It has been revealed that public funding for care services has been cut by a quarter since 2010.
This is a shocking figure. We should all be outraged! And yet we have become so accustomed to cuts in Government spending in recent years that sometimes its meaning becomes lost.
The BBC has been running a series of features on the issue of care home fees and one story in particular caught our eye.
It is the story of ‘Maureen’ who was diagnosed with dementia.
Maureen’s family opened their hearts to the BBC. They explained how she had been looking forward to a long and happy retirement with her husband Russell, who had worked hard all his life building up a successful plumbing business. The couple had plans to spend their retirement travelling and enjoying life. But the diagnosis of dementia robbed Maureen and Russell of their hopes and dreams for the future.
Worse was to come. The stress of trying to care for Maureen meant Russell suffered a mini stroke and a heart attack.
It was clear mum and dad were both struggling. Their caring family decided the best plan would be to sell their parents’ house in Leeds and help them move south so they could all be nearer.
This meant finding a nursing home for Maureen in Berkshire and a new bungalow for Russell.
However, there were problems with funding the nursing home care fees.
Daughter, Sandy told the BBC that Leeds City Council – which was classed as the “home” local authority because Maureen had lived there previously – would not fund the whole cost.
And even though Maureen was receiving nursing care, the NHS also refused to contribute.
Sandy said: “We had to pay nearly half of it – about £500 a week. It seems so unfair. If she had cancer, the NHS would have been there for her.
“But she had a brain disease and so we didn’t get any help from the NHS, despite the fact she needed nursing care.”
Nine years on, the family reckon Maureen’s nursing home care has cost them around £250,000.
Maureen’s story is sadly very familiar to the team at Steene Law. “It’s so unfair!” – is something we constantly hear when people first call us seeking help and advice.
At Steene Law ‘we get it’. We understand and we’re on your side.
Our team are experts in elderly care law and we’ll fight on your behalf to protect what’s yours.
We can check if your family member should be entitled to Continuing Health Care.
Even if they are not eligible, there are many ways we can lawfully protect your parent’s home and savings – effectively ring-fencing them from care home fees.
If you are worried about care home fees call us now for a FREE conversation on 0203 653 0623.