Care In the Community
Levels of Care 2007-2008 for older people
The Government recently made changes to rules relating to the level of capital limits for people going into residential or nursing home care. If your savings and/or property are valued at less than £22,250 you may be eligible for financial help.
Fees are reviewed annually on 1 April each year and change from the date that Department of Work and Pensions benefits change (usually the second Monday in April).
Level 1 - Residential Care
Maximum Fees:
- Weekly £274
Requirement:
- Minimum of 2 sleeping-in night care members of staff
Care provided for residents who:
- are physically frail
- require occasional night care (from a 'sleeping-in' member of staff)
- require assistance with personal care tasks
- are occasionally incontinent
- require supervision during the waking day
- are mentally confused or diagnosed as having a mental illness
Level 2 - Residential Care
Maximum Fees:
- Weekly £348 (standard)
- Weekly £369 (premium)
Requirement:
- At least one waking night care member of staff and one sleeping-in night care member of staff
Care provided for residents who:
- are physically very frail
- require night care or supervision from a waking member of staff
- require regular assistance with personal care tasks
- are incontinent of urine and/or faeces
- require regular supervision throughout the waking day
- are mentally confused or diagnosed as having a mental illness
Level 3 - Residential Care
Maximum Fees:
- Weekly £414 (standard)
- Weekly £427 (premium)
Requirement:
- At least two waking care members of staff in homes with 15 or more residents (one waking night care member of staff in homes with less than 15 residents) and one sleeping-in night care member of staff
Care provided for residents who:
- are physically highly dependent
- require regular night care or supervision from a waking member of staff
- require a high level of supervision and assistance in personal care tasks
- are incontinent of urine and/or faeces
- are severely confused or mentally disordered and require supervision throughout the waking day
Level 4 - Nursing Home
Maximum Fees:
- Weekly £458
Social, personal and general nursing care beyond that which can be reasonably provided within a residential home with the support of the Community Health Services.
People in Nursing Homes are assessed by Bournemouth and Poole PCT and may be eligible for Funded Nursing Care at the rate of £101(as of 1/10/07) in addition to the £458:
Choosing a Care Home
Find out what homes there are in your area and visit some to find out what they are like:
- Ask a relative or friend to help you
- Obtain brochures, terms of residency and charges
- Visit the home and spend time with some of the other residents
- Check out the fees and what services are included
- Contact Social Services if you require assistance.
For more information about care homes please refer to the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate (CSCI) 
website. You may also find the Care Choices website useful.
Paying for Residential Care
People considering a move to residential care need to ask Social Services for a Community Care Assessment that will determine their care needs.
If you are assessed as needing residential care, then depending on your financial situation, you may qualify to have the value of your home disregarded for the first 12 weeks of permanent admission.
If you have savings and/or property valued at more than £22,250 you will be required to pay the full cost of your care until your assets reduce to this figure. If they are getting close to this figure, please contact us for advice.
If your savings are £22,250 or less, you may be eligible for financial help and should contact your Social Services Care Manager or the Social Services Help Desk.
Reassurance that the person you care for will be safe
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) inspect all residential homes.
Our Contracts Section regularly monitor breaks commissioned by Social Services. Agencies and care homes are required to police check staff and ensure appropriate training is in place.
If you are considering residential respite, you may wish to visit the home before the stay. You should also be able to visit the person you care for during their stay if you wish.
We want to ensure we are making suitable arrangements and that the care provided is of a good quality. Following a period of residential respite, we will ask both the carer and the cared for person to give us their views about the break.
Contact Us
To find out how to access residential care or for more information, please contact the Social Services Helpdesk.
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