Whether you have been planning a move for a while, or if you are making the decision sooner than you expected, it is a big life change. The process will usually require additional research and you will probably have a number of questions along the way.
We always encourage people to come in and visit one of our Homes when they make an enquiry. It is important to get a feel for a Home, have a look around, speak with the Management Team and ask any questions.
If you would like to have a tour of one of our Homes, please contact the preferred Home to arrange a suitable time with the Home Manager.
There are also many resources available to support you in finding the right Home, including Which.co.uk’s online checklist which provides some questions to ask when choosing a Home. You can also have a look at the CQC and CIW websites, the independent regulators for Health and Social Care in England and Wales, where you can read the latest inspection report for any of our Homes.
Understanding what type of care you or your loved one may need is an important step when choosing a care home.
We have 17 care services across England and Wales and we provide residential care, nursing care and residential dementia support.
The type of care you need will be based on your individual needs. The care home you apply to will carry out a full assessment to determine the type of care you require before offering you a placement, to ensure the Home can meet your needs.
Alongside finding a Home that you are happy with, you need to think about how your care will be paid for. Our services are available to people who are self-funding and supported by their local authority.
There are a number of different ways to fund your care. The way you pay depends on your financial situation and capital assets, and may involve a financial and care assessment by your local adult social care department from your local authority.
We encourage you to take independent financial advice for your personal situation as soon as possible. Which.co.uk provides a simple tool to find out about care home fees and whether you might be eligible for local authority financial support. For more information click here.
Our Management Team is also happy to discuss the different options with you during the application process, please contact your preferred Home directly for further advice.
We will tell you your weekly fee before moving into a Home. The fees cover accommodation, meals and care; this may change as your needs change. Please visit our care homes and visit your preferred Home’s page to view additional details about each Home’s care fees are and what’s included.
Every resident who comes into one of our Homes will have a financial assessment to ascertain their individual circumstances. If a resident reaches the stage where they are no longer able to pay for their care, RMBI Care Co. will continue to support their fees alongside the local authority, as long as their care needs can still be met.
If you are ready to apply, please find below the Application Form you will need to complete, alongside our Eligibility Criteria, where applicable. If you would like further guidance or support in completing the Application Form, please contact your preferred Home and the Management Team will be happy to assist you.
Resident’s Welcome Pack
(for information)
Eligibility Guide
(for Freemasons)
Proof of Eligibility Form
(for Freemasons)
Currently, we do not charge top-up fees for residents living in our Homes.
The minimum respite period is 1-2 weeks depending on the care home of choice. Please contact the Home you are interested in for further information. See our care homes.
We support people with a Masonic connection, as well as people in the wider community who do not have a connection to Freemasonry. Where a Home has a waiting list of residents who wish to come into the Home, priority will always be given to Freemasons and their families, as long as we can support the person’s needs.
This depends on each local authority and a person’s individual circumstances. We do have a number of residents funded by local authorities outside of the area, often because it is the closest RMBI Care Co. Home to where they live, or if the person is moving to be closer to family.
Each resident application is different and the length of time for admission will depend on your individual circumstances. Some applications may take a little longer as they wait for their local authority to approve funding. The admission process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few months to be completed. On average, the approximate time frame from the Home’s Management Team receiving a resident application, to completing an assessment and giving a placement offer, is around two weeks.
We encourage people to visit their preferred Home for an informal assessment or to arrange a video call. We will undertake a full assessment of care before confirming which category of care a person requires. The assessment can be carried out in the person’s home, in hospital or at the preferred care home; depending on individual circumstances. It is a requirement before any admission that a full assessment is undertaken.
Self-funding and local authority funding
In England, local authority funding may be available, but this is means-tested. If you have savings worth more than £23,250 or you own your own property, you will usually not be entitled to financial support for the cost of your care fees.
To qualify for financial support by your local authority, your savings or assets must be below £23,250. Your local authority will calculate how much you can pay towards you care fees, taking into account your weekly income, including £1 for each £250 from the savings between £14,250 and £23,250 as Tariff income. When your liquid capital reduces to £14,200, Tariff income will not be applicable any longer.
In Wales, if your total capital is less than £50,000, you will be entitled to maximum support from the local authority. You will not have to contribute from your capital, but you will be expected to contribute from your income (e.g. a pension). If you have a capital of more than £50,000, which may include your property, you will have to pay the full cost of your care.
Funded Nursing Care (FNC)
If, following an assessment, you require nursing care in an RMBI Care Co. Home, both self-funders and local authority funded residents are entitled to a nursing care contribution. The NHS will pay this directly to the care home. If you pay your own care fees, the amount will be deducted from your weekly care fee. Our fees quoted include the nursing care element and this will be deducted from the total weekly care fee, whilst you receive FNC.
Continuing Healthcare
NHS Continuing Healthcare is non-means tested and fully funded by the NHS, for individuals who have a need for significant, ongoing health care outside of hospital. Eligibility for Continuing Healthcare is based on the level and complexity of an individual’s health care needs.
The full cost of the care fees are covered and once funding has been granted, there will be a review within three months. Further reviews should then take place at least once a year. Continuing Healthcare funding can be removed at any time following a review. If this happens and you still require services in a care home, you will then become a self-funded or local authority funded resident, depending on you circumstances.
Bringing some of your own things, including furniture, may help you to settle into a Home and make the surroundings more familiar. Our staff will PAT test your electrical items to make sure they are safe to use in the Home and adhere to our health and safety requirements.