Author Archives: Maureen
Coalition considers Joan Bakewell’s plan for elderly ‘tsar’
A new government “tsar” for elderly people could be appointed to protect the rights of pensioners and combat ageism in society, under plans being considered by ministers.
By Tim Ross, Political Correspondent
8:28PM GMT 30 Nov 2011
Wales and Northern Ireland have already appointed commissioners for the elderly while all countries in the UK have children’s commissioners to promote the rights of young people.
The health minister Earl Howe announced that the Coalition was considering whether a commissioner dedicated to protecting older people should be appointed in England.
The proposal follows a series of highly critical reports warning that elderly people are being neglected and treated poorly by the NHS and home carers, while councils are cutting funds for nursing homes.
‘Eat or Heat’ a campaign to help carers in the grip of fuel poverty
Carers and those they look after are often the hardest hit by rising energy costs
29/11/2011
A HARROGATE charity has “switched on” its new campaign offering a lifeline to the growing number of unpaid carers in the grip of fuel poverty – as new figures reveal that as many as 80 lives may be lost across the district as a result.
The initiative launched by Carers’ Resource has a stark message – “Eat or Heat”. But the hard-hitting theme is designed to highlight how spiralling gas and electric bills are adding to the plight of those looking after loved ones across the district.
Latest research reveals that around one-in-five households in the Harrogate district suffer from fuel poverty – when at least 10 per cent of income is spent on fuel.
The careless make a mockery of care
There’s no escaping the fact that when you pay peanuts, you don’t always get Einstein.
By Helen Martin
Published on Monday 28 November 2011 12:06
LOCAL authorities in England are getting most of the blame following the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s year-long inquiry into home care of the elderly.
Although the inquiry didn’t cover Scotland, the situation is exactly the same here.
Care staff time is “bought” from agencies or funded in-house by local authorities, who also decree the amount of time a carer will spend on dressing, washing, feeding or doing whatever else is necessary for an old person. Sometimes that is as little as 15 minutes . . .
