Help on Grandad Flat

[geraldineh]

Hi, I'm new here and whilst there has probably been quite a lot discussed previously on looking after the welfare of a Granny or Grandad I would like to bring up this issue again. My problem is that my father in law has paranoid dementia. He is still very fit but thinks that someone is breaking into his house all the time and taking things such as his cutlery, his tablets etc. Whilst this may seem trivial it has become a source of constant worry and we would like to have him live beside us in order to care for him. I need to find out about building in my garden so we can watch over him. His house would be sold and we have discussed that the family will get their inheritance early, keeping enough to build a compact 'granny flat' for him. I have searched the internet looking for the right structure and how I should go about this project, with very little success.

Can anyone help me with regard to grants, eligability, planning permission, type of structure and basic information on going ahead with this. I want to make sure that it will not lead to complications for him and also ourselves. He does not want to go to a nursing home and we would like to respect his wishes until it comes to the time we have no choice in the matter.

thank you in advance for any suggestion you can make.

 

[twofor1]

His house would be sold and we have discussed that the family will get their inheritance early, keeping enough to build a compact 'granny flat' for him. .

A dangerous road to go down I would think.

You have no idea what his needs will be in the coming years. I would imagine there are legal implications but those aside the first thing that comes to mind is if he does need nursing home care in the future, the family might well have spent their inheritance, or might simply not be willing to part with any of it. Even with Fair Deal any assets disposed of in the previous 5 years are taken into account in assesing one's contribution,

If the house is to be sold to meet the cost of the granny flat, should the balance not be saved in trust or similar for whatever his future needs might be.

I personally think the whole concept of early inheritance is wrong.

 

[mf1]

Where to start with that hornet's nest!

The first big question is whether FIL is compos mentis - and I accept that it is possible that with every type of dementia there are differing levels/occasions of mental capacity. If he is not compos mentis then selling the house is not an option unless there is an Enduring Power of Attorney or he is made a Ward of Court.

The next big question is whether him moving house is the answer. Anyone with dementia (largely) copes better in their own environment and taking them out of that can be very confusing. I think a consult with a good geriatrician would be advisable.

So, if house cannot be sold can the family raise funds to house him elsewhere? Or is a nursing home such a bad idea? ( and I have recently gone through this with elderlies on two occasions so I have some very painful personal insight). In my case, they simply were not safe at home - ( wandering, falling, forgetting to take meds, requiring constant supervision) and it was a no-brainer in the end. I'm not convinced that waiting "until it comes to the time we have no choice in the matter" is necessarily a good thing.

Can you talk to the public health nurse to see what other local supports might be available?

mf

 

[onq]

I too have had a relatively recent encounter with an aged relative entering a nursing home environment.

There are two main routes - voluntary and involuntary - but the sale of the house raises thorny legal issues best addressed via MF1's post.
Am I right in assuming that your MIL is no longer alive?
Because her property rights will be also be affected.

ONQ.