Charges for Adult Care Services North Somerset Adult Social Services and Housing department is responsible for arranging personal care services for people assessed as being in greatest need. These services will help people to remain in their own home if they choose to do so and, where this is not possible, to arrange accommodation in a residential care home. Staff from a number of agencies (Health, Social Services, Housing) will work together with you and your carer or relative, if appropriate, to assess your social care needs and jointly decide how you can best be helped. For some services there are charges. A financial assessment will be undertaken to find out what you can afford to pay towards the costs of these services. Charges are usually based on ability to pay. You will not be refused a service, which it has been agreed that you need, because you cannot afford to pay The aim of this leaflet is to provide guidelines on the charges that apply for various services. The summary of the charges is enclosed on a separate sheet. If you need further help in understanding the charges, you should contact North Somerset Care Connect, telephone 01275 888 801. Residential and nursing home care If, following the assessment process, it is decided that residential or nursing home care is appropriate for you, we ill pay the cost of care and accommodation up to a maximum price determined each year by us (see section on choice). We will then decide, with you, by using government regulations how much you can afford to contribute. The following procedure is used to decide how much you should pay. Income The first step is for you to let us know about your income, for example, your earnings, pension, allowances and any other regular income. Certain income is disregarded. Further information will be provided about disregarded income during the process of financial assessment. Treatment of capital We also need to know about your savings, either in cash, in a bank or building society account, in stocks and shares, trusts or bonds or in any way which brings an income. If your savings are worth less than £13,500 we will not take them into account and you will be able to use them without affecting the amount you pay as a charge. If they are between £13,000 and £22,250, we assume the capital will give you an income of£1 per week for every £250 or part of £250. If your savings are more than £22,250, you will have to pay the full charge for residential or nursing home care until such time as your capital falls below £22,250. At that point you will be able to claim for Income Support and, when you have done this, you must apply to social services for financial reassessment. Usually, any property that you own has to be taken into account in calculating your charges for residential accommodation. The value of the house is only taken into account from 12 weeks after the date of your permanent admission to the home. However, the value of a particular house will not be included in the calculation or your accommodation charges if any of the following applies: * The house is the place where you normally live and you and you have only gone into a home on a temporary basis * Your partner or former partner continues to live in the property * A relative continues to live in the property, who is aged under sixteen and is a child whom the resident is liable to maintain Under certain circumstances, if you are unable to sell a property, we will allow any charge for residential accommodation that has been calculated on the value of that property to build up until such time as the property can be sold. We will require you to sign a legal document, which ensures that any outstanding accommodation charges are collected when your property is sold. Outgoings Your regular expenditure (outgoings) is also taken into consideration. This includes bills you will still have to pay whilst you are in residential or nursing home care, particularly if you are not giving up your house. This could include rent or mortgage not covered by Housing Benefit, heating and lighting costs, rent of telephone and insurance. You are also entitled to a Personal Expenses Allowance. Choice We will agree each year a maximum price we are prepared to pay for places in a nursing home or residential care home. However, you can choose a place in a home that is more expensive than the department is prepared to pay for. If you make this choice, you must find someone, such as a relative, who is prepared to make up the difference. You cannot pay your own ‘Third Party’ contributions. For more information see our ‘Third Party Contributions’ factsheet. Respite care in residential homes Following your care assessment, it may be decided that some or all of your needs would best be met by providing respite care. Respite care may involve you in stay in a residential or nursing home. For the financial year 2008/09 (commencing 1 April 2008) we have set a fixed rate charge for the first 8 weeks of any respite care (in any one year). * £91 per week for those aged 60 years and over * £63.70 per week for those aged between 25 and 59 years * £51.80 per week for those aged between 18 and 24 years/ If however you feel you will be unfairly disadvantaged by this fixed rate you can choose to have a full financial assessment. Day Care Centres A charge is made based on the number of attended sessions. You will be charged at the rate of £2.50 per session up to your assessed maximum weekly contribution. Home Care (home help) A standard charge per hour is made for home care. If you are in receipt of Independent Living Fund (ILF) the service is free. Exemption can also be granted on grounds of low income following a financial assessment. Charges are reviewed in April each year. A summary of charges for the current year are available in our home care charging policy factsheet. Emergency communications Carelink Service Carelink is a telephone alarm service for elderly people and for disabled people with substantial impairments. The system is available in all parts of North Somerset. It is a means of getting help in an emergency, or obtaining reassurance when feeling anxious or troubled. (There is an installation charge and a small weekly charge, as specified in our home care charging policy factsheet). Provisions of telephones for chronically sick and disabled persons We can help elderly people and disabled people to maintain necessary outside contacts and to deal with emergencies by assisting them with the provision of a telephone. To qualify for this provision you must meet the following criteria and we will need to undertake a financial assessment. * You must be living alone, or frequently left alone, or not have a reliable person living with you who can deal with emergencies * You sometimes need to be able to contact a doctor, ancillary worker or helper quickly * There is a danger or risk to you unless a telephone is provided * You are unable to leave the house in normal weather conditions and without assistance, or have seriously restricted mobility We will meet the costs of installation and rental. The cost of any calls will always be your responsibility. Acceptance automatically includes connection to the Carelink system. Community Meals (meals on wheels) Meals are provided for older and disabled people who are living in their homes within the community and who have no other means of obtaining a meal. A charge per meal is made (see our home care charging policy factsheet). Physical aids to independence Disabled people can be assisted in maintaining their independence by the provision of physical aids and equipment. Some are provided free on loan by the Health Authorities and Housing and Social Services. Occupational therapists provide training in use of the equipment free of charge, plus advice on where equipment can be purchased. Structural alterations to your house Financial assistance may be available towards the cost of structural alterations that assist disabled people in maintaining independence in their homes. In certain circumstances grants are available. In other circumstances clients are expected either to fund the cost of adaptation by a loan from a building society or bank, or by a loan from us. For further details on the rules call North Somerset Care Connect Telephone 01275 888 801. Useful Information Calculation of weekly charges enquiry line: 01275 888 340 01275 884 515 Collection of weekly charges enquiry line: 01275 884 405 Receiverships enquiry line: 01275 888 347/3 To find out further information about services please contact North Somerset Care Connect Telephone: 01275 888 801 Minicom: 01275 888 805 Lines are open: Monday to Thursday 0830 to 1700, Fridays 0830 – 1630. At other times (including weekends and bank holidays), in the event of an emergency, an Emergency Duty Service can be contacted on 01454 615 165. Disability Information and Advice Line (DIAL) Telephone: 01934 419 426 Open to public Tuesday and Thursday 1100 – 1500 Wednesday and Friday 1000 – 1400 Crossroads Carer Centre 1 Graham Road Weston-super-Mare Somerset BS23 1YA Telephone: 01934 411 855 Counsel and Care factsheet: ‘Care homes – what to look for’ Contact: Counsel and Care Twyman House 16 Bonny Street London NW1 9PG Telephone: 0207 241 8555 www.counselandcare.org.uk Further Information The information in this leaflet is relevant as at April 2008. Most charges are subject to annual review. The annual review involves consideration of whether services provided free of charge should become chargeable. It is intended, therefore, to produce this leaflet in April each year. You should however, contact the local office if necessary to obtain the current position on charges, if you are in doubt. For further information relating to Income Support and other social security benefits, contact your local Benefit Agency Office, which is listed in the telephone directory. This publication is available in large print, Braille or audio formats on request. Help is also available for people who require council information in languages other than English. Please contact 01275 882181. Produced June 2008 1