Funding Live-in Care in Havering

The need for live-in care cannot always be predicted. Whether due to aging, illness, or an unexpected accident, the requirement can come suddenly, leaving families unsure about how to financially navigate this change. In Havering, various options can alleviate these pressures and this guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of potential funding sources that include council funding, NHS continuing care, and private financing.

Live-in Care in Havering

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Council Funding for Care

The Havering local authority is devoted to making the process of accessing and funding comprehensive live-in care as transparent and straightforward as possible. The starting point in this journey involves an assessment of your loved one's financial capacity and care requirements carried out by the council’s Adult Social Care team.

To initiate this, it's crucial to contact the Havering Adult Social Care team here. After this point, the authority will hold an assessment to determine the person's care needs and if they qualify for financial support.

Eligibility for support is means-tested, which involves the evaluation of the person's income, savings, and capital to establish how much they can comfortably contribute. The upper limit for full funding support in England is £23,250 - if your capital is below this, you could qualify for some form of council aid.

Upon a successful means test, a personalised care and support plan is created. This gives an outline of the required care, the associated costs, and who will manage it.

Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

If you are eligible for council support, you will receive a personal budget. This is an allocation of funding given by the local authority after assessing what kind of support you need. This budget can be received in two ways. Either as a direct payment where the money is paid into your account and you use it to arrange your own services, or the council can manage the budget for you.

Direct payments offer a level of freedom, enabling you to choose a preferable care service, which could be the best live-in carers in Havering, but also require more administrative duty. On the other hand, having the council manage your budget may ease this stress.

NHS Continuing Healthcare and the North East London Integrated Commissioning Board

NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care that is arranged and fully funded by the NHS for individuals outside of hospital who have complex, ongoing healthcare needs. Eligibility for this kind of funding involves a two-step assessment process carried out by the local Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB).

Havering is part of the North East London Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB). Previously known as Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), ICBs are responsible for assessing a patient's need for ongoing care. Detailed information on this process can be found here.

Understanding the assessment process for NHS continuing healthcare is crucial and this complete guide can provide further insights.

If you are eligible for NHS continuing care, the ICB will pay for live-in care costs. This could range from care at home to funding a place in a care home. The level of funding is determined by the complexity and type of care required which is identified during the assessment process.

Private Funding

For those not eligible for council or NHS funding, or for those who prefer to avoid processes, private funding is an alternative. This often involves utilising personal savings, pensions, or other assets to cover the cost of care.

Self-funding care may provide increased flexibility in choice of carers or services, but it's important to be aware of the Cost of Live-in Care in Havering. The complete guide to self-funding care provides additional details to comprehend this process.

Insurances like long-term care insurance can also help with financing, but requires pre-planning and the rates often change based on your health, age, and the level of coverage you seek.

Conclusion

Securing the best live-in care available in Havering effectively often requires blending sources of funding. Whether through council funding, NHS continuing healthcare provided by the North East London ICB, or private funding, it's important to carefully assess every option and weigh them against your financial capacity and care needs. Each type of funding has its own steps to initiate, rules to adhere to, and implications to understand, so consulting with a financial advisor or social services can be a sensible course of action. Remember to be prepared, ask lots of questions, and most importantly, remember that the health and wellbeing of your loved one is the ultimate priority.

No matter how intricate the journey to securing live-in care in Havering may seem, remember to not lose sight of the bigger picture – ensuring your loved one receives the care they need in the comfort of their home.

For further information or more specific advice about live-in care in Havering, you may want to find a comprehensive list of live-in care providers in Havering here or read the complete guide to live-in care here.