Closed petition Stop the financial abuse of self-funding residents in UK care homes

Closed on 30 March 2015

Almost a third of care home residents in the UK have to pay all of their care costs because they have savings/assets above the government threshold (currently £23,250) which denies them access to any financial help.

The situation for many such residents in England is even worse. Some self-funders are being charged substantially more than local authority funded residents in the same home and for exactly the same care package. I believe this amounts to an insidious profiteering by those care homes involved. I consider it morally wrong and an exploitation of vulnerable people, particularly as many self- funders will have no idea they are going to pay a higher price at the time of contracting with a home. Why are local authorities dismissing this form of abuse?

I would like the Government to regulate this despicable practice and require local authorities to use existing adult safeguarding powers to call offenders to account.