Category Archives: ukcuts

Many vulnerable people denied care, says Age UK

March 6, 2014   Carers, Older care, ukcuts

A “catastrophic” situation is developing in England

By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

Man climbs stairs

A “catastrophic” situation is developing in England with many vulnerable elderly people being denied care, campaigners say.

An analysis by Age UK found the proportion of over-65s getting help had fallen by a third since 2005-6.

Last year, under 900,000 over-65s got help – one in 10 people in that group – compared with 15% seven years ago.

The review – based on published data – estimated at least 800,000 older people were going without vital help.

This includes council-funded help in the home with daily tasks such as washing, dressing and eating as well as care home places.

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45,000 elderly and disabled people in North-East and N Yorkshire have ‘lost’ council-funded care

February 13, 2014   Carers, disability, Older care, Social care, ukcuts, Uncategorized

MORE than 45,000 elderly and disabled people across the region have “lost” council-funded care in just three years, campaigners are warning.

9:40pm Wednesday 12th February 2014 in News  By Robert Merrick, Parliamentary Correspondent

The Northern Echo: Fall in access to social care Fall in access to social care

The huge decline – of almost one fifth across the North-East and Yorkshire – is the result of “chronic underfunding” of town halls, the Care and Support Alliance said.

Cash-starved authorities are being forced to “ration” care – even to people who need help to “to get up, get washed, and get dressed and get out of the house”

Now the Alliance is warning the Government’s flagship plans to reform the battered care system will fail unless councils are given “long term, sustainable funding”.

Richard Hawkes, its chairman, said: “Like most other parts of the country, the North-East and Yorkshire are experiencing a squeeze on social care.

“Chronic underfunding has left large numbers of older and disabled people, who need support to do the basics, like getting up or out of the house, cut out of the care system.”

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Housing benefit reforms 'could waste millions' in disability costs

February 6, 2014   benefits, Carers, ukcuts, Wales

6 February 2014 Last updated at 17:18

Wales & West Housing (WWH) said many disabled tenants may be forced to move because of the so-called “bedroom tax”

Changes in housing benefit payments affecting disabled people could cost the public purse millions of pounds in Wales, a housing association has said.

Wales & West Housing (WWH) said many disabled tenants may be forced to move because of the so-called “bedroom tax”.

It said it could result in millions more being spent adapting properties.

The UK government said it had given Wales £7.9m for a discretionary fund tenants could apply for but WWH said that may not be enough to cover costs.

Meanwhile, Welsh government said it was providing a further £1.3m so local authorities could provide more help to those affected by the reforms.

WWH, which manages 9,500 properties, said it wanted disabled people to be exempt from the housing reforms.

“Start Quote

The cost of new adaptations wipes out the potential savings in housing benefit for many years”

Shayne Hembrow Wales & West Housing

It said Wales was on track to “waste” millions of pounds of public money otherwise.

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