06. What happens if I need to move into a residential care home?

Your council should make sure it can give residential home places to people who have the kind of needs which mean they can't reasonably be expected to live at home or in supported accommodation (for example, a warden-assisted home).

The council will look at your income and savings, and other things you own, to decide whether you could arrange and pay for that care yourself or if it must help pay your fees. You should always be told how the council has worked out the amount you will pay, and you can ask for this in writing.

In some cases, residential care is free, no matter how much money you have. This includes:

• moving into a home as an NHS continuing care patient;
• getting temporary 'intermediate care'; and
• going into residential care after being held in hospital under certain parts of the Mental Health Act.

In most cases, though, you will have to pay at least some of the fees.

If you qualify for help, the social services department usually pays the fees. You will then have to pay some of this back, depending on how much money you have.