Older+People+-+services+-+who+cares?

= = =**Who cares?**=

**inadequate central Government funding**
On 29th October 2007 Age Concern London1 called for ‘//Justice in Care for Older// //Londoners’// 2 by releasing evidence that London Boroughs are failing to provide sufficient care for vulnerable older people due to central Government budget constraints.

The report suggests that many older people in London are being left isolated and unsupported because 24 out the 32 London Councils judge that they can now only afford to provide services for those with the highest care needs3.

Councils have been reassessing older people’s care needs and withdrawing some or all of an individual’s care because of the change in criteria. This is leaving many people without support they had previously relied on. Some London boroughs are now charging as much as £17.50 per hour for care services following increases of up to 131% this year. These increases can result in older people on low incomes withdrawing from receiving a service they need because they are no longer able to afford it.

At the “//Justice in Care for Older Londoners”// conference on 29th October 2007 Age Concern London called for central Government to provide sufficient funding for care services for older people and ask councils to give care and preventative services for vulnerable older people the highest priority in their strategic planning. Without action by central and local Government now, older people’s health will continue to be put at risk, and the danger is that quality care services will not be there for future generations.

Care services can be a vital support for older people. Each year they enable many thousands of older people to continue to live independently in their homes and remain active members of their communities. Due to tight budgets, set by central Government, local Councils are changing their eligibility criteria and denying older people services they used to be eligible for. This coupled with increased charges for services such as help with personal care and meals on wheels, means that many older people cannot afford the help they really need. This is leaving vulnerable older people unsupported and at risk of deteriorating health problems. In the long run this is likely to cost more than initially providing preventative services to people with lower care needs now.

“It is clear that major reform of social care funding is required. Most Local Authorities have made and are continuing to make substantial cuts to the care they provide to all but those with the most extreme care needs. Local Authorities need to provide preventative services as well as stepping in when someone’s situation has become extremely serious. It is critical that legislation and adequate funding is provided to ensure better access to care services, a fairer way of paying for care and improvements in the quality of the services provided for all older Londoners. “
 * Samantha Mauger, Chief Executive, Age Concern London said:**

“Councils across London and the rest of the UK are working hard to provide more holistic, preventative and tailored services for older people so that they can take full advantage of their later years. But whilst better services are rising to the top of political agendas, at the same time evidence is building to show just how difficult the situation is becoming for local authorities and those who rely on their services. The Wanless Review, for example, has pointed towards a £30 billion “black hole” in social care provision by 2030 because of an ageing population. Unless we have the resources and commitment to turn political agendas into a reality, older people will be at risk of losing out on the dignity they deserve.”
 * Cllr Stephen Carr, Leader of the London Borough of Bromley, Deputy**
 * Chairman of London Councils and Chairman of London Councils’ Health**
 * and Adult Services Forum said:**

My 94 year old father, William, was given a care assessment about 18 months ago. He then received a carer 3 times a day which consisted of half an hour in the morning, 15 minutes at Lunch time and another half an hour care in the afternoon. The family was able to give him support at other times of the day and although it wasn’t always enough support it enabled him to be more independent and gave the family piece of mind that he was eating properly when we were not there.
 * Robin Sharp, son of London care recipient, said:**

At the beginning of this year he was reassessed and although nothing had changed they cut the 15 minutes care he received at lunch time and reduced his afternoon care to 15 minutes. He is blind and sometimes needs encouragement eating. Last week I went to see him at about 5pm. His breakfast, lunch and two cups of tea were untouched beside his bed and he wasn’t in a good state at all. The afternoon carer arrived at the same time and we agreed that we should call an ambulance.

He was assessed as being malnourished when he arrived in hospital. If he had still received the lunch time carer his deterioration might have been prevented or at least discovered sooner. The carers my father received were very good and often did more than they were supposed to but what they can do is limited by the time allocated and the heavy work load they have. All he really needed was someone who was able to spend quality time with him then I think the rapid decline in his health would have been prevented.”

1. Age Concern London is one of the capital’s premier NGOs campaigning on behalf of older people in London. 2. ‘//Justice in Care for Older Londoners’// was held on 29th October 3. Assessment criteria for care differ from borough to borough.
 * Notes to editors:**