We realise that you will have lots of questions about our care home and what is involved when a loved one joins us. We want the process to be as stress-free as possible, with that in mind we have collected some frequently asked questions. If there is anything specific that you want to know then please ask us a question using the form below.
How best to pay for a stay in a Care Home is a topic we are frequently asked about so we consulted an expert in this area, Nicky Cave, Managing Director of Eldercare Solution Ltd, and asked for his thoughts about the options self-funders have.
How do I start the journey of placing my loved one in to a Boutique Care Home?
Prospective- residents, along with family and friends can attend a visit to our care home with our Admissions Manager and Home Manager. We will take the time to fully understand your care requirements, you will be shown around our home and you will have the opportunity to see our available rooms. This will give you the chance to observe our home in action and discover the facilities we have to offer. The Manager will also be able to answer any questions you may have and you will be able to speak to our team and the residents living at our homes.
What care options do you offer?
Boutique Care Homes providers residential care, short stays and dementia care. In addition to our highly skilled care teams we also work closely with our colleagues across the health and social care sectors, such as District Nurses, to ensure we provide the highest standards of care.
If you have a specific question about the care we provide then please get in touch.
Does the home provide the right type of care for your needs?
Our care homes are registered and designed to meet most care requirements, offering residential, dementia and short stays. Click relevant link for more information on the care category most suitable to meet your needs:
https://www.boutiquecarehomes.co.uk/our-care
Do we do short stays?
Yes, we do with a minimum stay of four weeks as we find that any shorter stay disrupts the individual’s routine too much.
Can the home be reached easily by friends and relatives who will visit?
The Burlington located in Shepperton is surrounded by neighbouring towns in Surrey including Hampton, Walton and Sunbury, Chertsey, Upper Halford and Charlton.
Chartwell House located in Broadstairs is easily accessible from Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and the wider area thanks to links to the M2 and A299.
Brampton Manor located in Newmarket, is within an reach of Kentrford, Snailwell, Ely, Cambridge, Burwell and Fordham.
What are your fees?
Our starting price for The Burlington, Shepperton is from £1,350 onwards, subject to the choice of room and your loved one’s specific care needs.
Our starting price for Brampton Manor, Newmarket is from £1,400 onwards, subject to the choice of room and your loved one’s specific care needs.
Our starting price for Chartwell House, Broadstairs is from £1,300 onwards, subject to the choice of room and your loved one’s specific care needs.
What is included in the weekly fees?
Our weekly fees include at all our care homes, all household costs, catering, laundry, support with activities of daily living and administration of medication. A pre-admission assessment is needed prior to a move-in, at which point we are able to confirm the final weekly fee and whether any additional care is required.
Currently at The Burlington, we also include hair and chiropody services subject to our fair usage policy.
What services/facilities/items are charged as extras?
Additional costs one can expect are things like transport to pre-booked appointments and escort services. At Brampton Manor and Chartwell House, hairdressing and chiropody are also charged on a pay as you go basis. Fees vary depending on room chosen, category and level of care required.
The Home Manager is happy to discuss fees for your specific requirements.
Do I have to sell my property to pay for care?
No, not necessarily. If you have funds of less than £23,250 in England then, following on from the 12-week disregard, you can ask your Local Authority for a deferred payment agreement. They should agree to lend you the difference between your existing income, including any rental income from the property, and the cost of your chosen care home. The money is repaid to them out of your estate after your death. In the event of you living in care for several years, however, the debt could end up offsetting most of the equity in the property. Income tax would be due on any rental income and capital gains tax may be due once you have lived in the care home for three years. The Local Authority will charge a setting up fee and will charge interest on the debt.
Buying a care fees annuity
As both the deferred loan and the investment options carry a degree of uncertainty, some people prefer the option of buying a care fees annuity. This is a plan which has been specifically designed to take into account your age and state of health. It therefore offers much higher rates of income than a standard pension annuity. You buy the plan with a one-off lump sum (usually from a property sale or savings) which is non-refundable if death occurs more than six months after buying the plan unless you pay for extra ‘capital protection’. The income from the plan is paid, tax-free, to your care home for the rest of your life.
You can choose to have an income that stays the same or one that increases by a fixed percentage each year and if you move care homes, the plan simply moves with you. Any money spent on the plan will immediately reduce your estate for the purpose of Inheritance Tax. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme covers these types of plans, guaranteeing 100% of the income that you buy with no maximum cut-off point.
If you are able to tell us your age and how much income you would require from such a plan (usually this would be your care home fees less any existing guaranteed income that you already receive) we would be able to give you an idea of the likely cost of a plan so you can decide whether it is worth researching further and of course answer any other questions that you may have.”
Nicky Cave is the Managing Director and a SOLLA Accredited Adviser at Eldercare Solutions Ltd.
Investigating the options for funding care can be a daunting prospect. If you require advice with regards to how the care funding system works please contact Eldercare Solutions Ltd who can provide free information and advice to older people, their families and friends. Eldercare has a team of specialist, independent care advisers who can discuss the best options for funding your long-term care with the aim of protecting your wealth and providing peace of mind.
For further details, or to request a free copy of their guide ‘Paying for Care – Important Things You Should Know’ please visit www.eldercaregroup.co.uk or call 0800 082 1155.
Investing my money
If you have a significant amount of capital, then investing it wisely may produce the income you need to meet the ‘shortfall’ between your care home fees and your pension(s) and Attendance Allowance but in the current economic climate this is becoming a much less viable option unless you are prepared to invest in higher risk funds. An investment of say £250,000 would generate you just £7,500 per year of income assuming it were possible to secure a 3% net rate of return. The money could therefore still run out if you live in care for several years.
Do we take social services fee?
Unfortunately, our model cannot be sustained on local authority/social services fees. We can however accept them as part funders, with a top-up from the family to make up to the value of our fee.
How often can family members visit?
We are pleased to be able to welcome new residents, families and visitors to our homes. We ask that visitors continue to wear masks in line with government guidance and to follow best practice around hand washing. Please contact our care homes for the most up to date information and guidance on visiting.
Are friends and relatives invited to events?
Relatives, friends and the local community are always welcome to join any of the activities and events held at our care homes. We ask that visitors continue to wear masks in line with government guidance and to follow best practice around hand washing. Please contact our care homes for the most up to date information and guidance.
Is there an activities programme?
Our care homes offer a varied and substantial activities programme covering seven days a week. Activities are designed to stimulate mind, body and soul for an enriched and engaging life at Boutique Care Homes.
We consult residents and relatives to find out likes and dislikes of each and every resident and tailor our service accordingly.
What activities are on offer in a Boutique Care Home?
Our Lifestyle & Activities team work alongside our residents to ensure a varied and fulfilling activities calendar is created for your loved ones to enjoy, whether it’s learning a new skill or continuing a much-loved hobby. We also plan local trips out with our residents exploring the local area sights.
Refer to our News & Events Section for further information and visit our home’s Facebook pages to see what activities our residents have been participating in.
Are outings/events available?
Outings and trips are an important part of enriching the lifes of residents and featiure at all of our homes. Outings can include trips to places of interest in the local community, parks, garden centres, pubs and cultural landmarks.
Our homes also provide a calendar of events designed to bring residents, their families, friends and the wider community together. This can include summer fetes, regular coffee mornings and garden parties. Please contact the homes directly to find out when the next event is taking place.
What meals do you provide?
Our residents can enjoy a nutritious and exciting menu all day every day. Our chefs create an array of breakfast, lunch and supper options to cater for all of our residents’ tastes and dietary requirements, as well as delicious snacks and light bites throughout the day.
Do you cater for cultural and dietary requirements?
Boutique Care Homes is able to cater specifically for any cultural needs or any specific dietary requirements including allergens.
Are residents’ religious needs met?
Residents’ spiritual needs are respected and diverse services are facilitated and visits by respective denomination representatives also take place
Do we have our own private GP?
Every resident is entitled to be registered with a local GP surgery as part of the NHS service. If a resident wishes to keep their own GP, this will be down to the GP himself/herself. It is difficult to retain a GP if you move out of their area.
Do staff receive regular training?
We appreciate that our team is the most important component of our service and provide face-to-face training to all staff and we complement this with online training via My Learning Cloud. We recognise and encourage staff development.
Are your homes accessible to those with mobility needs?
All our care homes are purpose built and feature step-free access, have wide corridors, spacious rooms and communal areas including a courtyard garden. Lifts are available to all floors.
