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Care homes

Moving to a care home on a temporary basis

You may move into a care home for a short time:

  • for a trial period to see if you like it
  • to recover from an illness
  • before you move somewhere more suitable, like sheltered housing
  • to give someone who cares for you a break

If your stay is for up to 52 weeks, it’s classed as temporary. This should be agreed between you, the care home and the council before you move into the care home.

If the council assesses you as needing temporary care in a care home, it doesn’t have to carry out a financial assessment for eight weeks, although it can do so.

The council can ask you to pay towards the costs by applying the financial assessment to you.

Or the council will ask you to pay a ‘reasonable’ amount for the first 8 weeks, after which it will do a financial assessment. However, it should ignore the value of your property and your financial commitments  like mortgage payments  if you plan to return home and need to keep paying housing-related expenses.

If you’re not happy with the amount you’ve been charged, ask for a review.

If you’re in a care home for respite care regularly  for example, 1 week in every 6 weeks  your council will decide whether to give you a financial assessment or charge you a ‘reasonable’ amount for your weeks in respite care.

The information was last updated on: 11th April 2023

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Find my council

You can contact your local council's social care department for a free assessment. Find their details here.

You can contact your local council's social care department for a free assessment. Find their details here.