Funding Live-in Care in Surrey

Live-in Care in Surrey

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Find the most suitable means to finance your live-in care needs can often be a complex process, with a myriad of potential sources to navigate. This article aims to elucidate the main routes to procure funding for live-in care, specifically tailored to the residents of Surrey.

Broad Overview of Funding Sources

The principal sources for financing home care in Surrey include council funding, NHS continuing care, and private funding. While these prime areas are explored in detail below, it is important to remember that every individual's situation is unique and requires evaluation for the most well-suited course.

Council Funding

Funding from your local authority can be a significant resource when seeking financial management for live-in care. The Surrey local authority may be able to provide financial help for individuals with care and support needs. All the relevant information about this sort of financial assistance can be found on their dedicated page here.

How Council Funding Works

First, an assessment of your care needs is carried out by the local authority. Following this, a financial assessment (or means test) is conducted to decide if you’re eligible for funding assistance. This will consider your income and capital, such as savings and investments. If your capital is over £23,250, you’ll usually have to pay your home care costs. If, however, your capital is under £23,250 but above £14,250, you'll have to contribute towards the cost of your care.

How to Access Council Funding

Your initial step should be to contact Surrey County Council, either through their website or via telephone. They will guide you through their detailed process, which commonly starts with a care-needs assessment. Following this, the council will embark on a financial assessment to ascertain your eligibility for funding.

NHS Continuing Care

The National Health Service (NHS) also offers a type of funding known as Continuing Healthcare (CHC). This is where the NHS funds a package of care outside of hospital, arranged and funded solely by the NHS, due to health needs.

How NHS Continuing Healthcare Works

To qualify for NHS CHC funding, your primary need must be health-related and, significantly, the amount of care you require will be paramount – not the nature of your ailment or disability. The assessment process includes an initial checklist assessment, which, if you meet the criteria, is followed by a full assessment carried out by a multi-disciplinary team.

Surrey is part of the Surrey Heartlands integrated commissioning board, who are now responsible for assessing a patient's need for ongoing care.

How to Access NHS Continuing Healthcare

To begin this process, contact the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System. They will carry out the initial checklist assessment before possibly moving onto a full evaluation. More details on NHS continuing healthcare can be found here.

Private Funding

Another option, particularly for those who may not qualify for aid from the council or the NHS, is to privately fund your live-in care.

How Private Funding Works

With private funding, you're essentially self-funding the costs of your care. This usually means that you have savings, assets, or a regular income that's above the threshold for local authority funding.

How to Access Private Funding

Private funding is typically about approaching and working with a live-in care provider directly. This is where choosing the right care provider becomes critical.

For residents in Surrey, this link offers a comprehensive registry of live-in care providers. Once you've chosen a provider, they will conduct a care needs assessment, create a care plan, and let you know the overall cost. For a detailed guide on self-funding care, visit here.

Concluding Thoughts

Securing adequate financing for live-in care in Surrey, while potentially challenging, becomes more wieldable with thorough understanding and exploration of your options. Whether it's through the council, NHS, or private funding, know your rights, take the first steps, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. After all, ensuring that you or your loved ones have the care they need should always be the priority.

Moreover, factoring costs is an important part of choosing live-in care, and for a better understanding of the costs of live-in care in Surrey, have a read through this article.

Understanding the different channels of funding will allow you to make better-informed decisions about which care pathway is best for you or your loved one. Remember that comprehensive and personalised care is not just a privilege, but a right you should confidently claim. Because, in the end, it's not just about living, it's about living with dignity and quality.