Care of the elderly procedures can be emotionally complex, politically charged and prone to misunderstanding.

How will care be funded? By the NHS? The Local Authority? Or must he pay for all of his care himself? Will we have to pay a top-up contribution? Will we have to sell her house?

Harrison Clark can guide clients through the web of statutes, regulations, guidance and procedures to ensure that the person in need claims everything he or she is entitled to and the relevant authority cannot abuse or misinterpret its powers and duties.

Our specialist team can also work with clients to help safeguard family wealth for the next generation with suitable forward planning.

If you are elderly and in need of medical or specialist care, you may be entitled to have the cost of your long term care paid for by the NHS. The cost of both nursing care and social care or 'hotel costs' are the responsibility of the NHS.This means that you can obtain entirely free care.

Sometimes negotiation is required to secure free care from the NHS or local authority. Harrison Clark can assist. The earlier we are brought in, the more likely we are to achieve the best outcome. You need not wait until the needs assessment process is complete.

People who are assessed as needing to live in a nursing home (i.e. one providing qualified nursing, rather than just a residential home) and are also assessed as being liable to contribute to the cost of their care, are entitled to have part of their care paid for by the NHS. The rest, they must pay for themselves.

If you are unhappy with the assessment made, Harrison Clark can help. As always, we are likely to get the best results if we are involved at an early stage even before the assessment is made.

Local authorities must contribute to nursing home or residential home costs if a person's capital is below the annually set threshold. Above it the resident must pay the full fees.

Some assets are disregarded from the capital assessment and there are frequent disputes over disregarded items and other aspects of capital,including disputes over capital which might have been given away.

If you are unhappy with a financial assessment, we can assist in the negotiation process.

Free continuing NHS healthcare

Related state benefits

Whilst some state benefits are not "means-tested", others are. We can assist in helping you find your way around the benefits system, which links in with the provision of care packages at home, under the 'fairer charges' regime, or under the NHS or by way of the residential care provision which must be made by a local authority.

Some older people may wish to nominate relatives or other third parties to assist in the handling of their affairs. Harrison Clark can advise on all aspects of Enduring Powers of Attorney and the new Lasting Powers of Attorney and we have experience of looking after the financial affairs of Clients for them.

For initial advice or assistance concerning the services we provide, or for a general chat about planning these aspects of your personal affairs please contact Dawn Oliver or Chris Milne on the telephone numbers or email addresses shown on the right.