§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the way in which social services departments interpret the regulations and guidance issued by his Department concerning eligibility for funding elderly people in private residential and nursing homes; [44831]
(2) what plans he has to issue further guidance to all local authority social services departments setting out their responsibilities to ensure a common approach to eligibility for funding of private residential and nursing homes for older people; [44830]
(3) what representations his Department has received concerning elderly people in private residential and nursing homes mistakenly using their own savings to pay for accommodation and treatment which should be funded by local authorities. [44832]
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§ Mr. BoatengThe contribution to be made by people placed by local authorities in residential or nursing homes towards the costs of their care is governed by the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 No. 2977. We update these Regulations annually and issue clarifying guidance which takes account of points raised in representations made to the Department in the course of the year about the operation of the system. The most recent guidance, Local Authority Circular b(98)8, was issued in March 1998, copies of which are available in the Library. In order to receive local authority support, a person must undergo an assessment of their care needs by the local authority to determine the type and level of care needed, and if residential and nursing home care is arranged, a financial assessment to determine their contribution towards the cost. Concerns have been expressed about the way the elderly residents' savings have been treated in residential care and nursing homes. The Community Care (Residential Accommodation) Bill, will ensure that once a person has been assessed as needing residential or nursing home care they will not have to use savings below the capital threshold set out in the Regulations to contribute towards the costs. Subject to this becoming law, we will issue guidance to accompany it.