Your loved one may deny they need help and support, or they may genuinely believe they can manage on their own. However, dementia is a progressive condition, and it will impact many aspects of the person’s capabilities as it takes hold.
There will come a time when your loved one cannot be left alone and won’t be able to live on their own. You will need to explore live-in care, care home options or the person live with you or another relative. The sooner you do this the better, so that you have a plan in place for when more robust support is required.
You may want your loved one to live with you but be unable to provide the care and support they will need 24/7. It’s important not to dwell on any feelings of guilt about this. Put the person’s care needs first and don’t blame yourself for circumstances beyond your control. Take a proactive approach to their future care.
Live-in care versus residential care
In some cases, a live-in carer can be a viable option for your loved one. Naturally they may want to remain in their own home for as long as possible.
Live-in care is when a carer moves into the person’s home to provide personal care and domestic chores. A live-in carer will provide personal support tailored to the needs of your loved one.
It may be better for your loved one to remain in their own home rather than having the upheaval of moving into an unfamiliar place. However, it needs to be practical. You will need to ensure that the home care agency you speak about this can provide a suitably experienced carer. And it’s important to consider what would happen if that carer became ill or went on holiday.
Going into residential care means that your loved one will need to leave their home and most likely give up their pet if they have one. In most care homes, residents have their own private bedroom and bathroom, with access to a communal room and garden.
Choosing the right care home can be a challenge. However, it’s important to be aware that there are different types of residential care. A care home, also known as a residential care home, will support the person with personal care and offer them the chance to socialise and join in with activities.
Nursing homes provide registered nursing care for a person in need of a greater level of care. A nursing home may be more appropriate for a person in the later stages of their dementia. A nursing home will have a qualified nurse available round the clock.
If you’re unsure what the best solution might be, seek advice from the person’s GP or healthcare professional.
When choosing a care home, ask plenty of questions and make sure you check the home’s rating on the Care Quality Commission’’s (CQC) website. This rates care homes based on whether they are considered safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. You will be able to read a detailed report on any prospective care homes you have in mind on the website.
Who pays for a care or nursing home?
Your loved one will need to have an assessment of their care needs, known as a needs assessment. Their local authority will decide who pays for their care. Some people will pay for all of their care, while others will pay for some of it.
If a financial assessment shows that your loved one has capital over £23,250, it’s likely that they will have to pay all of their care costs. If the person has less than this amount, they will pay what they can afford, and the local authority may contribute towards fees.
If your loved one is already having care at home, the value of their property is not counted in their assessment.
If they are already living in a care home, but they own their own property, it may be included in their financial assessment.
If you have to sell your loved one’s home to pay for the cost of care, the value of their home should not be counted for the first 12 weeks of them living in a care home.
Care home fees can be expensive. The person’s local authority will have an upper limit on what they are prepared to contribute. They will usually provide a list of care homes in the person’s area and your loved one can choose from the list. They must offer at least one care home that meets your loved one’s needs.
If your loved one wants to stay in a more expensive care home, their local authority may agree to part-fund their place, provided a third party such as a relative pays the difference. This is called a ‘top up’ fee. Top-up agreements are made with the local authority who has a contract with the home.
Care home costs vary, but residential care is generally less expensive than nursing care.
It’s important to ensure your loved one is receiving all of the financial help and support they are entitled to. <Link to claim their benefits>.
Sources:
https://www.thegoodcaregroup.com/care-advice/live-in-care-vs-care-home/
https://www.careuk.com/help-advice/what-s-the-difference-between-a-care-home-and-a-nursing-home