Am I Eligible for Free Live-in Care if I Have Dementia?

Eligibility for free live-in care with dementia in the UK depends on your financial circumstances and health needs. If you have complex health and care needs, you may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare, or you may qualify for funding from your local council. But getting to know these processes and finding out if you’re eligible is not always straightforward. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Live-In Care? The Essential Guide For 2024

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What is Live-in Care?

Live-in care is a full-time care service where the carer lives with the person in need of care in their own home. This service can benefit individuals with dementia, allowing them to stay in a familiar environment, keep up their daily routines, and provide 24/7 assistance when required.

Understanding NHS Continuing Healthcare

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of ongoing healthcare fully funded by the NHS, and it’s available to people with significant ongoing healthcare needs. This funding is non-means-tested, which means it is provided regardless of the person’s income or savings.

This care aims to fund health costs, including the cost of a carer or nurse. NHS Continuing Healthcare can be provided in various settings, including in your home or an assisted living facility, and could indeed cover the total cost of a live-in carer.

Eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare

To be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, you must undergo an assessment by a team of healthcare professionals. The assessment will look at your health needs using a decision support tool, and you will be judged on your:

• Behaviour
• Cognition (understanding)
• Communication
• Psychological or emotional needs
• Mobility
• Nutrition (food and drink)
• Continence
• Skin (including wounds and ulcers)
• Breathing
• Symptom control through drug therapies and medication
• Altered states of consciousness
• Other significant care needs

Each category is graded in terms of ‘priority’, ‘severe’, ‘high’, ‘moderate’, ‘low’ or ‘no needs’. If you are found to have at least one ‘priority’ need or severe need in at least two areas, you can be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

Local Council-Funded Care

You can apply for local council-funded care if you don’t qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Your local council will carry out a Care Needs Assessment to determine the level of care you require and whether you’re eligible for financial support.

The council will provide a personal budget, which can be spent on care services you need, such as hiring a live-in carer. However, unlike NHS Continuing Healthcare, this type of funding is means-tested.

Self-funding Live-in Care

If you’re not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare or local council funding, or while waiting for these assessments to be completed, you may need to explore options for self-funding your live-in care.

There could be different ways to self-fund your care, including using personal savings, selling assets, care annuities, or equity release schemes. Understanding how these work and which suits your circumstances best is crucial when funding live-in care.

Live-in Care Costs

The cost of live-in care can vary widely depending on your location and the level of care needed. Here at PrimeCarers, we can help you find a private carer that fits your needs and budget.

Finding the Right Live-in Carer

A fundamental part of successful live-in care is matching with the right carer. This is not just someone who can meet your needs but also someone you feel comfortable with. We at PrimeCarers can help find a live-in carer that suits your needs and personality.

Conclusion

Living with dementia is tough; finding a live-in carer and working out the financial implications can be overwhelming. Help is available, though, via the NHS and local council funding. It’s also essential to remember the goal: a suitable, comfortable long-term care solution that enables continued independence and a better quality of life. We at PrimeCarers are here to assist you, offering valuable advice, support and direction.