Category Archives: Older care

Norwich community centre needs urgent help!

December 6, 2012   Carers, family, internet, Norfolk, Older care

Proposed Norwich community centre faces February auction – if campaigners fail to meet council’s cash demand

Friends of the Silver Rooms committee members, from left, Ian Gibson, chairman; Julie Brociek-Coulton, secretary; and Ann Turner, discuss plans for the Silver Rooms as they start fundraising to buy the building. Picture: Denise Bradley

 

Friends of the Silver Rooms  committee members, from left, Ian Gibson, chairman; Julie Brociek-Coulton, secretary; and Ann Turner, discuss plans for the Silver Rooms as they start fundraising to buy the building. Picture: Denise Bradley

Richard Wheeler Thursday, December 6, 2012
12:56 PM

Campaigners are urging people to dig deep to stop council bosses from selling an in-demand Norwich community centre at auction.

 

The Friends of the Silver Rooms have until December 20 to put down a deposit of approximately £2,600 to secure the Silver Road building, and January 4 to pay the first instalment of around £26,000.

A community centre is proposed for the former day centre, with scores of groups expressing their interest in hosting events and clubs for people of all ages.

But if the Friends fail to secure a deal, which will cost £80,000 over three years, then Norfolk County Council will put the Silver Rooms up for sale at auction in February.

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Adult social care suffering under cuts, survey suggests

December 2, 2012   Carers, Older care, ukcuts

2 December 2012 Last updated at 06:10

Adult social care suffering under cuts, survey suggests

 Less time with clients and heavier workloads were reported by many social workers in the survey

Care for vulnerable older people has been suffering – both in quality and quantity – because of funding cuts, a survey of 200 social workers suggests.

In the survey by Age UK and the College of Social Work, more than 85% of respondents said they had seen the impact of cuts in the past year.

Of those, 95% said the cuts in England presented “a risk to the dignity of their older clients”.

The Department for Health says the care of older people is a priority.

Councils across the country have been facing a funding squeeze under the coalition’s spending cuts.

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Care homes’ finances could face inspection

December 1, 2012   Carers, Older care

Care home companies would have to open up their books to inspectors to ensure they were financially sound, under government plans for new regulation.

The measure is included in plans being put out to consultation after the collapse of Southern Cross last year.

The country’s biggest provider had thousands of elderly residents at more than 750 care homes across the UK.

Care Minister Norman Lamb said its demise showed the need for “greater oversight of providers’ finances”.

Rent bill

There had been concerns about Southern Cross’s business model for years and it struggled to balance the books as local authorities reduced the amounts they were spending on social care.

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