Category Archives: ukcuts

Poorest families hit hardest by income squeeze

Carers struggle to survive and keep loved ones warm

Sunday 18 November 2012

The 10 per cent of UK households with the lowest income – £8,000 or less – have seen the biggest rise in the rate of inflation over the past year when the impact of soaring university tuition fees is stripped out, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Its research shows such households faced inflation of 2.49 per cent in the year to October, compared to just 2.1 per cent for the richest 10 per cent. This is because poorer families spend twice as much of their income on fuel, and four times as much on water, the accountant says.

Systemic problems forcing older people into care, says Wales commissioner

Sarah Rochira said bad planning over hospital discharges and a lack of communication between the NHS and local services left some with no choice.

About 23,000 older people are in residential care homes in Wales.

The Welsh government said it was prioritising funding to councils to support social services.

Ms Rochira told The Wales Report on BBC Wales that some older people were not getting the information and advice they needed to enable them to stay at home.

“Start Quote

It was only through a fluke conversation with a social worker that I got the information I needed”

Parents of autistic children: Care worker changes scare us

By Danie Linsell BBC Somerset politics reporter

Martin’s wife has been at breaking point for some time and recently considered taking her own life.

 One parent said his wife had become mute through stress

“I’m glad my wife’s got the care support because about a week ago I nearly lost her… she wanted to hang herself in the apple tree.”

Martin – not his real name – is in his 40s and is a parent and a carer.

His teenage son has Asperger’s syndrome and the whole family has to cope with his violent, aggressive outbursts and manipulative behaviour.

Martin’s wife has been at breaking point for some time and recently considered taking her own life.

She is not on her own. Many parents across Somerset say their own state of mind has suffered as a result of coping with their children’s behavioural problems.