Monthly Archives: November 2013

Council care-rating website goes live

The Adult Social Care Outcomes site brings together existing data into one location to allow service users to find out more about care services in their council area, and compare options.

On the website, individuals can select their local authority, or type in a postcode, to find out how carers and service users rate local services. Ratings cover areas including quality of life, satisfaction with services, and safety.

Affordable homes facing demolition because of bedroom tax

Housing associations say change to benefit rules means tenants cannot afford to rent three-bed maisonettes

Rachel Reeves

Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves says 660,000 vulnerable households are being hit by the bedroom tax. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Observer

Three-bedroom homes are being condemned to demolition by housing associations because the coalition’s bedroom tax has made them too expensive for tenants to live in, the Observer can reveal.

Despite a national property shortage, providers of affordable homes are unable to find people who can meet the cost of living in a home with an extra bedroom and are, in some cases, planning demolitions. In Liverpool, one housing provider, Magenta Living, has admitted that “with changes to welfare benefits there is very little prospect of letting upper three-bedroom maisonettes in the current climate”.

‘Happiness is more important than a long life’

Judge rules that pensioner who ‘hates’ her care home can return to her house – even though it might cut her life short

  • High Court Judge says: ‘Long life isn’t always justified at cost of happiness’
  • He ruled woman can go back to home shared with partner for 30 years
  • Even though ‘she may die as result of sudden deterioration in condition’
  • Unnamed woman has severe diabetes and requires 24 hour care

By Amanda Williams

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A woman confined to a care home on the orders of a court has been freed to return home – even if the move costs her her life.

The 67-year-old – identified only as M – has mild mental impairment and life-threatening diabetes.

She will be allowed to live in her bungalow, cared for by her partner of 30 years, and  visiting nurses and social workers.