Report Maintains Older People Being 'Starved of Care' (UK)

Charity coalition report maintains older people being ’starved of care’
7 June 2008

Social Policy Ageing Information Network - Spain - is a coalition of 28 charities and voluntary organisations who support older people in particular those requiring care. Included in this group are Age Concern, Help the Aged, Action on Elder Abuse, Alzheimer’s Society, Centre for Policy on Ageing and others.

The report finds that :-

• although 62 per cent of social services clients are older people, they only receive 47 per cent of the social care budget
• Vital services such as transport, cleaning, respite and mobility equipment are being cut throughout the country due to budgetry pressures
• The number of older people has risen since 1997 however the number of households receiving homecare has fallen since 1997 by a quarter.
• Local authorities pay lower rates for older people’s residential care than for other groups.

Older people interviewed reported cancelling their homecare services because they could not afford to pay towards them, others had cut back on food and heating in order to keep their care.
As the director for the National Centre for Independent Living commented ‘ The shocking reality is that people needing support are being forced to choose between eating properly and using vital care services.’

As the director for the National Centre for Independent Living commented ‘ The shocking reality is that people needing support are being forced to choose between eating properly and using vital care services.’
David Rogers, Chairman of the Local Government’s Association’s wellbeing board commented ‘ Government funding has not kept pace with the demands of an ageing population. Local authorities are determined to give disabled and older people a fair deal but the social care system is cracking at the seams.’

Isn’t it time that we gave older people a fair deal? It would seem that we are constantly bombarded by reports concerning the inadequacies of care support. The answer is always the announcement of yet another review or enquiry. May saw the launch of the governments ‘Case for Change - why England needs a new care and support system, with the aim of meeting the needs of a changing society. When is it going to dawn on government that the rhetoric has to be followed by reality, FUNDING. Without adequate funding care will always be inadequate.

SOURCE: TrewCareUK
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