I raised the issue of self-funding care home residents facing ever increasing charges – self-funders are being fleeced and are at the mercy of care home owners.
Care home residents are self-funders when they have savings and or a capital asset and have been assessed as having to pay for their own care home fees.
I raised the plight of self-funders in the debate on the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill in the Scottish Parliament where I put forward an amendment proposing the Scottish Government’s rent freeze should extend to care home charges for self-funders.
I told MSPs; “I highlight the plight of self-funders in care homes and their families, who say to me that they are being fleeced, and no one seems to care.
“I have heard from care home residents who face monthly increases in the charges that they pay.
“It is worth restating that such people do not have major wealth; they have worked hard all their lives, saved a bit and bought their homes.
“They now need support and care, and they are told that they must pay for it.
“As costs go up but local authority fees remain stagnant, those people are the only source of additional income for private care home operators.”
I brought forward this amendment to highlight the often-ignored issue of self-funding residents, whose ever-increasing charges are used cover the shortfalls in the national care home contract funds.
The national contract covers those who do not have savings or capital assets and have their costs met by local authorities through a national contract, the amount of which is far less than what self-funders pay.
The care home owners are struggling to meet their increasing costs and, with no increase in the national contract, increasing the charges self-funders pay is the only source of new money.
This is why people who have worked hard, saved and have money are saying they are being fleeced.”
The SNP government rejected my amendment on the grounds that those paying for their care homes places are paying for more than just rent, despite this also being the case for student accommodation that is included in the bill.
I have now written to the minister highlighting the unfairness of the increasing charges for those who have little choice but to keep paying up for their place in the care home.
The government must get to grips with the funding of care and stop those who have worked hard all their lives from being fleeced.
