Oak Lodge Brochure - Forest Care

AllI- nclusive Fees & Funding

Funding a place in a care home can be a complex and daunting process, largely dependent on individual financial circumstances. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you. Below is a brief overview of the options available to assist with planning and decision-making:

SELF-FUNDING Residents whose total assets (cash/property/ shares, etc.) exceed the Government’s “Capital Threshold” are expected to pay their own care home fees. For some residents this may mean needing to sell their property, where, subject to certain conditions being met, Forest Care will usually agree to accrue and defer fee payments until the property is sold. NHS FUNDING NURSING CARE CONTRIBUTION Anyone needing nursing care may qualify for NHS Funded Nursing Care Contribution (also known as Free Nursing Care), subject to assessment, even if the Local Authority is contributing to the care fees. The NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding may be available, subject to assessment, for people with more intensive nursing needs – due to disability, accident or long-term illness for example. LOCAL AUTHORITY FUNDING A needs assessment from your Local Authority will determine eligibility for any funding, benefits and allowances. Even if you don’t NHS CONTINUING HEALTHCARE FUNDING

qualify for financial assistance right now, this assessment may help if your circumstances change. Your Local Authority will also carry out a means-tested financial assessment, taking into consideration the total value of your assets, such as your home and income. Your Local Authority should contribute to your care costs if the value of your total assets falls below the Government’s “Capital Threshold” but residents and/or their families will typically need to ‘top up’ any contribution from the Local Authority in order to meet our full fees. 12-WEEK PROPERTY DISREGARD Where you are self-funding by virtue of owning a property, your Local Authority will usually disregard the value of that property for the first 12 weeks of your stay in a care home. That enables time for the property to be sold and means they will pay your fees at their “Guide Rate” for those first 12 weeks. Where the “Guide Rate” does not meet the home’s full fees, you may be asked to “top-up” once the property is sold. DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENT Local Authorities may offer a ‘Deferred Payment Agreement’ depending on circumstances, which avoids a resident’s home having to be sold during their lifetime. This funding is treated as an interest-free loan and secured against the value of the property.

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