Who Pays for Care at Home?
Following a community care assessment, a Social & Community Services Care Manager may arrange a package of services to support the person with dementia at home. The local authority may charge for services it arranges. Only the person receiving the services should be financially assessed. Charges must be reasonable, and services must not be discontinued because a person is unable to pay.
Alternatively, if a person with dementia or a carer has been assessed as needing community care services, their local authority may agree to give them money so that they can arrange and pay for these services themselves. These payments are called direct payments.
Gloucestershire County Council direct payments advice.
Charges for Residential Accommodation 2011.
The local authority may then fully or partially fund the care home fees, or the person may have to self-fund. For further details, see the Alzheimer's Society factsheet 468 Paying care home fees and the Age UK factsheet 29 How to find a care home (Age UK Guide).
Contact your local services on
Cheltenham Office
Sandford Park House
39/41 London Road
Cheltenham
GL52 6XJ
Telephone 01242 532500
Cheltenham Office (Hesters Way)
(Housing and Social Care
Edinburgh House
Coronation Square
Cheltenham
GL51 7SA
Telephone 01242 532500
Cotswold Office
The Old School
47 Lewis Lane
Cirencester
GL7 1EB
Telephone 01285 881000
Forest Office
Dean House
Station Street
Cinderford
GL14 2JF
Telephone 01594 820500
Gloucester Office
Quayside House
Quayside Wing
Gloucester
Telephone 01452 426000
Minicom 01452 426006
Stow-on-the-Wold Office
Victoria House
Sheep Street
Stow-on-the-Wold
GL54 1AA
Telephone 01451 832272
Stroud Office
Health Centre
Beeches Green
Stroud
GL5 4BH
Telephone 01453 760500
Tewkesbury Office
Church Street
Tewkesbury
GL20 5SW
Telephone 01452 328200
Cheltenham General Hospital (Social Work Team)
Sandford Road
Cheltenham
GL53 7AN
Telephone 08454 223052
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (Social Work Team)
Great Western Road
Gloucester
GL1 3NN
Telephone 08454 226582
The Age UK factsheet Paying for care and support at home explains what assistance may be available to help meet the financial cost of maintaining care at home.
It is possible for people to remain at home even when they have very high health care needs. The leaflet NHS continuing healthcare and NHS funded nursing care (PDF, 328KB) explains what happens when someone's health needs are such that it is the responsibility of the NHS to provide all of the care that they need.
Paying Care Home Fees
If someone needs to move into a care home, the local authority will assess the person's income and savings according to national criteria, details of which can be found on the Directgov Paying your care home fees page. The local authority may then fully or partially fund the care home fees, or the person may have to self-fund. For further details, see the Alzheimer's Society factsheet Paying care home fees and the Age UK factsheet How to find a care home (Age Concern Guide).
People who have to self-fund, and live in a Nursing Home, may benefit from a slight reduction in fees due to NHS-funded nursing care. The 'registered nursing care contribution' (RNCC) assessment places the resident's nursing care needs into one of three bands: high, medium and low, each of which receives a different level of NHS funding contribution. The money is paid direct to the Nursing Home. For further details, see the Alzheimer's Society factsheet NHS-funded nursing care.
The Department of Health provides an explanation of the charging system for residential care home fees. The Alzheimer's Society has produced a factsheet on paying care home fees.
NHS Continuing Care
Some people with dementia, who have complex health needs may be eligible for full NHS Continuing Care. This is free, and not means-tested. If awarded it will meet the full cost of the person's care needs. This is commonly referred to as 'NHS Continuing Care', 'Continuing NHS Health Care' or 'Fully Funded NHS Care'.
People who live in a nursing or care home may want to query whether they have been correctly assessed as not needing fully funded NHS care. Some people who live in care homes might be able to qualify for fully funded NHS care if the nature or type of their care is such that it counts as health care.
If you think you may have been wrongly assessed regarding NHS Continuing Care check on the website for guidance regarding how to appeal.
Please note: Full NHS Continuing Care is different from the RNCC (registered nursing care contribution) outlined above.
Everyone should have an NHS Continuing Care assessment before being admitted to a Nursing Home, but it is also possible to apply for an assessment at other times (e.g. when living at home), if you think the person with dementia may meet the criteria.
Care Following Section Under Mental Health Act
Section 117 of The Mental Health Act (1983) requires statutory authorities to make arrangements for the continued care of a person who has been detained under Section 3. This care must be provided free of charge although other charges may be raised for needs that do not fall under the remit of the Mental Health Act.
More information is available on our Mental Health Act page.
Independent Financial Advice About Funding Care
This online support is provided by Partnership Life Assurance Company Ltd. It provides impartial information and advice to anyone with questions about funding long term care.
Alternatively you can speak with Age UK Gloucestershire, they have factsheets on funding or if you prefer to speak to someone, contact: 01452 422 660.
You may also find Age UK's Care Information section useful, and our Financial Advice section.
Further Information
You may be interested to look at the Age UK factsheet Local authority assessment for community care services - Factsheet 41 and the Alzheimer's Society's explanation of the National Framework for NHS Continuing Care.
The Age UK Factsheet Getting legal advice is useful if you find you require some form of legal advice.
