19 October 2007
Local authorities must perform detailed needs assessments of elderly people going into care homes to help them get a fair deal, the Commission for Social Care Inspection insisted this week.
All older people are entitled to a local authority needs assessment, not just those who qualify for state support, but 50% of self-funders said they were not assessed. This left many unaware of what they were paying for.
The commission's report, A fair contract with older people?, examined the experiences of more than 1,700 older people. It found that they can pay between £650 and £1,500 a week for places in the same care home.
Although care home information had improved, there was often no clear explanation of why some residents paid more than others.
Lower rates negotiated by councils had a knock-on effect on fee-payers, with the latter sometimes subsidising the care of those who qualified for council support.
CSCI chair Dame Denise Platt said self-funders were particularly disadvantaged.
'Everyone is entitled to a proper needs assessment. Local councils should use this assessment to give everyone, not just those who qualify for publicly funded care, high-quality information and guidance about how to choose the best care service for them and get good value for money,' she added.
'The evidence from our inspections and research shows that many do not receive a fair deal. Some people looking for a care home place are left confused about what they will be asked to pay, and what they will get for their money.'
PFoct2007
