Paying for care in your home

This leading charity works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia. If you have concerns about any form of dementia, please contact your local office for information and support and access to local services. See page 93 for contact details.

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Connect Support Line is available on 0333 150 3456 and can provide information, support, guidance and signposting to other appropriate organisations. The Helplineis open from 9.00am to 8.00pm, Monday to Wednesday; 9.00am to 5.00pm, Thursday and Friday; and 10.00am to 4.00pm, Saturday and Sunday.

You can also call the Supporter Care team on 0330 333 0804.

For more information on care homes for people with dementia, see page 50.

Councils provide upfront information on how much people can expect to pay for home care and how charges are worked out. This information must be made available when a needs assessment is carried out. Written confirmation of how the charge has been calculated must be provided after a financial assessment.

The council calculates charges in accordance with national eligibility criteria set by the Government. This ensures people are only required to pay what they can afford, taking into account capital, income and expenditure.

Your financial assessment looks at your capital, savings and weekly income (including pensions and benefits). The council may also carry out a full benefit check and, if you want them to, assist you with claiming your full entitlement.

Visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk and search ‘paying for care’ for more information.

Non-means-tested care and support

Care provided by the NHS is free; for example, services provided by a community or district nurse. Some people do not have to pay towards care services. For example, aftercare services provided under section 117 of the Mental Health Act are free.

If you need care or support, you may be eligible to claim Attendance Allowance (AA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP). AA and PIP are nonmeans-tested benefits. Provided you are eligible, you can receive AA or PIP regardless of how much income or capital you have. AA is payable to people over the age of 65 and PIP to those aged 16 to 64.

There are different rates that can be awarded, dependent on the level and type of help you need. These can be found at www.gov.uk

Other ways to fund your care and support

It is important to seek independent financial advice if you are paying for your own care and support. There are independent financial advisers who focus specifically on care funding advice, often referred to as specialist care fees advisers. They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and must stick to a code of conduct and ethics and take shared responsibility for the suitability of any product they recommend.

Money Helper

A free and impartial money advice service set up by the Government. Tel: 0800 138 7777 Web: www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA)

Aims to assist consumers and their families in finding trusted, accredited financial advisers who understand financial needs in later life. Web: www.societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk

Further information on paying for care can be found beginning on page 50.