Who can help me when considering a move to a Care Home?

If you are considering a move to a care home then you should think about your needs and preferences. East Dunbartonshire Social Work Department can help you to:

• Decide whether or not you need to move into care and help you look at the services available which might help you remain in your own home.
• Find a suitable care home.
• Assess your eligibility for financial support, including Free Personal and Nursing Care.

Can I visit a Care Home before I make my decision?

It is a good idea to visit the care homes that you are interested in as you can’t always find out everything you might want to know from a telephone call, reports or brochures. 

When visiting some of the things you might want to consider include:

• What level of care do you need and will this be provided
• What area do you want to live in
• What can you afford to pay
• How is the care home run
• Are the staff friendly and approachable
• Do other residents enjoy living there
• What activities are on offer
• What is the food like

It is important that you are happy in the care home that you choose to live in, you are making an important decision and should take the time to have a look around, ask questions and find out about the things that are important to you. 

Where can I access information about moving to a Care Home?

Alzheimer Scotland Action on Dementia have produced a useful booklet, A Positive Choice, which gives further information on some of the things you might want to know about choosing a care home. Copies of these can be obtained from Alzheimer Scotland on 0808 808 3000 or alternatively you can contact Ceartas on 0141 775 0433 and we can send one out to you. East Dunbartonshire Council can provide you with a Choices for Older People brochure which gives detailed information on moving into care, financial assessments, deferred payments and Care Commission Inspection Reports for all care homes in the East Dunbartonshire area. To receive a copy of this please contact Advice and Response on 0141 775 1311. 

What costs are involved?

If you hope to receive help from East Dunbartonshire Council with paying for Care Home fees then a Community Care and Financial Assessment must be undertaken.People who do not have large amounts of savings or assets may be entitled to financial help from the Council or the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

The amount paid by the council and DWP is limited and some care homes set their fees at this limit. If you choose a care home which charges more than this limit then you or your family will have to pay the difference – this is known as Third Party Contribution or Top Up. Each home should offer a contract stating the services they offer and the cost to you. If you have savings of over £22,500 or you own a property you will not be eligible for this support. However, you can apply for Free Personal Care. Where this is appropriate you can receive £153 per week for personal care and £69 per week for nursing care. You must be over 65 to receive the personal care element of £153 per week. 

What if I do not have the funds to pay for a Care Home?

You can also apply for financial assistance from the Social Work Department for a 12 week period in order to sell a property if you have capital of under £22,500. This is known as a "12 week disregard". If you own a property and have capital of under £13,750 you may wish to consider deferred payments. This means that instead of having to sell your home in advance to meet your care home fees you will be able to enter into a legal agreement with East Dunbartonshire Council to have part of your fees paid and the balance met from your estate.

A deferred payment does not mean that you will keep more of your income or your capital than would normally be the case. A deferred payment is essentially a loan provided by East Dunbartonshire Council against the future sale of your house. East Dunbartonshire Council have a statutory duty to offer a deferment, although it is discretionary. 

Your social worker can answer any questions on the most appropriate funding to suit your circumstances.