funding

[Daughter52]

My Dad was admitted to hospital 11 months ago with a bleed on the brain. He survived 8 operations and 3 comas. He has two brain shunts and has been left severely disabled. He is peg fed, has a trachy, cannot walk, learning to talk again and saying a few words through a speaking valve. His only real movement is a bit of strength in his hands and slightly in his arms, he can also hold his own head up but not all the time. He is currently in a rehabilitation hospital and we have a meeting regarding continuing healthcare funding tomorrow. We have been warned that continuing healthcare funding may not cover all costs and we are trying to understand the following

a) what costs are covered by continuing healthcare?

b) what costs are not – what might these be and how much approximately?

c) any other potential funding we may be able to access to support his care?

Any advice from anyone who have any knowledge or experience in this area would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Claire

[Shreds]

Claire,

I feel for what your Dad and you are going through. He is certainly a determined survivor after all those operations and interventions.

Sadly I am no expert on funding and know how difficult the bureaocratic systems can be to fight your way through.

Have you tried the Headway helpline who can signpost you to people and organisations who can directly answer your questions.

Try ringing them in the morning on 0808 800 2244

Best to you and your Dad.

[Daughter52 in reply to Shreds]

Thank you

[T-88]

Hi,

I’m sorry to hear about your dad it must of been awful for you,

Continue health care funding is funding from the nhs, as well as funding from the local authorities to pay for a care package ( unsure if it is at home or a care facility? As you haven’t said which)

Usually if you have savings over £16,000 then you have to pay for your own care but if you don’t the local authorities will pay so much but most care homes require a top up fee which the family are expected to top up but if you can get the continuing health care funding that pays the top up fees.

The continuing health care can be a battle to get, but hopefully you won’t have to fight to get this, it goes on the needs of the patient but you can appeal if they say no (I can’t see them saying no personally)

Depending on where you live, some care homes can charge £800+ per week,

I hope this helps, I am fighting at the minute to get my husband back into rehab after his traumatic brain injury and I won’t give up they will try anything some local authorities!

Good luck hope all goes well xxx

[skydivesurvivor]

Welcome to our world, if he has a company/private pension the road ahead is difficult!! Speak to DWP, citizens advice. They will support u best. Think he will get best support in a care home. Tried to care for mum at home with dementia. 4 kids am disabled. She was my carer I became hers!! My bro was a massive support. Please come and vent y frustrations here. Imaginary support team y never knew y had?!! Hope it goes well, please share y progress oh & SMILE often helps to vent y frustrations xx

[Daughter52]

thank you all for taking the time to message. Mtg went okay, two of the areas have been classed as severe. I argued a third area was severe rather than high and the clinicians and social Worker at the mtg also agreed. Hoping it will be enough to get funding as my mum is so worried about it all. Will share the outcome when we have it

[Bichou73 in reply to Daughter52]

3 severe domains should be enough to get full funding from CHC. In which case you will have nothing to pay for. Let us know the final outcome. All the best

[Daughter52]

meant to add, so sorry for everything you are all experiencing too, life can be so hard sometimes and when these things happen all you want is for your loved ones to have the best care possible and for them to keep some of their dignity.

[Daughter52]

just to let you all know we have been granted the NHS continuing healthcare funding for my Dad. Such a relief although it’s bittersweet as it means he needs such a high level of care. Thanks all for your supportive comments