YOUR article, “Care plans unveiled by Labour” (Echo, March 31), stated that Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council was “forcing many people to sell their homes” to meet the cost of residential care.
We are required, like all councils, to undertake assessments to determine the financial contribution that someone can make towards the cost of their care. This considers income and savings to calculate how much individuals can afford. The council will fund their remaining residential care costs.
Councils can take into account someone’s property when calculating how much they should pay and would not include that property in their assessment if their partner or dependent remained in the home.
For most people admitted to residential care, this means their property will be ignored completely.
In 2009/10, of the 546 people admitted into residential care in Redcar and Cleveland, only 36 had their property included in their financial assessment.
Nobody is forced to sell their property when first entering care, but they can enter a deferred payment arrangement, meaning their property will not be sold until after their death or when it is economically beneficial to do so.
Of those 36, only seven sold their properties – the remainder opting to defer payment until a later date.
Mike Dillon, Director of Adult and Children’s Services, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
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