If you’re helping to manage a parent’s care, there’s an important reality that often catches families off guard: later-life care can be expensive, and how it’s funded isn’t always clearly explained.In England, there are three distinct ways care may be paid for:
- NHS Continuing Healthcare – fully funded by the NHS for those with significant health needs
- Local Authority (council) funding – means-tested support based on financial circumstances
- Self-funded care – where individuals pay for their own care
Many people assume the NHS will automatically cover costs, or that the council will step in when needed. Others expect to figure things out when the time comes. In practice, decisions about care and funding are often made quickly—sometimes by hospitals or local authorities—before families fully understand their options. The difference between the right and wrong funding pathway can be substantial, potentially amounting to tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds over time.
That’s why understanding how care is funded isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Families who are informed are better equipped to ask questions, challenge decisions when necessary, and protect financial resources.
A useful question to consider: based on your parent’s current situation, which funding route would they fall into today? Just as importantly, have you put the right plans in place to protect them, and your family, before these decisions are made? Maple Wills work with families to put the right legal and financial structures in place before care is needed, these include:
- Ensuring wills and trusts are set up to protect assets
- Putting Lasting Powers of Attorney in place so families can make decisions if capacity is lost.
Without this kind of preparation, families can find themselves making rushed decisions at stressful moments, often with limited information and fewer options.
Get in touch with us today 01908 478988, and we will advise you.
