Who should care?


Finding the money to pay for long-term care is a daunting prospect. But for many, that is only the beginning of their problems. Choosing between different care options and finding out where to go for help can also be a tough challenge. But specialist advisers can provide a lifeline.

Putting her mother in residential care became a nightmare for Joan Dembinska. While social services squabbled over who should pay, Joan's savings were dwindling. Joan, 65, and husband Aurelinsz, were left paying the bills after they moved Joan's 91-year old mother, Nancy, nearer their home in Reigate, Surrey.

Having found a suitable care home, the Dembinskas were unable to sell Nancy's house in Brighton, 30 miles away. Meanwhile, the two local authorities were arguing over which, if either, would pay the care bills. The Dembinskas needed a lifeline. Fortunately, a growing number of specialist agencies will, for a fee, help families with problems over care.

They include Grace Consulting of Guildford, Surrey, and CareAware in Manchester, which offers advice over the phone. The charity Help the Aged runs an advice service linked to Nursing Home Fees Agency of Oxford.

Joan found her salvation in the Help the Aged care service. She says: 'It was excellent. An adviser came to the house and worked through all the options with us. He was able to help my mother claim extra state benefit such as a higher level of attendance allowance and income support. This made a big difference to her weekly income and helped reduce the drain on all our savings.'

Later, when Nancy's house had been sold, the adviser arranged for her to buy an annuity with some of the proceeds. This, with her other income from pensions, provides enough cash to pay the care-home bills. Joan says: 'This has given us tremendous peace of mind. We now know that my mother's care bills are covered, no matter what.'

Care advisers earn their living in a number of ways. Some charge a direct fee. Grace Consulting, for example, charges £100 an hour. Others are paid commission by the owners of residential homes to whom they refer people. This is acceptable if it is disclosed to clients, but may limit the choice of homes.

The advice service from Help the Aged is free, but if a client buys one of its recommended insurance packages or annuities, the charity receives commission that helps offset its costs.

State help for care bills is limited, though almost everyone will be entitled to something. For example, attendance allowance is a non means-tested benefit, claimed from the DSS and paid weekly. Someone who needs care day and night could claim more than £50 a week. This can be used to offset the costs of care in their own home and residential care.

Nicolette Gardner, specialist care adviser with independent financial adviser Chambers and Company in Chelmsford, Essex, says it is worthwhile having a local authority assessment, even if a claimant does not expect to qualify for much financial help.

She says: 'I would always urge clients to have a physical and medical check and a financial assessment. Then they will know exactly where they are, what type of care is recommended and what, if anything, the local authority may be willing to pay.'

Even when relatives have worked out how bills will be paid, there can still be practical problems - for example, what to do with elderly people's pets. Another common problem arises when elderly people become so unweill that they cannot make decisions about their own future. Gardner says: 'It is absolutely vital that the elderly grant someone in their family an enduring power of attorney. This will allow the nominated person to make decisions about the elderly person's future if they are no longer well enough to decide for themselves. Solicitors will arrange a power of attorney for £50 or £60.'

Nursing Homes Fees Agency, 0800 998833, www.nhfa.co.uk; Help the Aged Care Fees Advisory Service, 0500 767476; Grace Consulting, 0800 137669; CareAware, 08705 134925, www.careaware.co.uk

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Who should care?

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