Despite a new PM and fresh Government proposals to kick-start the national debate on social care reform, we would urge families not to wait before planning later-life care. Still, it is too often the case, that families are making urgent, expensive and emotionally difficult decisions in a crisis – usually after a fall, hospital discharge or sudden decline in a loved one’s health. People making decisions now need clear guidance on assessments, care costs, funding routes and what to do before crisis hits.
Typically, families do not sit down and plan for long-term care in calm conditions. They start thinking about it after something has happened. By that point, they are usually worried, short on time and trying to understand a system they have never had reason to look at before. That is an incredibly difficult position for any family to be in.
In England the starting point is a Local Authority care needs assessment to ascertain what support someone requires, followed by a financial assessment to work out whether the Local Authority will contribute towards the cost. Some families may also need to check whether NHS Continuing Healthcare or NHS-funded nursing care applies. If you are embarking, or are well and truly in that process, do get in touch. If we can’t help, we certainly have trusted care experts that can.
Unfortunately, the system is not designed to be easy to understand in a crisis, but that is exactly when most people are expected to understand it. Families may be trying to work out whether a parent qualifies for Local Authority support, whether health needs should be assessed by the NHS, what happens if there is a property involved, and how quickly a decision needs to be made. At the same time, they are dealing with guilt, worry and sometimes disagreements within the family.
One of the hardest things to explain is that moving into care is not a sign that a family has failed. In many cases, it is the point where a person needs more support than relatives can safely provide at home. Recognising that early can make the decision kinder, calmer and safer for everyone.
Care homes are also under growing pressure, with rising wages, recruitment costs, food bills, utilities and maintenance all affecting the cost of providing good care.
Good care is not just about a safe room and enough people on shift. It is about continuity, routine, food, activities, relationships, dignity and the small details that make someone feel known. Families should feel able to ask homes what they are paying for, how staff are supported, what happens when a resident’s needs change and how quality is maintained behind the scenes.
Families should start conversations about future care before they are forced into a rushed decision. He said there are five practical steps people can take early:
1. Ask the local council for a needs assessment as soon as care needs begin to change.
2. Arrange Lasting Powers of Attorney early so someone trusted can help make financial or care-related decisions if the person later loses capacity.
3. Gather key financial information early, including income, savings, property details and existing care costs.
4. Talk openly about what matters most to the person who may need support, including where they would feel safest and what routines are important to them.
5. Visit care homes before a move becomes urgent and ask direct questions about daily routines, mealtimes, staffing, activities and what happens if someone’s needs increase.
The best protection families have is time. If you understand the questions before a crisis, you are in a much stronger position to make decisions calmly and confidently. Visit homes before you need one. Ask practical questions. Talk to your relative about what they would want. Look into the paperwork early. These conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they are far easier than trying to make every decision in a crisis.
Care reform is often discussed at a national level, but for families it comes down to something much more immediate: finding the right support, understanding the costs and knowing their loved one will be cared for properly.
Harold Stephens
This November, SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisers) Accredited adviser Richard Higgs is offering free face-to-face Care Fee Planning seminars. Come along to explore the different ways care might be funded, understand more about the options available and ask any questions you may have.
11th November – 2pm – 3pm – St Peter’s Church, Henleaze
18th November – 6pm – 7pm – Lovell Place Care Home, Patchway
25th November – 5pm – 6pm – Stoke Lodge, Stoke Bishop
Book your place by calling 0117 3636 212 or emailing office@haroldstephens.co.uk
