Care Aware

Care Aware is a public information and advisory service specialising in care issues for the elderly, also known as Long-Term Care or LTC.

LTC is one of the most pressing financial issues of our time, with serious implications for recipients, their families and their heirs.

According to Care Aware over three million adults above the age of 60 ha ve a mobility disability, 55% have a long standing illness and around 1.5 million have personal care difficulties. The cost of long term care for the over 65s is estimated at £42 billion a year. More than 75% of this represents the value of unpaid care provided by informal carers like family members.The number of people over the age of 80 is expected to increase by 65% by the year 2031 and it is estimated that by 2008 there will be more pensioners than children.

This useful website offers advice and assistance with an overview of the care system, a guide to the types of care available, an introduction to the legal issues and funding options.

There are also sections on news and current Issues, including current benefit rates and newsletters, a document library with a list of documents that you can order free of charge and a contacts directory of care providers, support groups, advisory services, and who to contact regarding benefits and finance.

The real meat lies in the Paying for Care area (within Advice & Assistance) which covers the differing means-testing processes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This section contains a flowchart for determining whether you are likely to qualify for state funding and a calculator for estimating likely personal contributions.

From the flowchart, proceed to the State Funded, Interim Funded or Self Fund area as appropriate for basic information on such issues as benefit entitlement for self-funders (e.g. Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit, Continuing Care and Registered Nursing Care), associated matters such as will writing and setting up enduring power of attorney, and obtaining financial advice regarding tax planning and asset protection.