Dementia Support Line
Paying for dementia care in Wales
Paying for care can be worrying to think about. With the right information and support, you can better understand your options and make the right decision for you. Read about the different ways to pay for care in Wales.
- You are here: Paying for dementia care in Wales
- Financial assessment for care in Wales
- Paying for care home fees in Wales
- Paying for dementia care if you have a partner
- Do you have to sell your home to pay for care in Wales?
Many people with dementia will need care and support as their condition progresses. Each person has individual needs, so the types of care put in place will be different for everyone.
The laws around paying for care are different in England and Northern Ireland.
Care needs assessment
To work out what a person's needs are, they will need a care needs assessment from their local authority. It will show whether the person has 'eligible care needs'. If they do, the local authority will then talk to the person and their carer (if appropriate) to produce a care and support plan.
Care needs assessment
Learn how a person with dementia can get a care needs assessment, how they are carried out and who makes the decision.
Who pays for social care in Wales?
Once the local authority have made a care and support plan, they will decide whether to charge for the care they provide for the person with dementia. If they do decide to charge, a financial assessment must be completed.
The financial assessment will consider the person’s capital and income. It is used to work out if the person will receive any help with funding their care costs. The rules are different for homecare and residential care.
Most people will pay a contribution towards their care costs, with their contribution decided by the financial assessment. Sometimes, the person’s care will be fully funded by the local authority or the NHS. Some people who require residential care will pay for all their care costs – this is called being a ‘self-funder’.
Types of care and support that cannot be charged for
The local authority may charge for care and support services. However, some types of care and support must be free of charge. These include:
- intermediate care, including reablement (care that can support a person to regain independence or help them relearn daily living skills) for up to six weeks
- aftercare or support provided under the Mental Health Act 1983 section 117
- NHS services
- transport to a day service where the transport is provided as part of meeting a person’s needs
- independent professional advocacy where a local authority has arranged it.
The person’s local authority must legally meet the person’s eligible care needs once those have been assessed.
A person who does not have the mental capacity to decide about paying for their care may refuse to pay their care costs. In this case, the local authority cannot withdraw the service. They should continue to meet the person’s needs while attempting to resolve any dispute.
The local authority would need to involve the attorney or deputy if the person has one. If they don’t, the local authority may need to apply to become a deputy themselves to access the person’s finances.
Sometimes, the person does have mental capacity but refuses to pay. In this case, the local authority still have a duty to meet the person’s needs. This may be necessary if the person would be unsafe without support.
The local authority may pursue court action to recover any debt that the person owes.
The person with dementia or their carer may want to complain about a decision to do with the person’s care. For example, they may disagree with a funding decision made by the local authority.
The person must first try to resolve the complaint directly. This may be with the local authority, NHS body, care home or care company. They should ask for the organisation’s complaints procedure.
If it isn’t possible to resolve the complaint locally, the person may be able to take it to the relevant ombudsman.
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales investigates complaints about public services and independent care providers.
When making a complaint, it’s important to have written records of all communication between the person with dementia and the local authority, care provider or NHS body. This can help to show how agreements have been reached and decisions made.
In some cases, a solicitor may be needed. For example, this may be the case if the complaint involves discrimination or interpretation of the law. People who qualify for legal aid may get help that is publicly funded. This legal help may be advice and information on complaints to do with charging. For more information visit www.gov.uk/find-legal-advice