The government is expected to announce a cap on the amount which elderly people must pay for care home costs.
Care home costs: Tell us what you think
By CHRIS HILL
Monday, February 11, 2013
10:31 AM
The government is today expected to announce a fundamental shake-up in the way care home costs for the elderly are paid for in future.
The amount which older people must pay for their care is set to be capped at £75,000 – more than double the £35,000 recommended by the independent Dilnot Commission.
Alongside the cap, health secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a large rise in the assets threshold beneath which people receive means-tested support to meet their care bills. Currently set at £23,250, that threshold is set to rise to £123,000.
Health minister Jeremy Hunt described the current situation as a “scandal” in which 30,000 to 40,000 people a year have to sell their houses to pay for their care costs.
But the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) said setting a lifetime cap on care costs of £75,000 would help just 10pc of those needing care, while the majority would still be left “to struggle on with a third rate service”.
How will the proposed reforms affect you and your family? Tell us what you think by contacting reporter Chris Hill on 01603 693892 or chris.hill@archant.co.uk.
Other Health Articles
- Norwich walk-in health centre at risk of closure
- Norwich walk-in health centre at risk of closure
- Dementia beds set to be axed in Carlton Colville as part of mental health shake-up for Waveney and Great Yarmouth area
- Norwich mum backs petition to limit sexual images
- Norfolk community health trust hires former ambulance chief
- East of England Ambulance Service appoints new chairman
- Watchdog to keep a close eye on health services in Norfolk
- Medal winning cyclist launches charity ride for Norfolk hospital appeal
- Photo gallery: Thousands pull together to fight cancer at Race for Life
- Did saving a West Brom fan’s life save Norwich City’s season?
- Dereham pupil diagnosed with meningitis
- Dakar Rally success for wounded ex-soldiers inspires Norfolk conference on post-combat care
- Health centre work starts at Reydon
- Health services in Lowestoft could face a major overhaul
- Special deliveries expected for quartet of excited Great Yarmouth Argos staff
Most Read News Stories See all
Terror returns to Britain after man butchered in London street
Terrorism returned to the streets of London today as two suspected Muslim fanatics butchered a man in broad daylight in the name of “Allah”.
- Police launch probe after motorist tweets she knocked cyclist off bike in Norwich
- Fakenham Gateway Children’s Centre closes suddenly
- Police appeal for help to find missing Norwich woman
- Three arrests after brawl at Sikh temple in Norwich
- Picture update: Overstrand man jailed for one of largest hauls of indecent child images in Norfolk. Offences committed in North Walsham area
ADVERTISEMENT
15 comments
Ingo in answer to - but who will want to run them if they are non profit making charities or companies? Social enterprises the Big Society (remember that?) - the Governments and NCC's preferred option.
Report this comment
grouchomarxist
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This country is a disgrace , the elderly have been paying in blood sweat and tax for this country all their lives and how does the Govt reward them, by stealing all that they worked for all of their life. Simple equation for you : Elderly people = Privatised Profit.
Report this comment
Farquarson-Smythe
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It's £75K for nursing care only, so expect the unlimited costs of accommodation and meals in these homes to go through the roof!
Report this comment
Mr Cameron Isaliar
Monday, February 11, 2013
Aviva and the rest will be queuing up to (mis)sell 'guaranteed £75,000 elderly care plans'. Get paying your premiums now!
Report this comment
Police Commissioner ???
Monday, February 11, 2013
At it's height of battle, the Iraq war was costing Britain £20 billion a year, at the same time and still wobbling on is..Afghanistan, this now costs another £ 6 billion every year, with our signed up on the dot for paying the fake Afghan army wages and training for the next 25 years. you get the feeling that old Brits are being taking for a ride.
Report this comment
nrg
Monday, February 11, 2013
I am trying to tell you what I think! But I am not 3-2-commentdotblogdotcodotuk
Report this comment
Mr Cameron Isaliar
Monday, February 11, 2013
It is absolutely the right thing to do. The threshold had to be raised so people are not forced to dip into their hard-earned property values. It is a fine example of this "caring" government - caring as defined by pandying to the voters of middle England - finding more money for something instead of taking it away. It would be entirely wrong for families in the affluent home counties to have their inheritance wiped out just because they need to park gran’mama in a care home so she does not become an unwelcome intrusion into their grabbing lives. But hang on. How will they pay for this giveaway? I know, let’s scrap the universal benefits like free TV licences and the winter fuel allowance. Such a move would fit perfectly with this government’s record thus far of hammering the poor to subsidise a rich minority. LOL. Earlier this year at the Liberal Democrat conference Mr Lamb told the EDP the country must accept tax rises or spending cuts to meet the bill for elderly care. Why is he so keen to implement this change – to please “target voters” in his own constituency where property values remain relatively high and “oldies” abound?
Report this comment
Mr Cameron Isaliar
Monday, February 11, 2013
John Bridge, you know there is something wrong with elderly care in this country when those foreign workers you mentioned don't bring their grannies over!
Report this comment
Mr Cameron Isaliar
Monday, February 11, 2013
John Bridge, you know there is something wrong with elderly care in this country when those foreign workers you mentioned don't bring their grannies over!
Report this comment
Mr Cameron Isaliar
Monday, February 11, 2013
Electra, I hope you are not suggesting a former NCC cabinet member in charge of spending in this sector, who also owned a number of private care homes, was in some way benefiting from a conflict of interest?
Report this comment
Mr Cameron Isaliar
Monday, February 11, 2013
If we did not pay benefits for the children of foreign workers and also pay the equivalent in value as our own people {we do not have to do either, look it up} then over half of the old people care cost shortfall would be available.
Report this comment
John Bridge
Monday, February 11, 2013
Didn't George Osborne promise to raise the Inheritance Tax threshold to £1million?
Report this comment
Peter Watson
Monday, February 11, 2013
build a granny annex and look after your own wrinklies, many Asian families still do what we used to do, we've just got down the American dream way of bundles of cash....alternatively we could push on with the LCP by targeting younger pensioners...make way,make way!!!!!
Report this comment
nrg
Monday, February 11, 2013
Good points Electra, but who will want to run them if they are non profit making charities or companies? What of the 10 billion going to the treasury due to affairs being intestate? People ought to sort their affairs earlier, make it clear to relatives, create trust funds or such like, so the Government of the day, after taking your contributions for all your working life, does not end up squandering it on some silly neocolonialist war, or worse even, allowing illegal Irish horse trading.
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Monday, February 11, 2013
People who own care homes makes phenomenal amounts of money. There is something obscene about this. All care homes and nursing homes (big difference) should be registered charities that cannot make a profit. That way these chancers who want to make a massive pile of dosh for themselves can go off and try something like used cars or property development. And the homes should be run by staff answerable to the Charity Commissioners.
Report this comment
Electra
Monday, February 11, 2013