On this page, you can read the formal definitions of residents in a care home. This may help when working out if you are entitled to financial support to help with care fees.
Temporary residents
The Care Act 2014 states that a temporary resident in a care home is a person whose need to stay in a care home is intended to last for a limited period of time, and where there is a plan to return home.
Permanent residents
In most circumstances, a person enters a care home with the intention of remaining and not returning home. They are therefore treated as a permanent resident from the date they first move in.
This also includes a person who is in a care home waiting for a placement in a different care home.
Residents who own their former home
Where a person enters a care home, and they own a property (that does not fall under any other disregards), the Council will disregard the property in their financial assessment for the first 12 weeks.
During this time, the weekly assessed client contribution and “Top Up” are chargeable from the first date they entered the home.
From the 13th week, the Council will include the value of the property in the financial assessment, which will usually mean the resident is liable for the full cost of their placement.
In some cases, a person may be treated as a permanent resident from the first day they enter a care home. However, if there is a change in their circumstances which results in them returning to their main residence, their stay is classed as temporary.
In these cases, the Council will reconsider the person’s financial assessment and make allowances that apply to temporary residents.