The best first step is to request a Care Needs Assessment from the London Borough of Bexley's adult social care team. This assessment is free, regardless of your financial situation, and outlines exactly what level of daily support your parent requires. However, navigating the system and understanding the results can be overwhelming. We highly recommend getting in touch with us alongside this process. We can help you understand your options, whether you are self-funding or seeking local authority support, and narrow down the right care homes or home care agencies in the local area that truly match your parent's needs.

This depends entirely on your relative's financial circumstances. Following a Care Needs Assessment, Bexley Council will conduct a Financial Assessment (often called a means test). If your parent's capital and savings fall below the upper threshold (currently £23,250 in England), they may be eligible for some level of funding support. If their assets exceed this amount, they will typically need to self-fund their care. We can guide you through how these thresholds work, what counts as an asset (such as a property), and how to plan effectively for long-term care costs.

A dementia diagnosis is a highly distressing time for the whole family, and your first priority should be emotional support. Practically, it is crucial to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for both Health and Welfare, and Property and Financial Affairs, whilst your parent still has the capacity to do so. When it comes to care, finding the right environment is paramount. Not all care providers are properly equipped for specialist dementia support. We can help you identify homes in Bexley that genuinely specialise in dementia, focusing on staff training, calming environmental design, and compassionate, person-centred care.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of ongoing care arranged and fully funded by the NHS for individuals assessed as having a 'primary health need'. If eligible, the NHS covers the full cost of care, including accommodation if they are in a care home. Eligibility is based strictly on complex, unpredictable, or intense health needs, rather than financial circumstances. In Bexley, assessments are overseen by the South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB). The threshold for qualifying is notoriously high and the assessment process is complex, but we can advise you on whether applying is appropriate and help you understand what to expect.

Yes, absolutely. Hospital discharges are often the most stressful periods for families. Decisions must be made quickly, and hospitals are under pressure to safely discharge patients to free up beds. Whether your relative is at Queen Mary’s in Sidcup, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Darent Valley, or another local trust, we can step in immediately. We work rapidly to identify care homes in the Bexley area with current availability that can safely meet your relative's clinical needs, arranging emergency respite or a permanent placement to ensure a smooth, safe transition out of hospital.