Lack of funding could threaten Care Act reforms, councils warn

August 8, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Older care, Social care, ukcuts

Local Government Association poll highlights council concerns over cost burdens of landmark reforms

By on August 7, 2014 in Adults, Care Act 2014

Nine out of ten councils believe that key planks of the Care Act will be jeopardised unless the government gives local authorities ‘adequate’ funding to implement the reforms, a survey by the Local Government Association has found.

In reforms to be introduced in April 2016, the Act will allow self-funding service users to request an assessment to be considered for a ‘cap’ on their care costs. But the LGA poll of 152 local authorities found that councils had “major” concerns over the cost of the policy.

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Thousands of OAPs are denied handrails or stairlifts in their homes

August 7, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Older care

Despite alterations helping to keep them independent

Number of home adaptations installed has plummeted by 5,500 since 2011

  • Lack is one reason why elderly patients can not be discharged from hospital
  • But critics say councils have cut back while still paying huge salaries

By Tamara Cohen

Published: 00:51, 7 August 2014 | Updated: 08:18, 7 August 2014

Thousands of elderly people are being denied vital home alterations that keep them out of hospital and help them stay independent, it emerged yesterday.

Improvements such as handrails, stairlifts and ramps can stop them being hurt in falls – but the number being installed has plummeted by 5,500 since 2011.

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Landmark bedroom tax ruling issued

August 6, 2014   Carers, disability, Featured Article

By Carl Brown

A tribunal has overturned a decision on the bedroom tax

A tribunal has overturned a decision on the bedroom tax, setting a precedent that could force some councils to rethink how they decide who needs a room for an overnight carer.

Solicitor Giles Peaker  (photo) said he would not be surprised if ‘a fair number of councils’ had calculated who needs a spare room for overnight care in the same way as Eastleigh Council did.

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