Funding Live-in Care in Poole

When you or a loved one require live-in care, understanding how to fund it can be a daunting task. In this detailed guide, we're going to help you navigate the complexities of securing funding for live-in care in Poole, discussing various avenues such as council funding, NHS continuing care and even private funding.

Live-in Care in Poole

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Council Funding For Live-In Care

Social care services are provided by the local authority and are not free in the UK, unlike the NHS. The local council funding for care is means-tested, meaning the financial assistance offered depends on your income, savings and assets.

When you approach the Poole local authority regarding funding your live-in care, they will conduct a needs assessment, and afterwards, a financial assessment. The needs assessment will determine what sort of care you require, how often and how much, while the financial assessment will examine your ability to pay.

When it comes to assets, your home is not immediately considered. If you're moving into residential care, it might be, but for live-in care, it's not included in the means test unless it's jointly owned and the other owner is not a spouse or dependent relative.

If your income and savings are below the threshold set by the local authority, you will be eligible to receive funding. However, even if you're not eligible for full funding, the council can still provide a 'top-up' which can help ease some of the costs.

The first step to securing council funding is to contact your local authority and request an assessment. You might also want to gather your financial information to streamline the financial assessment process.

Further details on local authority funding can be found in our comprehensive Guide to Local Authority Funding.

NHS Continuing Care

Unlike local authority funding, NHS continuing care is not means-tested. Instead, it's based on a specific health need. So, instead of looking at your income and assets, eligibility depends on whether your primary need is a health need.

This type of funding is provided by the Dorset Integrated Commissioning Board, in case you're a resident of Poole. An assessment is conducted to determine if the client's health needs are complex, substantial and ongoing.

To start the process, you need to approach your GP or social worker for an initial checklist assessment. This will determine if a full assessment is required.

If you're found to be eligible for NHS continuing care after both assessments, the NHS will fund your care. This could be in any setting including a care home, hospice, or your own home. If you get full NHS continuing healthcare, it will cover all care costs including personal care and healthcare costs, as well as care-related accommodation costs.

Find more about the NHS Continuing Healthcare in our Complete Guide.

Private Funding

In some instances, individuals may choose to privately fund their live-in care. This is also known as self-funding. In this scenario, you will be directly responsible for paying your care fees.

There are numerous ways to privately fund care, including drawing on savings, selling assets, or using pensions or benefits. Another option is a 'care fees annuity' purchased via a specialised financial adviser.

Remember, just because you're privately funding your care, doesn't mean you can't avail advice from your local authority or have a care plan developed.

Our Complete Guide to Self-Funding Care offers a detailed look into how this process works.

Conclusion

There's no doubt that the cost of care can be substantial, whether you're looking at a live-in care situation or another form of adult care. However, it's worth understanding that you are not alone, and there are several ways to fund live-in care in Poole, as discussed here.

Your first step should always be to seek advice and conduct a care needs assessment. Whether you're eligible for council funding, NHS continuing care, or if you have to privately fund your care, knowing the ins and outs of each method will help you plan your journey better.

Knowing what live-in care costs in Poole can also give you a head start in planning. You can get a sense of it from our comprehensive guide on Cost of Live-in Care in Poole. Moreover, to find the best carers you might want to check out Best Live-in Carers in Poole.

Finally, remember to take care of yourself. It's essential to look at the emotional aspects of live-in care alongside the financial ones. You're not alone in this, support is available throughout your journey to secure the best possible live-in care.