Funding Live-in Care in Stockton-on-Tees

Taking care of a loved one who is in critical health or is battling with advanced age can be an emotional roller coaster. Servicing the need for full-time care can be a Herculean task and quite costly. However, residents of Stockton-on-Tees have multiple funding avenues for live-in care to lighten the burden. These avenues include council funding, NHS continuing healthcare, and private funding. This detailed guide will elaborate on each funding type, how it operates, and the essential steps that need to be taken.

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Live-in Care: What It Entails

In layman terms, live-in care refers to having a dedicated caregiver residing full-time with the individual requiring care. The caregiver is trained to meet the individual's daily needs and provide companionship. Contrary to nursing homes and care homes, live-in care allows your loved one to stay in their familiar surroundings while receiving quality care tailored to their specific needs. You may find more about live-in care in Stockton-on-Tees here.

Council Funding for Live-in Care

The local authority in Stockton-on-Tees offers financial assistance to residents who meet specific criteria through means-tested funding. The first step is to contact the local council through their website to request a needs assessment. This assessment evaluates your loved one’s physical, mental, and social needs to gauge the amount of care required.

If your loved one qualifies based on the needs assessment, a subsequent financial assessment (means test) will be conducted to determine if you can afford the care. It takes into account income, savings, and other assets. If your capital exceeds £23,250, you will be obligated to self-fund the care. If it's between £14,250 and £23,250, you will contribute a part of cost, while if it's below £14,250, you're eligible for maximum council funding support.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

In addition to council funding, the NHS offers a package called Continuing Healthcare for people with complex, severe health needs. It provides fully-funded care outside of the hospital, even in your own home.

Your journey towards NHS Continuing Healthcare starts with a Checklist Assessment, often carried out by a nurse, doctor or social worker. This initial screening is designed to evaluate if you're likely to qualify for full assessment.

In case you pass this checkpoint, a multidisciplinary team (MDT) will conduct a full assessment using the Decision Support Tool (DST). The full assessment considers nature, intensity, complexity, and unpredictability of care needs. Afterwards, a local NHS team will review the results and determine whether you qualify for NHS CHC.

Stockton-on-Tees falls under the scope of the Durham, Darlington, Teesside, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby integrated commissioning board. You can get more details about NHS continuing healthcare here.

Private Funding

If you don't qualify for either council funding or NHS CHC, or if you prefer to have more control over care delivery, funding live-in care privately might be a perfect choice. Private funding empowers you with more control over the choice of caregiver and does not involve means testing.

There are several ways for self-funding care. You can pay directly from savings, income, insurance policies or drawing upon investments. Another option is Equity Release, where you free the tied-up value in your property whilst maintaining the right to live there. Consulting a financial adviser with care funding experience is crucial to navigate through options and carve the best way ahead.

While private funding might seem costly, it’s important to remember that care at home, especially live-in care, can be less expensive than residential care homes.

Concluding Note

Procuring funding for live-in care in Stockton-on-Tees can seem challenging initially. However, with adequate information at your disposal and support from each of the services involved, it can be a viable and cost-effective alternative to residential care homes. Be sure to compare costs comprehensively and take your time to select the best live-in carers in Stockton-on-Tees who will meet your loved ones' needs while truly celebrating their individuality every day.