Who pays for residential care?
Nearly everyone has to pay a contribution towards the cost of living in a care home, and the amount they pay depends on their financial circumstances. Some people qualify for financial help with their care home fees from the Adult Services Department, while others meet the cost of their care themselves from their savings and income. People do not contribute to the cost of their care at all if they need ‘continuing NHS health care’, which is health care arranged, provided and paid for by the NHS. This is different from ‘funded nursing care’ (FNC). You may need continuing NHS health care if you are in a hospital and your consultant decides that when you leave you will need continuing specialist and/or nursing care that cannot be provided at home. The health service may pay for this care in a nursing home. ‘Funded nursing care’ means that people in nursing homes get the nursing element of their care – that is, care provided by a registered nurse – paid for them by the NHS. Nursing care is
