Support for care home costs to be reviewed

Alex Allinson said he would review financial support for people's care home costs

Any potential changes to financial support for people's care home costs would be brought forward as part of the next budget, the treasury minister has said.

In March, charges for adult social care increased by 5.7%, with the current cost of a non-specialist care home being £30,484 a year, with nursing homes costing £57,613.

Alex Allinson confirmed to Tynwald members individuals could currently retain up to £14,000 in capital and still receive income support to help cover costs.

But that level was criticised by some MHKS, including Julie Edge, who questioned why the island had the lowest threshold in the British Isles.

'Monitor costs'

In Tynwald, Juan Watterson SHK said the way income support was calculated made for "unrealistic expectations" on the amount of return an individual gets within the capital structure.

Ann Corlett MHK argued it was important people could leave enough money "to settle their estate and cover funeral costs", which were "rising all the time".

And Edge said the figure that an individual was required to live on did not match the costs of living in a care home, and called for the minister to cap the amount that nursing homes could charge.

That was something Allinson said could lead to a situation where those services were no longer available for the "majority of people" on the island, but said it was "right" to monitor costs to "make sure they are proportionate".

But he told members the department looked at income support regulations each year to "keep up" with the situation on the Isle of Man including the costs of care.

He also said the capital threshold had increased in February from £13,000 but would be revisited as part of the overall budget next year.