The imminent Care Bill is set to bring changes for care home managers. Ray Hart, Director Valuing Care, provides an insight as to how commissioners could be preparing, the stage they are at in their preparations and the implications this will have on care home pricing. Read the full article here

Commissioners and the Care Bill: The impact on care home pricing Ray Hart and Janet Roberts offer support and advice by giving one example of the most common issues raised when providers look to win public sector contracts Read the full article here  

Ray Hart, founding director of Valuing Care FM introduces the art of negotiation for care home fees. For most expenses in life, we try to negotiate; who doesn’t like to get a good deal? Some people may be better at it than others, and yet we’ve all had a dabble at some stage or another, be it for a car, a house, or even a hotel room. We all want to receive value for money. Moving yourself or a loved one into a residential or nursing home is one of the largest financial decisions that people make in their lifetime. Few of us would accept the first quote received for a new car, and yet the majority of self-funders accept the first quote for a care home placement without question. Many purchases have an element of emotion attached, but probably no more so than when people are faced with choosing a care home for a loved one. It is a complex sea of emotions, which often arises at a time of crisis. Hence people make quick, panic decisions. After all, the last thing on people’s minds is whether a few pounds can be saved. In reality savings can amount to thousands of pounds. At £500 per week, the average length of stay in a residential home would total £60,000. Even a £50 per week reduction could save £6,000 over the duration of the placement. So isn’t it time we started to explore the idea of negotiating care home fees, and leverage the negotiation skills we use for other purchases to this sector? Read the full article here

Myageingparent- A website aimed at helping you to help them, whether it is your elderly parent, older friend or relative. Packed full of information, it is a proactive site, which helps you find the answers to all the questions you might have in this area. The publication featured Valuing Care in an article examining how to ensure the solvency of your parent's care home. Read the full article here

myageingparent.com, a website aimed at helping you to help them, whether it is your elderly parent, older friend or relative, features the Valuing Care Fees Calculator today. Hopefully this will add to their website which is full of information on options, local authority funding and how to keep them active, busy and healthy. Read the full article here

Mature Times, a newspaper and website is the online 'voice' of the 50+ generation. The publication interviewed Ray Hart, the co-creator of the Valuing Care Fees Calculator to guide their readers through the key areas that affect care home prices for self funders. Read the full article here

Mature Times, a newspaper and website is the online 'voice' of the 50+ generation. The publication featured a topical article from Valuing Care FM on highlighting their top 6 tips for spotting a financially vulnerable care home. Read the full article here

Care Home Fees :Is the price you’ve been quoted reasonable? Shop around and if necessary, appoint a third party to negotiate fees for you. Valuing Care (01273 757 233, valuingcarefm.com) collates care cost data and helps clients – councils as well as individuals – negotiate care home fees. Valuing Care, the BBC 'Care calculator' (bbc.co.uk) and findmegoodcare.co.uk all offer online fees calculators to help you work out how much you are likely to pay in care home fees. Read the full article here