Care Advisors & Independent Assessment.

Fern Wills stands out among estate planners with a distinctive approach to social care. 

Unlike many Estate Planners who oppose residential care, nursing homes, or in-home care, we strongly advocate for the importance of having choices. Our primary concern is the limited options available and the presence of subpar care homes and facilities that may not adequately meet our clients' needs.

How can you determine the most suitable care options? Unfortunately, you may not realise the difference until it’s too late. This is where independent care advisors play a crucial role; they ask clients and care providers the right questions.

Navigating the various care options—such as residential, in-home, and nursing care—can be challenging, overwhelming, and time-consuming. It's essential to look beyond the often polished appearances of some facilities to truly understand how staff treat their residents. Conversely, a care facility with some weeds in the driveway or slightly outdated decorations may hide a gem: a genuinely friendly, family-like atmosphere that could be ideal for certain individuals.

No one enjoys filling out forms. If you're like me, you'd be willing to pay a modest fee to have them completed correctly and expediently. Additionally, many allowances may not be automatically offered unless you specifically inquire about them. Often, you will find that the fees for a professional care advisor are offset by the savings and benefit claims within just a few weeks. The peace of mind that comes from knowing you have the right options and making informed decisions can last a lifetime.

Independent care advisors offer a trained, unbiased perspective that helps them see beyond just a smile or a freshly painted reception area. They understand the genuine attention required for individual care and well-being. Their expertise enables them to identify the best options based on various criteria, with cost being just one of many factors to consider. They can recognise that the same care home may be ideal for one person but unsuitable for another.

Many elderly parents fear being sent to "an old people's home" by the authorities. A care advisor can assist at various stages of this process. They can often help source and backdate allowances ranging from £3,500 to £5,500. This funding can be used for essential equipment that enables someone to remain in their home longer, cover respite breaks, or supplement care at home. 

Scenario 1: Gained over £5,000 to help with care.

Fern Wills was asked to create Lasting Powers of Attorney for an 86-year-old gentleman who had recently become a widower. Although he was a proud man and initially reluctant to accept help, he recognised that he needed assistance from his son and daughter. Handling tasks such as managing bills had become increasingly difficult, especially since many of them were now online. He was particularly worried about being the victim of scams.

As the client stood up to move, he needed to use nearby furniture to pull himself up from the chair and move to the table. This was one of many indicators suggesting a potential allowance claim.

With his permission, I contacted a care advisor. After a free consultation, the advisor identified a care need. The annual allowance of £5,644.60 that the customer received covered the care advisor's services, including a monthly visit to ensure that the care and support he received were of an excellent standard. Additionally, the allowance paid for the Power of Attorney, a new will, and a trust to provide for his grandchildren. He still had thousands left to spend at his discretion.

Scenario 2: Independent assessment saved £26,000

The Care Advisor made several recommendations to assist Mrs O'Neil, who was not computer literate and struggled with forms and hearing phone conversations without the help of her two daughters. Mrs O'Neil and her daughters had considered setting up a Power of Attorney but were unsure who to trust. They were also concerned because they had heard correctly that without powers of attorney, using their mother's debit card for shopping could be considered a criminal act, potentially exposing her to scams and fraud. Additionally, they felt there was no point in waiting five months for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) because their mother's mental capacity was already becoming inconsistent. If they waited much longer, the only option would be a restrictive and complicated deputyship order that could cost thousands over its lifetime.

To support Mrs O'Neil and her family, the Care Advisor first applied for benefits to increase her income. Then, the advisor worked collaboratively with them and Fern Wills.

Chris at Fern and the care advisor were both trained in the Mental Capacity Act of 2005 and person-centred dementia care. They were also experienced independent assessors of mental capacity. On the day of the application, which was a particularly good day for the client, they both reported that she could understand the consequences of powers of attorney. A General Power of Attorney (GPA) was drafted, which became valid upon signing and witnessing. This allowed the attorneys to legally assist their mother with property and financial decisions until the Lasting Power of Attorney was in place, which took only 10 weeks in this case.

Therefore, from a position of potentially losing approximately £11,000 over the years due to a deputyship order and possibly committing a criminal offence, Mrs O'Neil has already received over £15,000 in benefits. That's a £26k difference in the first four years alone.

The benefits had been back-dated, and the amount received covered more than all the service fees, though protection and peace of mind were the key benefits.

Scenario 3: Just wanted to stay in his own home

Mr Tucker (Widower) is a retired groundsman in his late eighties. He was sometimes forgetful (aren't we all?) and suffered from painful arthritis, which sometimes made everyday living challenging.

Mr Tucker lived in a council-owned bungalow with a garden and an emergency alarm installed. A few times, the council mentioned moving him to sheltered housing in a block with more support. However, Mr. Tucker did not want to give up his lovely home for an apartment. Additionally, his children did not want him to move out of their village and into the town centre.

Neither party wanted to exhaust Mr. Tucker's life savings on residential care.

Fern Wills and the Care Advisor collaborated to support Mr Tucker and his family. The Care Advisor informed the family about their rights, allowances, and options. Fern Wills then created a General Power of Attorney (GPA) so the family could act promptly to assist Mr. Tucker with his bills and shopping. They also established a Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to consolidate his numerous bank accounts into one easy-to-manage fund. The Health and Welfare LPA also enabled the family to communicate with the local authority on Mr Tucker's behalf.

Mr. Tucker was able to remain in his bungalow for another year. During this time, an extension was added to his daughter's family home, creating a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom for him to live in. This arrangement benefited both Mr. Tucker and his daughter’s family financially, and it was carried out in an empathetic, ethical, and legal manner. The most important aspect was that Mr Tucker received the care he needed and had access to a garden and greenhouse.

Click the link to our Attendance Allowance FAQs article for more information.

Please call us for a free, no-obligation discussion about any of the issues in this article or to be introduced to a trusted Care Advisor.