Care homes and hospital
You may decide that moving into a home when you leave hospital is the right option for you. Your local Health and Social Care Trust can help you make the necessary arrangements that are best for you.
Going into a home from hospital
In exceptional circumstances, some people may have to move to a home directly from hospital.
On discharge from hospital, you have the right to choose the residential care or nursing home that best meets your needs.
You cannot be moved directly into a home against your will.
Meeting your needs
The home you move into must meet your assessed needs.
If your needs are complex or you need specific care related to your disability, illness or age, this might take some time.
Pressure should not be put on you to make your decision quickly.
If your assessment shows that your primary need is for social care, your Trust will arrange for a financial assessment to work out the cost of your care.
If your assessment shows that your primary need is for health care, your Trust will pay the full cost of your care.
- Arranging health and social care
- Hospitals and people with disabilities
- Paying your residential care or nursing home fees
- Choosing a residential care or nursing home
Going into hospital if you live in a care home
If you're living in a residential or nursing care home you may need to go into hospital at some point.
It should be possible for you to keep your room while you are in hospital.
If your local Trust is helping to pay your fees, they should tell you how long they will continue to pay for your room in the home.
As long as this is happening and your benefits are unaffected, you will be expected to continue to pay your assessed contribution.
If you are self-funding, your home will be able to tell you how they charge during hospital stays. This information should also be in the agreed terms and conditions you received when you moved in.
Effect on benefits
If you live in a home and you go into hospital, you should contact the office that normally pays your Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA).
Payment of DLA or AA can normally continue if you are in hospital for less than 28 days, but this is not the case if you go into hospital from a home and payment of DLA or AA has already stopped.