This page provides an overview of what to do when you need legal advice about elderly care, including regularly updated resources. 

You can call our trusted legal partner Parfitt-Cresswell on 0800 999 4437 or you’re welcome to talk to an Autumna elderly care expert for more information. 

Why might you need legal advice about elderly care services?

Elderly care is a broad umbrella term that encompasses everything from nursing care homes, in-home care and retirement living. 

Before you sign an agreement and pay for elderly care in the UK, it’s only right that you know where you stand legally.

As a self-funded care seeker, you’re the customer. Therefore if you’re unhappy with elderly care that you’ve received, you have a right to say something and ask for change.

Get legal advice when you pay for care services

Seeking legal advice for elderly care can help you better understand your rights and options, and ensure that you (or your loved one) receive the best possible care.

A solicitor who specialises in elderly care could support you with:

• Legal advice for care home funding
• Legal advice for care home negligence 
• Assistance with comparing and completing contracts
• Appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
• Will writing
• Estate planning
• Ensuring your pets are looked after if you die

It’s important that if you cannot communicate, your wishes are understood and you are looked after. 

Legal advice can be invaluable

When you need legal advice or support if you have an issue with a care service, a solicitor who is familiar with your situation and has listened to what you need, is a great person to have on your side. 

Legal advisors can help you understand your rights and ensure you’re not taken advantage of. 

This includes ensuring that you receive the appropriate level of care, that you’re not being subjected to abuse or neglect, and that your financial resources are being managed appropriately.

Help with contracts for care services

Legal advice can also help you navigate complex legal documents and contracts. Elderly care often involves signing contracts and agreements, such as admission agreements, care agreements, and power of attorney documents. 

These documents can be complex and confusing, and it's important to understand what you're signing before you sign it. 

A solicitor can read through any paperwork and contracts on your behalf and highlight any unfavourable terms and conditions that could affect you personally or financially later.

Care funding legal advice 

Additionally, seeking legal advice for elderly care can help you plan for the future. Elderly care is often expensive, and it's important to plan for how you will pay for it. 

A legal advisor can help you understand the costs of care and explore options for funding care such as NHS Continuing Healthcare or NHS Funded-Nursing Care. 

If you’re not eligible for such funding, they can also help you plan to pay for future care using other methods, which don’t always involve selling your home to pay for care.

Know where you stand 

Legal advisors can help you navigate complex legal documents, understand the different types of care available, plan for the future, and navigate difficult family dynamics. 

If you are considering elderly care for you, or for someone you love, it's important to seek legal advice early on in the process to ensure that you are making informed decisions.

Resources for elderly care advice

Specialist elderly legal advice 

Call 0800 999 4437 our trusted legal partners, Parfitt-Cresswell, for more information and a confidential discussion.

Elderly care information

Call 01892 335 330 or contact Autumna here to understand the differences between the types of care and help you determine which type of care is best suited for your needs.