Next steps
When living alone is no longer safe
Once the decision is made, the difficulty becomes logistical. Doing things in the right order saves months and, often, a great deal of money.
Short answer
Ask the council for a care needs assessment first, then a financial assessment, then look at options. Doing it the other way round is how families end up paying for care they were entitled to help with.
Request a care needs assessment
Contact adult social care at their local council. The assessment is free, is not means-tested, and establishes what support is needed. Ask for a carer's assessment for yourself at the same time — it is a separate legal right.
Then the financial assessment
This determines what the council will contribute. Check Attendance Allowance too, which is not means-tested and is very widely under-claimed. Age UK can help with the forms.
Look at the options honestly
- Home care visits, one to four times a day.
- Live-in care, which is often cheaper than assumed compared with residential care.
- Sheltered or extra care housing, keeping a front door and independence.
- Moving in with family, with the practical and financial consequences discussed openly.
- Residential or nursing care, where nursing needs exist.
Sort the legal side
Lasting Power of Attorney for both finance and health should be arranged while capacity is clear. Without it, families face a Court of Protection application, which is slow and expensive. This is the single most common regret we hear.
Check for NHS Continuing Healthcare
Where needs are primarily health-related rather than social, NHS Continuing Healthcare can fund the full cost. It is worth asking for an assessment; it is rarely offered unprompted.