General Chat

As a non-smoking;non drinking; non gambling; and can,t find any loose women; saver, is it right that eventually I should spend my savings on a nursing home and possibly sell my home. I saved for my childrens benefit. Paid tax; will pay capital gains and inheritance tax (probably). From what I,m told, if i lived in Scotland i wouldn,t be asking this question. All the above doesn,t seem right to me, but realise their are two sides to any argument. Happy days

I don't understand why my taxes should go towards keeping someone in a residential care home so that when they die their children can have a holiday in Barbados, a new car and their mortgage paid off! I am, however, happy for my taxes to go towards caring for the elderly who have little or no savings and no assets. Julie xxx

Good. a disgreement to start with. Happy days best wishes.

I must say I am with Julie on this one. People who are fortunate enough to have a few bob are happy to pay for private medical care and private schooling for their kids, but not for their own care when they are elderly. What is the difference? Suzy

Ah, but did those people have little or no savings because they spent it all? Accepted some people are always going to need more help than others, but why should others be penalised because they have been thrifty and well managed throughout their lives?

Thanks girls. Like I say, two sides to every story. nicely put, Teresa. Happy days

very emotive subject! my parents are elderly and mum needs care. because dad worked hard and saved , he has to shell out. Next door dont, but choose to spend their money on a holiday home in Cyprus, which they now let out. he'd pay every penny he had to get the right care, but it is a totally unfair system. my pet hate - 4 wheel drive 'chelsea tractors and matching caravan ' on the forcourt of a council house- same kind of thing really. Jess

I think the moral of the story is spend spend spend and enjoy it while you got it.

Yes, the elderly should have to sell their homes if necessary. Then perhaps care homes might be the sort of places the elderly would wish to retire to, where they are treated well and respected. Where they are not over medicated, where the staff are well paid and consequently wish to remain in their jobs.

my parents were very carefull with their money. Dad died at 55 so mum lives alone. Now approaching 70. Why should she have to sell her house to keep herself in a home when the likes of my inlaws, who never saved a penny in their lives were well looked after in their old age. In theory they could be living in the same place, one paying over £300 a week and one paying sod all and getting pocket money as well. Claire

I think it was mentioned in the budget that it will soon be free for everyone. Claire

in our area, care can cost between £350 and £700 per week, so there is no excuse for lack of care , poor wages etc. Have you seen the amount of oversees holidays, some of these 'owners' of care homes have? It's big business.

well said Margaret!

Margaret I can kind of see your point but it was their choice to save and pay off their mortgage. Why should I, who had no input in their decision, have to pay for their care when chances are I'm not even going to get a pension just so they can leave money to their children? Julie xxx

well said teresa and margaret, i worked in a home for the elderly, quite often on my own because the owners were always traverling around the world etc, you cannot justify 350.00 plus a week,have you seen how much the elderly eat for a start,most of us would pay that for a all inclusive holiday abroad. the tax you pay every day of your life should cover it,even unemployed pay taxes one way or another.

Giving people the right to buy a council house was a very shrewd move. Lots of people who had no or very few assets now own property so that they may pay for their own care if they need it, or for the government to clobber inheritors with tax if they died with enough credit. I thought we all paid national insurance to cover care, health and pension costs, but it's now apparent we don't. It's just another form of taxation being taken under false pretences. Thank you, I'll pipe down now!

Julie, if you were ill and needed years of expensive life saving treatment, you would expect tax payers to fund that. Not all old people will need to go into care,so it,s unfair to penalise people who have illnesses relating to age.

Oh dear Harry, you may wish you never mentioned this, although I know you & I feel the same about this !! Firstly, Claire , no it will NOT be free after April & there was nothing in the budget about free care, sadly with this Government everything they say is a pack of lies (Where is the free school milk for infants & free school lap tops for all secondary age children ?) Secondly, fine, on principal I can see people's views as to why should their taxes pay for the elderly in care homes ? Yes, I agree if at 70, they decide they want a Hotel service (Paid for) for the rest of their days. NO I don't agree if they are elderly & have Alzheimers/Dementia or any other terminal illness like Motor Neurone disease, Parkinsons, etc. Unless you see someone you love die from one of these ILLNESSES it is had to imagine how awful it is, & to have to pay for their drugs & treatment, which effectively they do, why should they ?? Believe me, the really rich people have solicitors who will ensure that not a penny goes to the Government, & they keep the inheritance in the family, whereas Joe Bloggs like you & me will have to sign those cheques for over £700 a week (Yes, a week!!!!) to keep a roof over their parents' heads. I think that the limit should be raised from £12,000 savings left to £100,000 then at least most people could pass some down, bearing in mind the value of houses these days, & that is where most people's life savings lie !!! P.S. My Dad is still paying tax on his pension so he still contributes to the same system that is ripping him off ; & paying towards kids' education, people on benefits etc !!! Sorry folks, that's how I feel ! Joan

I am actually far more likely to have left this country for good before I reach that stage but if not and if I had no hope of returning to my house and nobody else was living there I would be happy for it to be sold to provide me with a higher standard of care. Julie xxx

people seem to think it is there personal taxes that are paying for care homes what about the taxes these old people have paid all there life too.