How to make sure you get care-home funding and never have to sell up
When Maria Esposito placed her mother in a care home, she knew she would need help covering fees of thousands of pounds every month. She feared she would have to sell the family home.
TL;DR
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding is available for individuals with a primary health need and is not means-tested.
- Maria Esposito secured lifelong CHC funding for her mother, saving £510,000, by persistently challenging initial rejections.
- Key strategies include refusing to discuss finances, attending all assessment meetings, being honest about care needs, and understanding the language used by assessors.
- Families should insist on multi-agency meetings and provide evidence from carers and GPs.
- Never accept the initial decision; appeal immediately if funding is denied, and always keep documentation.
- CHC funding is reviewed annually, and families may need to appeal reassessments.