The Competition and Market Authority have recently completed a year-long review examining the financial practices of care homes and what they term as “unfair charges” and “over the top fees” being applied to self-funded residents of care homes. Around 40% of care home residents in the UK are self-funded, meaning that they must pay for the entirety of their care. In many cases, self-funded residents are being charged a higher rate than those who receive funding for their care from their local council or the NHS. The CMA investigated fees at over 11,000 care homes and found that self-funded residents are being charged up to £200 more per week than those residents who receive funding from their local council or the NHS. The CMA also reviewed complaints from bereaved family members stating that they were charged fees by a care home for periods of up to a month after their loved one had passed away. In some cases, these charges ran into thousands of pounds. The CMA are currently undertaking further investigations into fees and charges in care homes across the UK, however, it is not just self-funded residents who may be being unfairly charged. The charity Age UK reported earlier this summer that thousands of care home residents, who qualify for free care, are being incorrectly charged fees of up to £100 a week in “top-up fees”.
So how can you protect yourself or your loved ones from being wrongly charged for residential care in Braintree? One way that you can protect your finances is through a Lasting Power of Attorney. A Lasting Power of Attorney legally appoints a person or persons to assist you to make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf regarding your finances. Your chosen attorney(s) can be a relative, friend, spouse, or a professional person such as a Solicitor. You can change or cancel your LPA in the future should you wish, provided you have the mental capacity to make such a decision. An LPA can therefore give you the peace of mind that your finances will be in the hands of a trusted attorney who will make important financial decisions on your behalf should you become unable to do so, including dealing with the payment of care home fees. The decisions made by your Attorney must be made in accordance with your best interests so you can be assured that your finances will be protected.
If you would like further information regarding a Legal Power of Attorney for you or a loved one, contact us today. Whether in Braintree, or the surrounding areas of Essex, Andrew Douglas Wills and Legal Services offer a free initial consultation in order to discuss your requirements and address any concerns or queries you may have regarding any of the above information.
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