Care homes Paying for care Paying for care Making the right choice Moving into a care home is always a difficult decision which needs careful planning and good advice to ensure the care will be there for as long as it is required. Therefore, when choosing a care home for a relative or yourself, it is important that you choose a home that can meet all your needs. You can find our tips for choosing a care home here. Once you choose a home, you will usually be responsible for paying the care fees (unless these are covered, or partially covered, by your Local Authority or the NHS). Eligibility There are regulations for establishing whether you are eligible for Local Authority support towards your cost of care. West Sussex County Council’s ‘Choosing and Paying for Care in a Residential or Nursing Home’ available from Adult Services via their website. Continuing care NHS continuing healthcare is the name given to a package of care which is arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals outside of hospital who have on-going healthcare needs. If you are found to be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare the NHS will pay for the care homes fees. The NHS may not pay for the full cost of your fees and you may be asked to contribute towards the cost. Private funding If you own your own home or have other assets, their value will usually be counted as capital by the Local Authority unless your partner (or dependent over 60) continues to live there. Guild Care expects residents to have sufficient funds to pay for the first few years of their stay. We do however have a commitment to providing support to individuals with different financial needs. Refundable independent financial advice Care finances are a complex area and we strongly advise you to seek specialist independent financial advice before making any major decisions on your care. We offer a service through a local accredited company who specialises in advising people on paying for their cost of care. The fee is refundable on entry to one of our care homes. Although we are unable to recommend any particular provider, below is a list of local and national organisations that will be able to give you advice. Financial advisors West Sussex County Council: www.westsussex.gov.uk/carewise Care Advice Service: www.careadviceservice.co.uk General information Age UK: www.ageuk.org.uk West Sussex Connect to Support: www.connecttosupport.org Paying for Care: www.payingforcare.org For more information For more details on paying for care please contact our Customer Service Team on 01903 327327 or complete our online form.