In the final episode of series 1, Annabel & Daisy speak with Cameron Young, CEO of trinityhomecare.co.uk about the evolving home care sector in the UK, and the need for early planning and community support,

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Key points:

Early planning is essential, a subject that has come up in many of our podcast episodes.

There are varied strands of home care - including live-in care, preventative care and dementia support.

Technology is increasingly being used - positively - in enhancing care.

We explain CQC ratings and how to gauge a care home that currently isn't CQC rated (through no fault of their own).

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This episode is not intended as individual financial advice. You should always speak to an independent financial advisor.

Mel Kenny is a chartered financial planner at https://rad-new.com/ and a regional coordinator with https://societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk/. He discusses the financial considerations for elderly individuals and their families. He emphasises the importance of soft skills in financial advice, such as listening and providing reassurance. Key topics include annuities, equity release, and trusts, which can help manage care costs and help decisions when it comes to a reliance on local authorities. Kenny also highlights the challenges of balancing financial planning with emotional needs, the role of SOLLA in providing accredited advisors, and the complexities of NHS continuing care. He stresses the importance of comprehensive financial advice that considers both financial stability and emotional well-being.

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Email: ageandstage@agespace.org

Voicenote: www.speakpipe.com/ageandstage

WhatsApp: 07982 360113

Share Age & Stage with friends & family: https://pod.link/1798413657

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Key points:

Explore annuity options to cover potential care costs.

Investigate lifetime mortgages as a way to access home equity without having to move.

Seek a care needs assessment from the local authority to determine funding support.

It is essential for the advisor to listen to clients and make them feel heard, which can make a significant difference in meetings.

The emotional aspect of financial advice should be considered and the importance of providing reassurance to clients and their families.

The 'Care Cap' was proposed as a solution to the challenges of long-term planning for care funding. This idea has now been scrapped and the focus is on the wider government review and plan, with some clarity coming in 2026.

There is an annual allowance for gifting money, along with other small transfers, but this is bound up in various rules and regulations which should be considered.

In what can be a confusing and changing financial world, the best advice is often to build up assets to a point where potential care needs can likely be covered.

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Debbie Harris from the elderly care and retirement-living directory autumna.co.uk discusses the complexities of choosing a care home with Daisy and Annabel. She highlights the need for quick decision-making, with a typical six-week window, how Autumna supports over 3,000 families monthly, offering a care-finding tool and a seven-day advice line. The discussion also explores the current challenges facing the Care Quality Commission and the importance of understanding care needs, along with the impact of hospital discharge delays, and much more.

Get in touch with your comments & questions

Email: ageandstage@agespace.org

Voicenote: www.speakpipe.com/ageandstage

WhatsApp: 07982 360113

Share Age & Stage with friends & family: https://pod.link/1798413657

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Key takeaways from this episode:

Using a directory like Autumna, Identify what type of care is needed (e.g., residential, nursing, complex, dementia) and search for care homes accordingly.

It's important to identify a good care home, although the subjective nature of quality care to suit each individual means 'one size' rarely fits all.

Autumna offers a huge number of filters in the search function, covering pets, gender and LGBTQ+ wishes, food preferences and much more.

Consider factors like location, price, additional care needs, behaviors, nursing specialisms, food requirements, disability support, room types, and nearby services when searching for a care home.

Ensure power of attorney is in place and understand how long any available funds will realistically last before needing a transition to local authority funding (balancing circumstances with location choices, alongside the available budget).

Autumna is transparent and provides unbiased information.

Consider respite care as a temporary measure to get the elderly relative back on their feet before potentially returning home.

The conversation touches on the importance of positive social care stories - of which there are many - and the need for better press for the vast majority of cases.

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