El Cid Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 I visit my daughters grandad who is 93, he is very able for his age, but very much on the decline. He lives on his own, in the marital 3 bedroomed house. He gets very few visits from family, probably because he was and is a controlling parent. He goes to the church and cafes for meals, so he does get out. He may go into decline and the council will use the equity from his £200,000 house to pay for his care. He has been too shortsighted to plan for his old age, so that his house is still in his own name. How many older people does this happen to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janus Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 (edited) Probably quite a lot El cid. Not just due to shortsightedness. Circumstances can contribute to the situation. I've also heard of situations where the family have kicked dad out once the property has been put in to their name. Edited January 13, 2020 by Janus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez2 Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 I have no idea how many people fail to plan. Perhaps you could suggest he see a solicitor, draw up a will and put the house in joint names so it can't be taken away and used to pay for his care? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willman Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Why shouldn't his house be used for care? If you're fit and want a physio you pay for it,if you need a cleaner pay for them. If people want to buy anything they use their own assets to do so, why should it be different for care provision - not medical need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cid Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 49 minutes ago, willman said: Why shouldn't his house be used for care? If that is what the rules are, then it will happen. Fifteen+ years ago my father moved into rented flats and sold his house, the procedes then went to family. If the older generation plan, they can leave their asset to family, unless its a sudden illness or death. If they have a good relationship with their children, it might be posible for them to build an anex adjoining or very close to the childrens house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent Orange Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 27 minutes ago, El Cid said: If that is what the rules are, then it will happen. Fifteen+ years ago my father moved into rented flats and sold his house, the procedes then went to family. If the older generation plan, they can leave their asset to family, unless its a sudden illness or death. If they have a good relationship with their children, it might be posible for them to build an anex adjoining or very close to the childrens house Just because they have not left anything to the family doesn't necessarily mean a lack of planning. It might be they chose not to leave anything to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez2 Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 3 hours ago, willman said: Why shouldn't his house be used for care? If you're fit and want a physio you pay for it,if you need a cleaner pay for them. If people want to buy anything they use their own assets to do so, why should it be different for care provision - not medical need. I have seen some people on good money spend everything then when they hit a bad patch they get everything paid for. On the other hand I have seen people struggle all their life and be careful with their money, buy their own home, put money in the bank. When it comes to getting old the former gets all their care paid for them whereas the latter has to spend all their own money on care. I do know of cases where a generation in the middle has died and the grandchildren live with grandparents. If the grandparents didn't protect their property then what would happen to the grandchildren if the grandparent(s) need to go into care? Do you think it unreasonable for the grandparent(s) to make sure their grandchildren have a roof over their heads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willman Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Just now, Chez2 said: I have seen some people on good money spend everything then when they hit a bad patch they get everything paid for. On the other hand I have seen people struggle all their life and be careful with their money, buy their own home, put money in the bank. When it comes to getting old the former gets all their care paid for them whereas the latter has to spend all their own money on care. I do know of cases where a generation in the middle has died and the grandchildren live with grandparents. If the grandparents didn't protect their property then what would happen to the grandchildren if the grandparent(s) need to go into care? Do you think it unreasonable for the grandparent(s) to make sure their grandchildren have a roof over their heads? I think its wrong that grandparents expect a handout in old age so that they can give someone money that they have stashed away. I've written wills for a living i've heard every possible variation on the anecdotes you share and worse, yet the overriding reason is because people don't think they should pay for something when someone else is getting it for nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geared Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 4 hours ago, Chez2 said: I have no idea how many people fail to plan. Perhaps you could suggest he see a solicitor, draw up a will and put the house in joint names so it can't be taken away and used to pay for his care? They're more than wise to that trick, they will chase for the money regardless as it's a clear attempt to get around the rules. You need a good number of years between changing names and needing care before it's considered off limits, 10 or more I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 34 minutes ago, willman said: I think its wrong that grandparents expect a handout in old age so that they can give someone money that they have stashed away. I've written wills for a living i've heard every possible variation on the anecdotes you share and worse, yet the overriding reason is because people don't think they should pay for something when someone else is getting it for nothing. For many (most?) current-day OAPs, I think a lifetime of salaried work and income taxation, and a notionally-transferrable asset base built from after-tax money, puts a different spin on 'not thinking they should pay for something when someone else getting it for nothing': many hold, rightly or wrongly, that they've paid for it over 40+ years of NI contributions. I don't disagree with your overall sentiment. But I don't fully share it in this day and age of highly-distorted income levels and models, and (socially-) highly-prejudicial tax avoidance by corporates and HNWIs, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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