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You may have noticed that the cost of living has been steadily rising over the years, with increases in food prices, taxes, interest rates and general inflation all taking a toll on our wallets. The cost of care, unfortunately, is no exception. As minimum wage rises, the cost of caring for our senior members of the community also increases.

Another issue within the care industry, is that the demand for the services currently outweighs the supply. As care providers such as Lotus Home Care aim to offer the best service they possibly can to their vulnerable adults, they need to expand and employ more staff to ensure their standards are met.

How Can You Fund Essential Care?

Some residents within the United Kingdom are entitled to help with certain care packages. The benefit is means tested, awarded to those with assets of less than £23,250 (including savings and investments). Those who have assets of less than £14,250 will have the entire cost of their care funded by the government. The amount of benefit awarded after this threshold decreases as your total asset contribution rises.

Of course, having assets of over £23,250 does not automatically mean you are able to pay for the full cost of care yourself. There are things to consider when choosing your care options that may make the service price more palatable. For example, if you intend to have carers come to you, using a service such as Lotus Home Care, rather than admitting yourself into a care home, your house is not included within the means-tested benefit, so you may still be entitled to some help.

If your health needs, or the health needs of your loved one, are becoming more complex, you/they may be entitled to the NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding. This benefit does not take the worth of assets into account and instead is focused on the needs of the service user. It is particularly useful for those with dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, where the individual can not be expected to look after themselves.

Finding Out More

If you are still concerned about how you will find the care required for you or your relative, give us a call at Lotus Home Care. We can talk you through your options and help you to secure the care that you so greatly need.