Author Archives: Maureen

Older people miss out on support under new rules

June 29, 2013   Carers, Older care, Social care, ukcuts

28 June 2013 Last updated at 19:22

Social care rules aim to end ‘postcode lottery’

 Local councils provide home help services and assess who they will fund

The government is attempting to end the “postcode lottery” over care for elderly and disabled people in England.

Under new draft rules all councils in England would have to fund services for those judged to have “substantial” needs, from 2015.

Charities say that threshold is too high and would exclude many people who need help with everyday tasks.

And councils say they want assurances that any extra costs incurred will be fully funded.

Local authorities run social care services, such as home help with washing, eating and dressing or residential care, and decide who they will provide them to and whether they will pay for them.

Little consistencyCouncils can assess people as having “critical”, “substantial”, “moderate” or “low” needs. Only four councils provide care for people in all four categories – 16 councils fund those with “moderate” needs while most, 130, only fund those with “substantial” or “critical” needs.

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Dead Darlington woman asked why she has not attended DWP appointments

June 27, 2013   benefits, Carers, ukcuts

Dead Darlington woman asked why she has not attended DWP appointments

6:00am Thursday 27th June 2013 in News By Joanna Morris

UNWANTED MAIL: Malcolm Pearse UNWANTED MAIL: Malcolm Pearse

THE partner of a woman who died in April has slammed officials for repeatedly asking to explain why she has not shown up for appointments with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Darlington woman Patricia Howe, 48, died after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage in April.

Despite her partner immediately informing them of her death, the DWP continued to send Ms Howe letters.

Since her death, Ms Howe has been invited to attend appointments to discuss her claim for Employment and Support Allowance.

When she failed to attend, she received more letters demanding to know why she had not been present.

Malcolm Pearse, her partner of 14 years, slammed the actions of the DWP and said he had been left devastated by their incompetence

He said: “I told them the day after she died and they stopped her money straight away but they are still sending letters.

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'Carers walk the cancer journey with patients but need more support'

June 26, 2013   Cancer, Carers, ukcuts

Up to 1.1 million people are thought to be providing unpaid care to a friend or family member who has cancer but they are getting neither the information nor help they need

guardian.co.uk,

Researchers found carers are often not told how best to support patients or where they can turn for practical or emotional support (picture posed by models).

When Fiona O’Kelly’s widowed mum was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago, her life changed overnight. “It’s like our roles suddenly flipped,” she recalls. “Mum used to help me look after my two boys but now I look after her. She was independent up to then but her cancer and the treatment have left her frail and affected her memory.

“There are times when I think I can’t cope but I know staying in her own home and being cared for by family is the best thing for Mum.”

O’Kelly, whose sons are 10 and 16, negotiated a year off work following the diagnosis, and has since dropped her hours from four to two days a week. Her husband has also changed his working hours to minimise childcare costs.

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