Note: This Practice Note must be read in the light of the implementation of the Care Act 2014 on 1 April 2015. Substantial repeals to legislation have been made with further reforms affecting care to be introduced in 2016. This Practice Note will be updated as and when the implications and effect of the Act have been clarified. For further details of repeals see Practice Note: Guide to Care Act 2014 repeals. Note that the introduction of a 'Care cap' was postponed until 2020 but has still not come into effect.

STOP PRESS: In March 2020 the Department of Health published Local authority circular LAC(DHSC)(2020)1, which advises local authorities of the social care charging arrangements for 2020 to 2021. We are reviewing this Practice Note in light of this guidance.

A major concern for the older client is how they will be able to pay for any form of long-term care should it be necessary. Allied to this is a real fear as to the position of any property they may own and the possibility that it may not be available to their children or, if it is used to fund care, that the quality of any accommodation they may subsequently occupy or general care they may receive may suffer when the money runs out.

Consequently, the practitioner will be asked many times not only about the