Hi I have a problem and I am hoping there is someone out there who has had experience of the same kind.

My elderly Father is unhappy in the Nursing home in the UK and wants to go home. He cannot unless there is someone there. no problem I can move back and job done. however I work here and would have a huge rench moving back plus no income there. He is happy to move out here and my house is ideal with a few small changes. He was a top French Proffeor at Oxford university so the lingo is no problem. but as a government worker I believe he cannot get a cart vital if his pension is not paid here is that true and does anyone have any tips about such a situation please. and how do I register him as resident here. I do speak French well but any input would be gratefully received

If your father receives a UK state pension he can get an S1 form from the pensions office and hand them in at your local CPAM.He will then be issued with a Carte Vitale as the UK will pay for medical costs. He will still need a top up insurance like everybody else.

Sounds like your Dad might enjoy it here! And chickenhut is right, step 1 is the S1. He'll need birth certificates (copies) and in some instances he may be asked for formal French translated versions. We got ours done by a Consul-General translator and ordered 25 but in fact just used 2! Then, armed with that and passport you toddle along to local CPAM office. They may also ask if he has 'registered' with a Dr. So if you have one now and he/she is good enough, there you are. You may also be required to prepare and sign a declaration of residence (with you) - and your local Mairie will stamp and 'attest' to this and you then take copies. A preliminary visit there would be useful and you can explain and ask about it all. This procedure circumvents having to produce the more usual 'utility' bills in his name!
Depending on where you are you may find a CPAM officer visit once/twice a week and occupies a spare office at the Mairie for a morning/afternoon.
Quite quickly you should receive a certificate with a social security number. Then an application form to which you attach a recent photo etc and passport copy and that is sent back. Some time later, usually 2-3 weeks, the Carte Vitale arrives in the post.

Prior to the above you, should you wish, may want to go along and discuss the whole matter with the CPAM officer and report findings to your father.

You will have other 'issues, such as ordering his pension to be paid here (which pension service does straightforwardly) 'organising' his UK bank account/s and/or other financial-legal matters and bear in mind in France inheritance law is quite different! You should sit with your Notaire perhaps and explore this. Once here and 'resident' all his affairs come under French law. However, if he holds no significant 'assets' it may prove simple enough. And indeed a 'top-up-mutuelle' is essential. Speak to the agent who you use and check. His age, for example, is a factor. But once past all this you are up and running.

And finally consider the options should you become unable to act as principal 'resident' carer. He would then look to the state to care for him, and the detail on how that works needs looking into. A good way to explore that might to be to identify one, go there and talk through the rules, costs etc. And that route leads to peace of mind! Him having command of French would be a huge asset in those circumstances. There are also health visitors here and we often see their cars buzzing about with the 'sante' logo on the doors. I know of an old gentleman in our village who is effectively bed ridden but he is at home, cared for by his elderly wife and every day a health visitor calls. It seems to work.

Good luck.

It seems as though you are getting some very good advice. More information can be found at:

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/movingabroad/Pages/Livingabroad.aspx

In my experience the only problem is that the UK department takes a long time to respond to the S1 form, but they have always sorted it out eventually each year for me. I hope that all goes well and as chastick says, it sounds as though your father will enjoy it here.

Hello Thank you all so much most kind! I am very gratefull. I cant see too much problems ahead now thanks to you all. I found a great international ambulance sevice, St bridgittes in bournmouth they do anything you ask to make the journey trouble free, thanks again, wish me luck

Well.... 'international ambulances'...that's one that didn't come to mind! Do make preliminary enquiries. Pop along to Mairie, talk it through, nip to CPAM officer, and finally ask your own mutuelle top-up agent for comments and advice. All that is just days away from being answered and once you are armed ( you could also do the nursing home visit/inquiry thing) and be alerted to risks, costs, rules etc.

Luck to you indeed.

That's all really good advice - and useful for anyone else who may be considering having an elderly parent to live with them

Just on thing - once registered with CPAM and approved, they will issue you with a paper 'Attestation' which allows access to all the relevant medical services etc prior to receipt of the Carte Vitale - so there is no need to worry between registration and receipt of the carte. Also, if he has any long term illnesses which qualify (there is a list of these ADL's on amelie.fr) you probably know he will be covered 100% - the medicine traitant will be able to arrange this once they have seen him.

Good luck - what you propose seems like a perfect solution !