Who should pay for nursing, residential and home care in the future?

Mon, 13 Nov 2023

A consultation has opened to gather public feedback on two potential new payment models for nursing, residential and home care on the Isle of Man.

The two proposed models aim to make paying for care fairer, for those receiving support and their families.

• The ‘free personal care’ model would be similar to the current system in Scotland. This is a more NHS-style model, where personal care is provided at no charge, regardless of someone’s income or assets. ‘Personal care’ would cover care of a personal nature like medication provision, feeding, bathing and dressing, at home or in a care home. It would not cover support such as cleaning or shopping.
• The ‘mixed’ model would be similar to the system in Jersey, based on a threshold and cap scheme. This model would mean that those with more assets (savings, property and investments) above a certain ‘threshold’ would have to pay for their own care costs up to a specified amount (or ‘cap’). Those below the threshold would get Government support towards their care from Day One.

Both models would require people to meet their own accommodation and living costs, with alternative means tested support available to those who cannot afford to pay for those costs.

This consultation is not about how, or if, funds should be raised to pay for either of these models. However, the outcome of the consultation is likely to affect all residents as it may lead to Government deciding to raise funds by increasing tax, National Insurance, or introducing a new levy or reducing spend on an existing service to increase spend on care.

Residents can complete the consultation online through the consultation hub, or paper copies can be requested from healthandcaretransformation@gov.im.

The consultation will close on January 12.

 

 

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