By PHIL CORRIGAN
09:40 - 07 June 2008
Residents in council-run care homes could soon be hit with a 41 per cent rise in their weekly charges.
Staffordshire County Council has been forced to raise the charges at its remaining elderly care homes to cover the costs of increased pay for female workers.
The job evaluation process has meant care staff and cooks have seen their pay rise between 50 and 64 per cent this year, to bring them in line with other council employees.
Councillor Susan Woodward, portfolio holder for healthier communities and older people, last month took the decision to pass on these costs to the service user.
It means the weekly charge for long-stay residents in elderly care homes is set to increase from £452 to £638, while charges for respite care, and for places at disability homes, will also rise.
Mrs Woodward's decision has been "called in" by four Conservative councillors, who fear the increases will deter people from using care services. The issue will be discussed by the county council's corporate policy and scrutiny and performance committee on Monday.
Barbara Glover's mother, 88-year-old Freda Maddox, pictured, lives at Brighton House, which was recently saved from closure under the county council's Changing Lives programme.
The bulk of Mrs Maddox's pension goes towards meeting her accommodation charges.
Mrs Glover, aged 68, of Langland Road, Clayton, said: "Before, the charges have just gone up with inflation. It just seems that they're hitting people who won't have that much money anyway.
"This has just come as a shock, especially after worrying about the care home closure. My mum is going to stay at Brighton House until she needs nursing care, but I don't really know what's going on at the moment."
Abridged
SOURCE: TheSentinelUK
-----------------------------------------------------
More Recent Posts from Spotlight on Elder Abuse
No comments:
Post a Comment