British Journal of Social Work, 12(2), 1982, pp.171-187.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Reports on research into the level of Personal Allowances, the problems of providing shopping facilities and the relationship between money, independence and responsibility.
Reports on research into the level of Personal Allowances, the problems of providing shopping facilities and the relationship between money, independence and responsibility.
COSTA-FONT Joan, MARSCARILLA-MIRO Oscar, ELVIRA David
Journal article citation:
Social Policy and Administration, 40(5), October 2006, pp.543-559.
Publisher:
Wiley
The access to publicly funded long-term care (LTC) in Spain has been traditionally rationed through the use of means tests based on individuals' current income and needs. However, individuals' wealth, primarily housing assets, is progressively taken into account. Parallel to this feature, the responsibilities for the organization of LTC services have been devolved to region-states – autonomous communities (ACs), giving rise to some regional heterogeneity, though limited evidence has been reported on the underlying determinants. This paper examines the current role of housing assets in determining public and private funding for long-term care in Spain. Secondly, we present a qualitative and quantitative examination of the regional heterogeneity in the provision and public funding criteria determining eligibility for public support for LTC. Finally, we report survey evidence on the individual's willingness to sell (WTS) their housing assets in order to either totally or partially finance the access to LTC. Our findings suggest that housing assets are the main source of wealth accumulation at old age. Yet there is significant regional heterogeneity in the access to LTC resulting from regional differences in the means testing criteria. Progressively, all ACs are considering housing assets in their means testing criteria. Interestingly, individuals' willingness to sell their housing assets declines with age and is more common among less skilled and widowed individuals.
The access to publicly funded long-term care (LTC) in Spain has been traditionally rationed through the use of means tests based on individuals' current income and needs. However, individuals' wealth, primarily housing assets, is progressively taken into account. Parallel to this feature, the responsibilities for the organization of LTC services have been devolved to region-states – autonomous communities (ACs), giving rise to some regional heterogeneity, though limited evidence has been reported on the underlying determinants. This paper examines the current role of housing assets in determining public and private funding for long-term care in Spain. Secondly, we present a qualitative and quantitative examination of the regional heterogeneity in the provision and public funding criteria determining eligibility for public support for LTC. Finally, we report survey evidence on the individual's willingness to sell (WTS) their housing assets in order to either totally or partially finance the access to LTC. Our findings suggest that housing assets are the main source of wealth accumulation at old age. Yet there is significant regional heterogeneity in the access to LTC resulting from regional differences in the means testing criteria. Progressively, all ACs are considering housing assets in their means testing criteria. Interestingly, individuals' willingness to sell their housing assets declines with age and is more common among less skilled and widowed individuals.
Subject terms:
income, housing, long term care, older people, care homes, eligibility criteria, financing;
The purpose of this circular is to inform Chief Executives of the ammount of the Preserved Rights grant and the Residential Allowance grant for 2005/06. The grant was introduced in 2002/2003, to assist local councils in discharging their new responsibilities for meeting the costs of residential care for people with preserved rights. Before the 1st April 1993, people in residential care had received a higher rate of income support in recognition of charges for such accommodation.
The purpose of this circular is to inform Chief Executives of the ammount of the Preserved Rights grant and the Residential Allowance grant for 2005/06. The grant was introduced in 2002/2003, to assist local councils in discharging their new responsibilities for meeting the costs of residential care for people with preserved rights. Before the 1st April 1993, people in residential care had received a higher rate of income support in recognition of charges for such accommodation.
Subject terms:
income, income support, local authorities, nursing homes, older people, residential care, care homes;
The preserved rights grant was introduced in 2002-03 to assist local councils in discharging their new responsibilities for meeting the costs of residential care for people with preserved rights. Annex A of this circular shows the individual allocations for 2004-05.
The preserved rights grant was introduced in 2002-03 to assist local councils in discharging their new responsibilities for meeting the costs of residential care for people with preserved rights. Annex A of this circular shows the individual allocations for 2004-05.
Subject terms:
income, income support, local authorities, nursing homes, older people, residential care, care homes;
Explains how one effect of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 has been to ensure that the majority of older people in care homes get no financial help from social services.
Explains how one effect of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 has been to ensure that the majority of older people in care homes get no financial help from social services.
Subject terms:
income, nursing homes, older people, payments, care homes, community care, financing;
The aims of the research were to explore and understand the significant issues arising when older home owners enter long term residential and nursing home care. The key people and organisations involved are the older home owners themselves, their relatives, local authorities and independent sector care home providers. Specific objectives of this research were to gain greater understanding of: local authority policies and practices in respect to home owner occupiers entering long term care homes; the concerns within authorities about those policies and practices; the consequences for older home owners entering care homes; significant issues for home providers accepting privately paying older people as residents.
The aims of the research were to explore and understand the significant issues arising when older home owners enter long term residential and nursing home care. The key people and organisations involved are the older home owners themselves, their relatives, local authorities and independent sector care home providers. Specific objectives of this research were to gain greater understanding of: local authority policies and practices in respect to home owner occupiers entering long term care homes; the concerns within authorities about those policies and practices; the consequences for older home owners entering care homes; significant issues for home providers accepting privately paying older people as residents.
Extended abstract:
Author
WRIGHT Fay;
Title
Capital offences: variations in local authority treatment of older home owners entering residential care: a summary of some key research findings.
Publisher
The Nuffield Foundation and Age Concern Institute of Gerontology, King's College London, 2000.
Summary
The aims of the research were toexplore and understand the significant issues arising when older home owners enter long term residential and nursing home care. The key people and organisations involved are the older home owners themselves, their relatives, local authorities and independent sector care home providers. Specific objectives of this research were to gain greater understanding of: local authority policies and practices in respect to home owner occupiers entering long term care homes; the concerns within authorities about those policies and practices; the consequences for older home owners entering care homes; significant issues for home providers accepting privately paying older people as residents.
Context
Government figures show that since 1951, numbers of old people have increased significantly, there has been a 61% increase in those aged 80-84 and an 81% increase in those aged 85 and over. As very old people are more likely than those who are younger to suffer physical and mental ill health, this has significant public expenditure implications for health and social services as well as for state pensions and other social security benefits. There are also implications for long term care costs. Although relatively few people above retirement age (approx 5%) live permanently in institutional care, over a fifth of those aged 85 or over do so. Unless the proportion of people entering care homes in the last phase of their lives declines, the issue of using a home to meet care home charges will continue to be a significant concern to older people and their relatives in the future.
Method
The study had three phases, (1) a national postal survey of senior finance officers in English and Welsh social service departments (response rate 77%). (2) Structured telephone follow-up interviews with a stratified sample of approximately one in four responding finance officers (28 interviews). (3) Case studies in five English local authority areas. Factors in choosing the five were the level of home ownership amongst older people and the level of deliberate deprivation of assets to avoid care home charges reported in the postal survey. Questionnaires were piloted in one of the case study areas. Each case study included interviews with: SSD staff involved in financial assessments of older home owners seeking care home admission; independent sector care home providers, 9 in the voluntary, and 19 in the for-profit, sector; residents recently admitted to independent sector residential or nursing homes who had previously owned their own homes; and relatives recently involved in disposing of property after an older home owner has been admitted to long term care. The postal survey and the structured interviews were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Data from qualitative interviews was analysed with Ethnograph.
Contents
This ten page booklet is divided into five sections. Section one gives background information on the numbers of older people in care homes, the means test for long term care and the issues surrounding selling a home to meet care home charges. Section two describes the aims and objectives of the research. Section three sets out the methodology and the research process. The fourth section is on the main findings of the study and is divided into eight parts each part dealing with the main findings, which are: variations in local authority community care packages; local variations in assessing financial situations; older home owners failing to obtain needs assessments; variations in obtaining a local authority contract; problems with entering a care home without a local authority contract; local variations in the treatment of a carer remaining in a property; a strained relationship between local authorities and independent sector providers; and a lack of impartial advice for frail older home owners. Section five draws together conclusions from the study. The appendix gives a summary of means-testing for residential and nursing home care, the current arrangements and government proposals for change.
Conclusion
"Most authorities operate ceilings to care packages in the community. In some areas these are very stringent. Older people needing significant support at home but with insufficient income or savings to purchase additional support privately will be pressurised into moving into care homes. Home owners are particularly vulnerable to these pressures as they will usually have to sell their homes and meet care home charges themselves."
15 references
Subject terms:
income, literature reviews, long term care, nursing homes, older people, pensions, care homes;
University of Leicester. Nuffield Community Care Studies Unit
Publication year:
2000
Pagination:
12p.
Place of publication:
Leicester
Brief report on an analysis of the financial consequences for older people of possible alterations to the means test for care provided in residential settings and in people's own homes.
Brief report on an analysis of the financial consequences for older people of possible alterations to the means test for care provided in residential settings and in people's own homes.
Subject terms:
home care, income, older people, charges, care homes, community care;
Explores the housing wealth of older people in Britain in relation to their incomes and financial wealth. Uses the Family Expenditure Survey data for 1992/3 to 1993/4 to assess the extent to which housing wealth could alleviate income poverty in old age. Analysis suggests that although housing wealth increases with both income and financial wealth, there are non-negligible portions of low income older people who could generate small supplements to their incomes by converting the wealth tied up in their homes into an income stream. However, asks whether this be sufficient to pay for long-term residential care for any length of time.
Explores the housing wealth of older people in Britain in relation to their incomes and financial wealth. Uses the Family Expenditure Survey data for 1992/3 to 1993/4 to assess the extent to which housing wealth could alleviate income poverty in old age. Analysis suggests that although housing wealth increases with both income and financial wealth, there are non-negligible portions of low income older people who could generate small supplements to their incomes by converting the wealth tied up in their homes into an income stream. However, asks whether this be sufficient to pay for long-term residential care for any length of time.
Subject terms:
income, housing, long term care, low income, older people, care homes;
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons Library
Publication year:
2019
Pagination:
38
Place of publication:
London
An updated briefing paper which looks at how individuals are assessed for local authority funding support towards the costs of their social care in England for 2019/20. It provides details of upper and low capital limits for the social care means test for 2019/20 and Personal Expenses Allowance for care home residents. It also covers Deferred Payment Agreements as an alternative way of funding care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
An updated briefing paper which looks at how individuals are assessed for local authority funding support towards the costs of their social care in England for 2019/20. It provides details of upper and low capital limits for the social care means test for 2019/20 and Personal Expenses Allowance for care home residents. It also covers Deferred Payment Agreements as an alternative way of funding care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
community care, older people, adult social care, financing, eligibility criteria, social care, care homes, home care, savings, income;