There must be greater clarity over care home fees, according to a new report by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Older people can pay as much as £30,000 a year for a room in a care home, but not know exactly what this pays for, states A fair contract for older people. Fees between residents in the same care home can also vary hugely when people paying for their own care end up subsidising individuals paid for by the local council which has negotiated lower rates. ‘It is clear self-funders are being denied support and many councils are not paying the true costs of care for those they are obliged to fund,' said English Community Care Association chief executive, Martin Green. ‘This report offers key messages, to councils about ensuring there is enough money in the system to meet the true costs of care to providers who must ensure residents get good information and for the CSCI which is regulating councils. It needs to stop colluding with local authorities and start exposing the inadequacy of its funding levels, the poor quality of its commissioning and its disregard for self-funders.'
