Long Term Care

Local authorities must provide care funders with information regarding access to independent financial advice, the Care Bill has stipulated, published in Parliament today.

The Queen has said the hoped-for long term care legislation, through the Health and Social Care Bill, is to be passed in the 2013/2014 Parliamentary session.

Care and support minister Norman Lamb has announced early-warning financial checks on care providers in an aim to protect care users.

Short-stay admissions to care homes are few and far between in winter, despite the capacity to support hard-pressed hospitals during the season, a report has shown.

Financial advisers and the internet are the fastest growing avenues for those seeking long-term care funding advice, Partnership has reported.

A long-term care specialist adviser has reported a noticeable dip in enquiries following the government announcement of the care cap plans.

The care and support minister has launched online information profiles on care homes and services in an aim to support more effective choices and comparisons.

Care home providers need to be able to measure performance effectively, but are still in the dark in the ongoing absence of a government ratings system, Laing & Buisson has stated.

Selling property has become the most realistic source of funding for long-term care this year, overtaking the state and savings, Partnership has reported.

There is an urgent need to assess long term care in terms of the benefits it brings, rather than its costs, if funding allocation arguments in local councils are to be won, experts have said.