Category Archives: Older care

Why digital exclusion is a social care issue

October 16, 2012   Carers, disability, mental health, Older care

As our society becomes increasingly digitalised, figures reveal a large proportion of those not online have a disability or are elderly

 

A large proportion of those not online are elderly.

Next year the welfare system will undergo an overhaul as universal credit is introduced. The benefit, replacing six others, includes a new requirement to apply for benefits online. With millions of people having never used the internet, however, it raises the question of how those not online will manage.

Universal credit is just one example of how, as our society becomes increasingly digitalised, those who are not online are at risk of becoming excluded. And it’s not just a case of people opting not to be online.

This year there were 3.91 million disabled adults who had never used the internet, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. This is just under half of the 7.82 million adults who had never used the internet. Ian Lyons, from the Shaw Trust, which supports disabled and disadvantaged people live more independently, says many websites are not accessible for people with a disability.

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Social care cuts ‘could lead to higher NHS bills’

October 16, 2012   Carers, hospital, Older care, ukcuts

Dying people could end up in hospital sooner – and so cost taxpayers more – if cuts to social care services continue, a report warns today.

Better social care appears to reduce the need for hospital until the very latest stage among the dying, found the Nuffield Trust.

By , Medical Correspondent

6:45AM BST 16 Oct 2012

The Nuffield Trust, a think tank, has found that good social care tends to keep the terminally ill out of hospital until they really need it.

Their report looked at the usage that 73,000 people made of council social services and hospitals in the last months of their lives.

Dr Martin Bardsley, head of research at the Nuffield trust, said: “Our study suggests how social care might be effectively substituting for hospital care for this group of people.

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Elderly care: Norman Lamb urges greater family role

October 15, 2012   Carers, Norfolk, Older care

People will need to take greater responsibility for the care of elderly relatives in the future, health minister Norman Lamb said.

Norman Lamb Norman Lamb said the state must continue to provide care where families could not

Mr Lamb said pressure on government budgets meant families would have to play an increased role in care.

He said the government had also taken £7.2bn from health to help local councils provide social care.

Mr Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, where a third of constituents are over 65, was speaking to the BBC’s Inside Out.

“What’s happening in my own constituency makes me acutely aware of the changes we face,” said Mr Lamb.

‘Crazy situation’

“The truth is that the government has an absolute responsibility to ensure that older people get the care that they need so that they can grow old in dignity and respect, and it means that we have to fund the carers that are available to look after those people,” he said.

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