Older people who pay for their own residential care are not getting a fair deal, according to a new study.
It finds that older people who pay for a care home place in England and Wales are unlikely to receive fair treatment from their local authority.
The report, 'Asset stripping: local authorities and older homeowners paying for a care home place', shows that many older people with assets in excess of £18,500, beyond which they are not entitled to a local authority funded care home place, do not receive a needs assessment from their local authority to determine whether residential or some other form of supported care is the best option for them.
Many local authorities actively employ strategies to discourage older people with assets over the upper capital limit from pursuing a needs assessment. Many older people and their relatives were not aware a needs assessment could be provided, and missed out on advice about alternatives to residential care such as support services at home or moving into sheltered housing.
Report available from 01235 465500
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