CAN YOU AFFORD TO RIP?

· Benjamin Franklin is attributed as saying “Nothing is certain except for death and taxes”. Although the former American founding father is only attributed with this famous quote, one thing today which is certain is that the cost of a funeral is forever rising.

· In 1992 the average cost of a funeral was said to have been £950.  In 2005 it was £3,456 whilst in 2016 it was predicted to have risen to £4,194 and is still rising.

· One of the reasons for the increase is because local councils are trying to offset the cost of cemeteries and crematoria.  This is because of budget pressures elsewhere, not least of which is the cost of adult social care. It is reported that cremation and burial fees have risen by more than inflation in eight out of ten local council areas. The average increase is said to be more than 5%

· This increase converts to average burial fees being £1,755 and cremation fees being £714.  Some say that the increases are akin to a stealth tax. The increases in cost are intended to cover the cost of plots, chapels of rest and ground maintenance.

· A partial solution to the ever rising cost of funerals, allowing you to RIP is to buy your future funeral package at a fixed price today meaning that you do not have to worry about future increasing prices.

· There are two types of funeral plan, being either a whole of life insurance policy which typically takes the form of monthly payments meaning the plan is worth whatever the plan is worth when you die. The alternative is a lump sum payment now for the actual cost of your funeral. Your money is paid into a trust which if regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority guarantees your funeral costs at whatever the price is whenever you die. 

· Whether you want a basic, average or luxury funeral a funeral plan is something which everybody over 50 needs to at least consider.

· The above is an overview only.  For a free appointment and to find out answers to the questions that need answering and to get the care you or a loved one need email Andrew Douglas or his  team on ajd@awdrys.co.uk or call on 0800 072 8636.  Alternatively visit our website www.abdcare.co.uk

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ROTARY CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC EVENT 2017

Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitors was proud to support and take part in the annual Rotary Charity Golf Classic event at Manor House Golf Club, Castle Combe last week in aid of Julia’s House Charity. 

A fantastic amount of over £10,000 was raised on behalf of Julia’s House, a local charity based in Devizes that provides a vital service to children in Wiltshire with life limiting and terminal illness, both at home and also in their hospice.

Organised by The Rotary Club of Chippenham, this successful event took place at the spectacular Manor House Golf Club, Castle Combe which nestles in 365 acres of rich parkland and is regarded as the “hidden golfing gem in the Cotswold's”.

A super day was had by all including ABD team: Tim Hotchkiss (ABD Partner), Alexander David  (ABD Partner) also Simon Ewings and Richard Brooks from Monahans. 

For more information and photos go to
https://www.facebook.com/pg/chippenhamrotary/posts/

DO CARE HOMES CLOSE?

·        Given the ever growing demand for elderly care services, Care Homes perhaps surprisingly close at an alarming rate. A principle reason is the lack of resources that local authorities have to meet need, combined with the government’s sticking plaster approach to reform and making good.

·        In 2016 some 144 Care Homes plus closed. Additionally and reportedly 58 of the closures provided less than three months notice to their residents. Given that we are one of the very richest nations in the world this cannot be right.

·        One reason so many Homes close quickly is because when they make their decision to close, staff leave quickly meaning a Home cannot stay open.

·        When a Home closes stress for the residents and their families is inevitable. New Homes have to be found and in the process the vulnerable suffer. Many say the stress harms the health of the frail because they are taken away from carers who residents inevitably develop close relations with.

·        The reason many Homes are closing is because Councils are driving down the fees that they are willing to pay, whilst the Homes themselves are enduring unprecedented rises in running costs largely because of increases in the minimum wage. What we do know is that the Tories if they get back into power will publish a Green Paper in the autumn on the future of adult social care.

·        There seems to be very little good news to report in the sector largely because those with influence and power have been unwilling to make political decisions about what needs to be done.  There is also a lack of ideas making discussion at the top difficult to start.  Let us hope that our new government can find the time and the inclination to properly overhaul a situation which demands reform and is a disgrace to our nation.

·        The above is an overview only.  For a FREE appointment and to find out answers to the questions that need answering and to get the care you or a loved one need email Andrew Douglas or his  team on ajd@awdrys.co.uk or call on 0800 072 8636.  Alternatively visit our website www.abdcare.co.uk

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WHAT HAS BEEN SAID SO FAR ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ADULT SOCIAL CARE IN THIS ELECTION?

· The Tories as expected want to talk about BREXIT and to an extent the other parties have to follow their lead. There are of course other issues, not least of which is the future of adult social care, which ultimately will require political decisions to be made.

· So far not much has been said, but then the manifestos have not been published. Who knows what will be in the manifestos on this subject when no party is committed to actual proposals for reform and there is no big idea.

· What we do know is that the Tories if they get back into power will publish a Green Paper in the autumn on the future of adult social care.

· Ideas that have been talked about so far by politicians and other interested parties include:-

1. Requiring people to ring-fence some of the value in their properties to pay for social care received in their lifetime.  The sum of £70,000 has been articulated which of course is the same number as the proposed CAP on how much anybody would have to pay for their care in their lifetime  recommended by Andrew Dilnot in his report prior to the last election.
2. Encouraging people to invest in insurance products and bespoke ISA’s to pay for care.  The only problem with this at present is that no products currently exist combined with the fact that the insurance industry has no appetite for an insurance based solution.
3. People sacrificing on a compulsory basis part of their income and/or paying National insurance contributions beyond the age of retirement. This solution will of course impact most on the less well off in society and at present the politicians don’t have an appetite for imposing this solution on their electorate.

· Given the ageing demographic, which in other situations should be a celebration let us hope that there will be some blue sky thinking by somebody with influence and power.  In particular that any original thought extends beyond loosening the triple lock pension guarantee and integrating the NHS system with adult social care.  Something more is certainly required. Hopefully something constructive will appear in the manifestos of the main parties, which push starts  a political debate and provides a constructive solution.

· The above is an overview only.  For a free appointment and to find out answers to the questions that need answering  and to get the care you or a loved one need email Andrew Douglas or his  team on ajd@awdrys.co.uk or call on 0800 072 8636.  Alternatively visit our website www.abdcare.co.uk

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