One of the questions we hear most often from families is: "How are we going to pay for all this care?" It is a worry that weighs heavily, and we completely understand why. But there is a funding route that many families in Kent have never heard of, and it could mean your loved one's care is fully funded by the NHS.

It is called NHS Continuing Healthcare, often shortened to CHC, and it is worth understanding whether your loved one might be eligible.

What Is NHS Continuing Healthcare?

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care that is arranged and funded entirely by the NHS. It is available to adults who have a "primary health need," which means their care requirements are mainly due to a health condition rather than social care needs.

The crucial point is this: if your loved one qualifies for CHC, all of their care costs are covered by the NHS. This includes home care, and it means they will not have to pay anything towards it, regardless of their savings or property value.

This is different from council-funded care, where your loved one's finances are assessed and they may need to contribute towards the cost. With CHC, the funding comes directly from the NHS, and financial means are not considered.

Who Might Be Eligible?

CHC is not limited to people with any one particular condition. Eligibility is based on the complexity, intensity, and unpredictability of someone's health needs. People with the following conditions are sometimes found to be eligible:

• Advanced dementia with complex behavioural needs
• Severe neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease
• Stroke with significant ongoing care needs
• Terminal illness requiring palliative care
• Conditions requiring clinical interventions such as PEG feeding or tracheostomy care

However, eligibility is assessed on an individual basis. Two people with the same diagnosis may have very different levels of need, and it is the level of need that determines eligibility, not the diagnosis itself.

The Assessment Process

The CHC assessment process has several stages, and understanding them can help you prepare.

Stage 1: The Checklist

The first step is a CHC Checklist, which is a screening tool used to decide whether a full assessment is needed. This can be completed by a nurse, GP, social worker, or other healthcare professional. You can request that this checklist is carried out; you do not have to wait for someone to suggest it.

If the checklist indicates that your loved one may have a primary health need, they will be referred for a full assessment.

Stage 2: The Decision Support Tool

The full assessment uses a document called the Decision Support Tool, or DST. This is completed by a multidisciplinary team, which usually includes a nurse and a social worker, and should involve you and your loved one.

The DST looks at 12 care domains, including breathing, nutrition, mobility, cognition, behaviour, and psychological needs. For each domain, your loved one's needs are rated on a scale from no needs through to severe. The overall picture across all 12 domains is then used to determine whether there is a primary health need.

Stage 3: The Decision

The completed DST is reviewed by the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB), which makes the final decision on eligibility. In Kent, this is NHS Kent and Medway ICB.

If your loved one is found eligible, the ICB will arrange and fund their care. If they are not found eligible, you have the right to ask for the decision to be reviewed. Many families successfully challenge initial decisions, so it is worth pursuing if you believe the assessment did not fully capture your loved one's needs.

Common Myths About CHC

"You have to be in a care home to get CHC"

This is not true. CHC can fund care in any setting, including your loved one's own home. Many people receive CHC-funded home care, and this is often the preferred option because it allows them to stay in familiar surroundings.

"Only people with terminal illness qualify"

While people receiving end of life care may qualify through a fast-track process, CHC is available to anyone with a primary health need, regardless of their prognosis.

"The council told us we do not qualify, so that is the end of it"

Council-funded care and NHS Continuing Healthcare are two separate things. Your loved one may not meet the council's eligibility criteria but could still have a primary health need that qualifies them for CHC. Always ask specifically about CHC.

"We have too much money saved to get help"

This is perhaps the most important myth to challenge. CHC is not means-tested. Your loved one's savings, income, and property value are completely irrelevant to the CHC decision. If they have a primary health need, they are entitled to CHC regardless of their financial situation.

The Fast-Track Pathway

If your loved one is rapidly deteriorating or approaching end of life, there is a fast-track pathway that can put CHC funding in place very quickly, sometimes within days. A senior clinician completes a fast-track assessment, and care can begin almost immediately.

This is particularly important for families who want their loved one to come home from hospital for end of life care. The fast-track process removes the financial barrier and allows families to focus on what matters most.

How We Can Help

At Maucare, we work with families throughout the CHC process. While we cannot carry out the assessment ourselves, we know the system well and we can help you understand what to expect, what questions to ask, and what evidence to gather.

If your loved one is already receiving care from us and you believe they may be eligible for CHC, we can provide detailed care records and observations that support the assessment process. Our care documentation is thorough, and it can make a real difference in demonstrating the level of need.

Getting Started

If you would like to find out whether your loved one might be eligible for CHC, here are your next steps:

1. Ask their GP, hospital consultant, or district nurse to complete a CHC Checklist
2. Contact NHS Kent and Medway ICB directly to request a screening
3. Call the Beacon free advice line on 0345 548 0300 for independent guidance on the CHC process

And if you have any questions about how CHC-funded care works in practice, or how Maucare can support your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are always happy to help families navigate these complex systems. You should not have to work it all out on your own.