Charges set out in a new contract for Aver Healthcare’s homes appear to contradict advice from the regulator, according to a national newspaper.
Charges set out in a new contract for Aver Healthcare’s homes appear to contradict advice from the regulator, according to a national newspaper.
A warning has been issued over care homes charging fees AFTER a death. C harges set out in a new contract for Avery Healthcare’s homes appear to contradict advice from the regulator, according to a national newspaper.
Writing into the Guardian, one concerned Brit wrote: “I hold power of attorney for my aunt who is in a care home run by Avery Healthcare. Avery recently sent relatives its new contract, which states that care home fees are payable for 14 days after a resident’s death, and levies an upfront £595 charge for “dilapidations” (damage or wear and tear).
“These charges contradict advice given by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and are probably unenforceable. Avery knows these charges are unfair because the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman dropped its investigation into a similar complaint when the company offered to refund the family of a deceased resident as a “goodwill gesture”.
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“It offered the same to me when I complained, but while the clauses remain in the contract, how many unsuspecting people will be hit with unfair charges while dealing with a bereavement?”
In 2023, the Local Government Association Ombdusman reported Mrs X complained the care home charged her fees for her mother’s care after she had died.
She also complained about how it responded to her concerns about noise from another resident.
The Ombudsman reported: “We ended this investigation because the care home has agreed to waive its 14-day after death fee and further investigation is unlikely to achieve a different outcome or anything more for Mrs X.”
An Avery Healthcare spokesperson said: “Avery Healthcare is pleased with the Ombudsman’s decision not to uphold this case as we believe we behaved in line with an agreed contract with the resident and family and responded promptly to concerns about noise. We are dedicated to providing the very best care and service to residents and families alike, and as a gesture of goodwill, we waived the 14-day after-death fee.”