Category Archives: Older care

Plan to force elderly to use internet to access Government services is a breach of ‘OAP human rights’

June 25, 2014   Carers, internet, Older care

 Do you believe one-off computer courses would be enough for you to feel comfortable accessing services online?

By Grimsby Telegraph  |  Posted: June 24, 2014

LEARNING: Do you believe one-off computer courses would be enough for you to feel comfortable accessing services online?

 A PENSIONER from Grimsby says it is “disgusting” that many Government services will soon only be available online.

Barbara Cowper, 79, says cabinet office minister Francis Maude’s opinion that older people must start using the internet to access public services is a breach of “OAP human rights”.

The Government says millions of pounds can be saved by moving services so that they are solely online and that getting to grips with the interest is a “better thing for people’s lives”.

But Mrs Cowper, who is a retired secretary and knows how to use a computer, disagrees.

She said: “It is infuriating that older people are being given no say over whether they actually want to use the internet or not.

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How 10,000 families are paying massive care home bills they don’t need to

June 14, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Older care

… and how to make sure it doesn’t happen to you

By Tom Rawstorne

Published: 23:12, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 00:25, 14 June 2014

As a leading theatre director, 74-year-old Glen Walford has spent her long working life touring the world. But whenever she returned to Britain, she always knew she had a home — the pretty red-brick house in the Worcestershire countryside where she grew up.

Her childhood bedroom was still there, as well as her office and outbuildings filled with her belongings.

But when Miss Walford’s elderly mother, Mary, broke her hip in 2006 and had to go into a care home, the local council ruled that Miss Walford was only an infrequent visitor to the property — and therefore the house belonged exclusively to her mother, who would have to sell it to pay for her care fees.

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Go on the internet – or lose access to government services, Francis Maude tells pensioners

June 11, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, internet, Older care
Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, said: ‘Everything that can be delivered online, should be delivered online and only online.‘ Photo: Rii Schroer

By , Senior Political Correspondent

3:51PM BST 10 Jun 2014

Elderly people will have to have to go on to the internet or risk losing access to key government services, Francis Maude has said

Elderly people will have to have to go on online or risk losing access to key government services, Francis Maude has said

The Cabinet Office minister said in the future most public services would only be available on the internet “because we think that is a better thing for people’s lives”.

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