assessment is to find out how your relative is coping with everyday tasks, and what is the best kind of support to offer you. Following the assessment, you are likely to have one of three recommendations:

• Home adaptation

A few simple changes to your relative’s home can make a huge difference in terms of making things easier for them. For example, adapted baths and toilets, lowered worktops, widened doorways, stairlifts and outdoor ramps.

• Home care

Carers coming into the home can help with many everyday tasks, including getting up, washed and dressed, cooking, cleaning and shopping. As with short term care, check out local recommendations or try one of the following options:

• search the NHS website for local homecare agencies and national homecare organisations;
• contact your council’s social services department for information on the homecare agencies in your area;
• Check with the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) for a list of approved homecare agencies in your area.

• Residential care

A care home can feel like a daunting prospect but can be the best option to provide continual care for those who are no longer able to continue living independently. There are two main types of care home:

• Residential homes. These provide accommodation and personal care, such as help with washing, dressing, going to the toilet and taking medication. Some care homes also offer activities, such as day trips.
• Nursing homes. These provide accommodation and personal care as mentioned above, and there will also always be qualified nurses on duty to provide nursing care as needed.

Before choosing a care home, it is important to look around a few care homes to get a feel for what they are like and whether you think your relative would settle there. So again, ask around and look for local recommendations. You should be able to get a list of care homes from your local authority, and there is also a directory of care homes in the UK on the EAC (Elderly Accommodation Counsel) website.

What financial support is available for care

The good news is that there is financial help available with different types of care.

As we saw earlier, immediate care after being discharged from hospital is usually available on the NHS for up to six weeks. But there is also financial help available with ongoing care needs.

• Home adaptation

Any home adaptation costing less than £1000 can be paid for by your local council. You can find details of your local council and how to apply for help here.

For more expensive work, you may be able to get a Disabled Facilities Grant. It is also worth exploring other options such as a charity – for example Independence at Home – or your nearest Home Improvement Agency.

• Home care

If your care is provided by the council, they are likely to charge but may keep this charge at a fixed proportion of the actual cost. Or they may be able to set up a direct payment to you to go towards the cost of a carer of your choice.

There are also various benefits your relative can claim which could help with the cost of home care:

• Attendance Allowance is available to help with the costs of staying independent at home, if they are over state pension age.
• Personal Independence Payment could help them to do this if they are under state pension age.
• Carer’s Allowance may be payable if anyone is involved in caring for your relative on an unpaid basis for over 35 hours a week.

• Residential care

If a care home is the only option for your relative because of health reasons, the NHS will arrange care under their NHS continuing healthcare scheme (NHS CHC). If your relative is eligible for NHS CHC, their care home placement will be free. 

Otherwise, your relative will need to meet some or all of the care home fees themselves. However, if they do not have the means to do this, they may be eligible for financial support, depending on the amount of their income and savings. The local council will work out the overall cost of their care and create a “personal budget” of how this cost will be split between the council and your relative’s own finances.

From October 2023, the thresholds for being eligible for care are rising, which means that more financial help will be available. These thresholds are:

• Below £23,250. If your relative’s savings and assets (e.g. property) are below £23,250 they will be fully state funded, with no money taken from assets or savings. However, they may still need to contribute some of their income towards care costs.
• Between £23,250 and £100,000. Your relative will have a personal budget as mentioned above, and share costs. They will need to contribute up to 20% of their assets per year towards care costs.

• £100,000 and above. Care will be self-funded until either assets drop below £100,000 or they have spent £86,000 on care. £86,000 is the amount of a new cap being introduced in October 2023 so that no-one in England will need to spend more than this amount on their personal care. Personal care refers to residential care, nursing care and support, but does NOT include the cost of accommodation, food, energy bills, or other consumables. Also any contributions made before October 2023 will not be counted.

We hope that the information in this article helps you to make the best decision for your loved one if the time comes when they need some kind of extra care. If you need any additional funds during the early stages of the care process, an emergency loan from Loans 2 Go may be able to help you sort things out.

Do visit us here again soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Loans 2 Go.