My mum had been diagnosed with dementia and is self funding - can she get any help from the nhs for this funding?

[trishjo]

[jaybea]

Hi trishjo. Firstly, sorry to hear that your Mum had been diagnosed with dementia. If your Mum is in a residential care home and receiving nursing care, there is some financial support that you can obtain from the NHS. The first in the NHS funding contribution (approx £108 per week). This is usually arranged with the home who claim the amount from the NHS towards your Mum's care costs. You can speak to them about this to see if your Mum is eligible and if they are already claiming it or not (some care homes claim the contribution but do not necessarily reduce the fees they charge accordingly - it might mention about this in the contract).

Secondly, there is NHS continuing healthcare funding. This applies where the primary need for your Mum to be in a nursing home (or receive care in her own home) is health. This is quite difficult to receive and it depends on your Mum's health and the extent of the dementia (if this is her main health problem). There is a lot of information on the Department of Health website together with a document that explains how it is assessed. You do not mention how long your Mum has been self-funding, but if this was between 2011/2012, there is a deadline at the end of the March (31st) for applying to your local PCT to ask them to assess her for NHS continuing healthcare for care that was paid for between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2012. You must contact the PCT before 31st March - there is a good website caretobedifferent.co.uk which has more information about applying and/or appeals.

As a self-funder, I would always recommend that you seek professional financial advice to ensure that your Mum's estate and financial arrangements are set up so that they can last as long as possible - check out the SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisers) website for further guidance for call/contact First Stop for generic information.

Hope this helps...