Whats the position on care homes and finance

[robster]

Hi

 

I am new to this site and am currently looking to move to France within the next couple of years, when my kids have finished school.

I am trying to find out what the position is regarding funding for care homes in France, is it the same as in the UK where if you have any savings you have to use them up first, including selling your home to fund this. Or do they have a different system.

My In Laws are thinking of coming with us when we go which is why I ask

Any advice greatly appriciated

 

 

[Val_2]

Care homes are expensive in France with the families usually paying for a good 50% and more of all charges which,in our local public geriatric hospital runs at 50€/day per patient. Everything in France is means tested where benefits,grants and social aid is concerned and if the OAP going into a home or hospital for care full time owns a property with no living spouse or children still in that property, then they usually have to sell it to fund their care. This is only right and proper as many families of people in care do not have the finance themselves usually to pay these charges,hence the culture in Franceand other european countries to keep elderly relatives within the family home where doctors,nurses and other specialists still visit. France does not have this "shove your oldies into a home because they have become a nuisance to us" culture like the UK does. I sit on a social aid committee and we get many letters from local families who are retired themselves and have elderly parents needing full time care but they cannot aford the fees and ask for help from our funds,this is then looked into very carefully at all their income etc. There is also the other side of the coin whereby relatives pay for this care whilst the parent is still alive so the family home remains untouched for them to inherit eventually and I have two examples of this within 20m of my own home.

[Val_2]

As an afterthought, do your in-laws speak fluent french should they need to go into a french care home? It will be a very lonely and frustrating existance if they don't so they should consider that aspect before committing themselves to such an idea.

[PossumGirl]

When Mr. Possum's grandmother had to enter a nursing home (she suffered from senile dementia and was really a danger to herself and others), not only did his parents contribute to her care, but we were also billed, even though at the time we were still living in the U.S.  Our contribution was based on our income and wasn't hugely expensive as I remember it.

PG

[robster]

Many thnaks for all your replies