Elderly Home Care Solutions

Most people needing long term care want to remain in their own homes and this is strongly encouraged by the UK government.

There are many reasons why people require elderly home care solutions including:

• Frailty
• Mobility
• Dementia
• Debilitating illness
• Failing eyesight/hearing

There are two parts to elderly home care solutions:

• Financial Aspects
• Home Care Services

The financial and legal aspects of senior care go hand in hand with the quality of personal home care and are a very important consideration for those able to pay privately because they have enough savings or own their own home. Quality elderly home care is usually payable for life. It is also essential to plan ahead for rising home care costs due to increased needs, possibly culminating in full time elderly nursing care at home or residential nursing home care.

When a person’s savings exceed the prevailing limits they must pay for their own elderly home care. In many cases the costs are considerable, up to £750 plus weekly for full time home nursing care, well beyond local authority rates.

If the care recipient’s savings fall below the prevailing limit, the local authority will pay home care fees, however local authority hourly rates are usually much lower than quality home care provider’s fees. So when money runs out, home care solutions become restricted. But there are ways through proven financial solutions that can help to prevent your money running out. It is even possible to use a person’s home to pay for their own elderly home care, avoiding the need to downsize or move into residential care. This can be achieved by seeking specialist independent advice from equityCare.

Elderly home care is very much a people business and families strive for the best quality of care for their loved ones. Home care agencies that operate on local authority rates may not be able to employ the quality of staff they desire. Apart from rare horror stories heard in the media, more common complaints about low paid unqualified home care services often relate to the quality of service, lack of qualifications, knowledge and experience. Other areas for concern may include communication problems with English language, working a fraction of the allotted time, general attitude, turning up late or failing to turn up at all. Qualified, experienced and dependable home health care personnel enjoy better rates of pay and this is reflected in the home care service provider’s costs of high quality personal, elderly home care solutions.

Quality in home care comes at a price, but ensures the person’s well being and brings peace of mind. Also high quality personal home care may result in longer life expectancy. However when people live longer, their money can run out, especially when savings interest rates are low and they have not received any advice on planning to pay for their private home health care. If this happens, the person in need of elderly home care must resort to local authority funding and may have to change their existing personal home care provider for another homecare agency able to accept lower rates.

So what is the answer to paying for top quality, elderly home care?

There are ways to ensure regular payments are paid directly to the home care service provider and there is no tax liability on the person receiving elderly home care. Payments can move to another home care provider if the person’s home health care requirements change and will continue for life even if residential care is ultimately needed.

How to raise money to pay for elderly home care solutions

It may be feasible to pay elderly home care fees out of savings if enough money is available. Alternatively some money can be released from the elderly person’s home to pay for home care fees. The process will provide peace of mind in knowing that a guaranteed payment for life will help maintain an elderly person’s high quality of personal, elderly home care for as long as possible or eventually to meet quality residential care fees.

A word of Caution

Remember that immediate home care plans and equity release schemes are not suitable for everyone. Whilst there are advantages there are also some disadvantages, therefore it is essential that you seek independent advice of the highest calibre. In this respect look no further than equityCare, highly qualified care fees and equity release specialists that abide by a strict code of ethics applicable to the few firms that qualify for the prestigious designation of ‘Chartered Financial Planners’.

Choosing the Right Elderly Home Care Provider

When paying for personal home care privately it is advisable to seek specialist advice from an Independent home care counsellor. Your home care counsellor can advise you and your family on the personal home care options available and will have access to detailed information about local elderly home care services. This knowledge is very important as some elderly home care services may focus on certain special needs. Your care counsellor will take account of your loved one’s personal requirements and medical situation when recommending the most appropriate home health care arrangements. Your counsellor will also be able to advise on home adaptations and equipment necessary for the comfort and well being of the elderly home care recipient.

A professional care counsellor provides you and other family members with the reassurance that comes from knowing you have obtained the best possible independent advice. The first step to assessing a person’s home care needs is to arrange an initial discussion with a specialist care counsellor who is able to take account of the care recipient's personal circumstances relating to finances, medical requirements and practical arrangements.

equityCare’s associate care counsellors are probably the largest organisation of its type in the UK. They have been established since 1968 and have helped thousands of families to achieve the best possible elderly home care and well being for their loved ones together with peace of mind for families. Your independent care counsellor and equityCare financial specialist combine to provide you with the most appropriate home care solutions tailored specifically to meet home care needs.

For more information about elderly home care solutions, simply call the freephone equityCare helpline on 0800 014 1640 or complete an initial enquiry form.