Funding Home Care in Surrey

Funding home care in Surrey is achievable through council funding, NHS continuing healthcare, or private funding.

Home Care in Surrey

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Funding Home Care: An Overview

Multiple sources can help Surrey residents fund their home care. Essentially, you can turn to the local council, the NHS, or funding from private entities like pensions, savings, or equity releases.

Council Funding: Surrey Local Authority

The Surrey Local Authority may be the primary point of contact for those seeking council funding. The local authority's website provides comprehensive information about funding care and allows Surrey citizens to estimate their potential council funding.

How Council Funding Works

The Surrey Local Authority provides support based on an individual's personal and financial circumstances. Funding is means-tested, meaning one's assets and income will determine their eligibility and the level of funding they can receive.

First Steps for Council Funding

Start by contacting your local social care department to arrange a care needs assessment. This assessment will evaluate your care requirements and help the council decide the best way to meet your needs.

After the needs assessment, a comprehensive financial assessment follows. This process is to determine how much you can afford to contribute towards your care. It's important to be upfront about your financial situation to receive the most accurate support.

Advantages of council funding include peace of mind, as your care needs will not deplete your savings. Disadvantages, however, may involve inflexibility, as you may not get to choose your care provider, and financial contributions may change based on income and savings levels.

NHS Continuing Healthcare

NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care that some people are entitled to receive as a result of a disability, accident, or illness. The Surrey Heartlands integrated commissioning board (ICB) determines this funding.

How NHS Continuing Healthcare Works

The main difference between council funding and NHS continuing healthcare is that the latter isn't means-tested. Any UK resident over the age of 18, irrespective of their financial situation, can be eligible if they have a certain level of care needs due to a disability, illness, or accident.

NHS continuing healthcare can cover the full costs of home care, including personal care and healthcare tasks, and sometimes it even covers care home fees.

First Steps for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding

The starting point for those looking into NHS continuing healthcare funding is a checklist assessment, typically carried out by a nurse or a social worker. This assessment helps to determine if you should be referred for a full assessment, performed by a multi-disciplinary team.

One of NHS continuing healthcare's key benefits is its all-inclusive nature. Should you be awarded this funding, it covers the whole realm of needs, including both medical and personal care. On the downside, the assessment process can be long and tough.

Private Funding

Then we have private funding, which can be achieved through savings, pensions, property equity release, income from trusts and investments, or other private insurance schemes.

How Private Funding Works

Private funding best suits those who do not qualify for council or NHS funding, or for those who prefer a more flexible investment in their home care.

First Steps for Private Funding

Rather than going through an assessment process, the first step for private funding is to determine what you can afford. A conversation with a financial advisor specialised in care funding could help. You'll also need to research the cost of home care in Surrey.

Links to Consider

• Looking for home care in Surrey? Check out the options on the PrimeCarers website.
• Want to know about the best home carers in Surrey? This link will guide you.
• If you're unsure about your options, here's a complete guide to home care from PrimeCarers.
• For a deeper dive into NHS continuing healthcare, here's a complete guide from PrimeCarers.
• The same goes for local authority funding – here's a complete guide from PrimeCarers.
• And if you are considering self-funding, then this complete guide to self-funding care might serve you well.

Conclusion

Funding home care in Surrey, while it may initially sound challenging, is not insurmountable – and help is available. Whether it's through the Surrey Local Authority, the NHS, or by leveraging private funding, a variety of options exist to ensure everyone in Surrey can access the home care they need.