Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Any progress there P1?

We've finally had a letter confirming that Mum did qualify for a full review and that she's third down the list for that to happen.
My sister and I will be invited to a meeting in November to discuss her symptoms for the review.

Hope you're ok?
Elsa x

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Well a year later and things seem to be moving a little. We've been contacted by the "Retrospective Close Down Team" and asked for certified ID documents for me and my sister and a redacted copy of the will, prior to commencing the actual review. I think up to this point we've been in a very long queue awaiting a decision on whether Mum's case actually justified a review, so it's good news.

Anything happening there hun? xxx

Sounds promising for you Hun... I've got my fingers crossed for you

Not much to report at my end really. I contacted the retrospective review team myself a couple of months ago and they said they were prioritising claims for those still living, which I can understand I suppose.... so it's still a waiting game at the moment....

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Well a year later and things seem to be moving a little. We've been contacted by the "Retrospective Close Down Team" and asked for certified ID documents for me and my sister and a redacted copy of the will, prior to commencing the actual review. I think up to this point we've been in a very long queue awaiting a decision on whether Mum's case actually justified a review, so it's good news.

Anything happening there hun? xxx

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

I hope so Elsa..... Good luck with it all and please keep me posted Hun x

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

I'm not sure TBH. The staff do remember her well because she was such a sweetheart sometimes but then had bizarre delusions/hallucinations for weeks. They said they'd be happy to speak to the PCT.
Fortunately I was able to dig out a care report which described her behaviour and said she needed further assessment...which never happened so hopefully we'll be OK. Certainly they can't prove she DIDN'T qualify.

Good luck with your MP xxx

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

It's a joke isn't it? We chased ours up a couple of weeks ago as we'd heard nothing. The PCT said they were still waiting for a reply from the care home.
Rang the care home who said they'd not replied because they no longer have any care records as she died more than 3 years ago.
Apparently they can bin them after 3 years, which presumably makes their life less important than bank account records, which have to be retained for 6 years. Ridiculous.

What?! My late mother's care home still had hers last year from when she passed away in 2008..... and her solicitor said that they kept records there for 6 years before destroying them. Is this game over for you now Elsa? What a fecking nightmare!!

I'm going to write to my MP later. I doubt it'll have much impact but it's worth a shot.

[The Tech Clerk]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

It's a joke isn't it? We chased ours up a couple of weeks ago as we'd heard nothing. The PCT said they were still waiting for a reply from the care home.
Rang the care home who said they'd not replied because they no longer have any care records as she died more than 3 years ago.
Apparently they can bin them after 3 years, which presumably makes their life less important than bank account records, which have to be retained for 6 years. Ridiculous.

Records at Hospitals of deceased get binned in that time!

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

It's a joke isn't it? We chased ours up a couple of weeks ago as we'd heard nothing. The PCT said they were still waiting for a reply from the care home.
Rang the care home who said they'd not replied because they no longer have any care records as she died more than 3 years ago.
Apparently they can bin them after 3 years, which presumably makes their life less important than bank account records, which have to be retained for 6 years. Ridiculous.

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Jeez.... these people are a joke!

I have just called the number of my particular PCT to chase up when they're likely to set up their Review Team. The lady I spoke to was very matter-of-fact and said that it could take years to even set up a Review Team and although I could send in a complaint if I wasn't happy, this would not change the current position of just....waiting and waiting.

They seem intent on dragging this out to the max. She told me that they have around 400 cases to refer to this team when it's finally set up, so there seems no end in sight whatsoever right now.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Thanks for the update P1, first hurdle over then

Similar here, everything gone to PCT in mid September, they said it would take quite a while to dig out all the info, and it has, no news yet.

Elsa xx

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Just updating....

Received paperwork from the PCT asking for ID and confirmation that my sols. are acting on my behalf. Retrospective continual care assessment to take place.

Will update again when I hear more.

:-)

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Hi P1,
Yes, according to them that's it now, the deadline refers to review requests, be it for an appeal of a previous refusal or a retrospective request for a review.
At least from Hugh James (for free) we got an initial assessment that we had a case. As Mum was (wrongly) never reviewed it might be easier than appealing against an existing refusal...as the PCT are now aware of their earlier mistakes and (seem) keen to put things right.

If they refuse this we can still choose to engage a solicitor at a later date to appeal, if necessary, but HJ said they rarely need to go to court....

Brilliant stuff!!

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

Hi P1,
Yes, according to them that's it now, the deadline refers to review requests, be it for an appeal of a previous refusal or a retrospective request for a review.
At least from Hugh James (for free) we got an initial assessment that we had a case. As Mum was (wrongly) never reviewed it might be easier than appealing against an existing refusal...as the PCT are now aware of their earlier mistakes and (seem) keen to put things right.

If they refuse this we can still choose to engage a solicitor at a later date to appeal, if necessary, but HJ said they rarely need to go to court....

[PriorityOne]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

LOL they're priceless aren't they?

Update on mine too (Going the DIY route as Hugh James suddenly wanted £1k up front)

Have been in direct contact with the PCT, having been referred to them after my query to the Patients Liaison service. They sent a form to fill in with details of symptoms, diagnosis etc. I also did a cover letter quoting phrases from case law (eg Coughlan) etc and we sent it all in requesting a retrospective review. They've acknowledged receipt so we've made the deadline of 30th September. They've advised "it might take quite some time...".

Elsa, have you checked that receiving a request for a retrospective review is the same as lodging a claim with the PCT re. meeting the deadline?

I've been told that some cases can take up to 2 years..... so it's a looooooong waiting game.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Dementia.... re-claiming care home fees.

LOL they're priceless aren't they?

Update on mine too (Going the DIY route as Hugh James suddenly wanted £1k up front)

Have been in direct contact with the PCT, having been referred to them after my query to the Patients Liaison service. They sent a form to fill in with details of symptoms, diagnosis etc. I also did a cover letter quoting phrases from case law (eg Coughlan) etc and we sent it all in requesting a retrospective review. They've acknowledged receipt so we've made the deadline of 30th September. They've advised "it might take quite some time...".