WHEN Brenda Miles, 98, was moved to new accommodation after spending her £240k life savings on care bills, she asked: “Where are all my friends?’.
The widow with dementia had lived in the £4k-a-month Innage Grange care home, in Birdgnorth, Shropshire for five years – but with two days notice she was move to a cheaper alternative.
The retired bookbinder, who also suffers from mobility issues, requires round-the-clock-care.
She moved into the home two years after her beloved husband Gordon died in 2018.
The sale of their two-bed bungalow in Bridgnorth, combined with her savings, totalled around £240,000.
She used the money to pay for care bills of around £4,000 a month – the equivalent of £48,000 per year.
But Brenda, who celebrated her 98th birthday with a tea party at the home in August, is now running out of cash and is unable to afford the crippling care costs.
Her savings have dwindled below the £23,000 threshold where state help can be sought.
The family asked for financial support from Shropshire Council to enable her to remain in Innage Grange for her remaining days.
But officials refused, saying the care costs are too much for the council to fund and insisted she move to a cheaper home.
On October 31 the council moved her into Hilton Brook House in Bridgnorth, which charges around £2,400-a-month.
A ‘heartbreaking’ situation
The couple didn’t have children, so her niece and nephews are speaking out against Brenda’s treatment.
Victoria Fellows has condemned the council, accusing them of “dumping” her aunt.
Victoria, 41, who lives on the Isle of Wight, Hants., said: “The whole situation is just plain wrong.
“How can you put a 98-year-old through so much upheaval?
“I was told when she was dropped off at the new home, she asked, ‘Where are all my friends?’ It’s just heartbreaking.
“They didn’t even move all her belongings into Hilton Brook House. She still has pictures on the wall back in her old room.”
Victoria, who has been coordinating her aunt’s care with her cousins, said: “I contacted the council in July and they said at the end of September that they wouldn’t be covering the costs.
“They gave us two weeks to act and then two days’ notice.
“It is not as if Shropshire Council will be paying her rent for 40 years – she is 98.
“It’s disgusting that they’d treat a 98-year-old woman like that.
“As far as I can tell, they sent a taxi, picked up an old lady, and dumped her.”
Council disappointment
The family contacted South Shropshire MP Stuart Anderson, who tried to get the council to conduct a review, but without success.
Victoria, who works in data annotation, said the care home where Brenda was now living was not suitable for her aunt’s needs.
She added, “The room isn’t an ensuite, which is hardly handy for a 98-year-old with dementia.
“She’s mobile with her walking frame, but she’s not sprightly.
“My other cousin has been inside and says the staff are very nice, but my aunt was really settled at Innage Grange.
“The upheaval of moving for her is very upsetting for someone who has always worked and lived her whole life to be treated like this is just not right.
“Other than her named social worker, I’ve heard nothing from anyone higher up. No apology, no real explanation.”
The Sun has contacted Shropshire Council for comment.
How you can get help with care home bills
If you move into a residential home, which are typically for individuals who require less intense medical care, you could have to pay £600 a week or £31,200 a year.
If you are on a low income you could be entitled to support from the council to lessen the financial load.
The first step in getting help is to ask your local authority for a needs assessment.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: “The local authority only has a duty to help with care fees where they have done a needs assessment and agree the person has care needs meeting nationally set eligibility criteria.”
It is free to get a needs assessment and you need to apply for one through your local council.
You can find out more by visiting, http://www.gov.uk/apply-needs-assessment-social-services.
If it is decided in the assessment that you need to enter into a care home then the council will carry out a free financial assessment.
This establishes what you will have to pay towards the cost of your care, if anything.
How much support can you receive?
At present, anyone living in England or Northern Ireland with £23,250 in capital (savings and income, including benefits) will have to pay care home fees without any assistance.
If you live in Wales or Scotland the limit is different.
For example, if you live in Scotland and have capital worth £35,000 you have to fund your care home fees.
While in Wales, anyone with capital under £50,000 will receive fully funded care from the local authority.
If you have under £23,250, then you will be entitled to help with fees, but must usually pay a contribution from their income towards the cost of their care.
According to Independent Age, if you have under £14,250 in capital you do not have to pay your care home fees.
However, you will have to contribute most of your weekly income to help cover your costs.
For example, if you claimed Pension Credit you would have to use the benefit money to help cover the cost of your care.
In these circumstances, you are given a small personal allowance of £30.65 a week.
Those who earn between £14,250 -£23,250 also have to contribute most of your weekly income towards your care home fees.
The charity said you’ll be treated as if you have an “extra £1 of income for every £250 of capital you have between these two amounts”.
How to avoid using your savings
You can start planning for your future with care annuity plans, which is an insurance product that will pay your care provider.
However, these plans come with risks as you may need to pay a large fee up front and then require care for a short time.
Another option is equity release, which allows you to take cash from your home without having to move house.
You need to be over 55 to access this type of plan.
An equity release is a big decision and you should also be aware that these products can accumulate interest and also reduce the value of your estate.
It can also affect your benefits.
Once you die the initial amount you borrowed from your provider, plus any accrued interest will need to be repaid, usually from the sale of your home.
