Political bravery is needed to plug the gap in social care

November 2, 2012   Carers, disability, mental health, Older care

New research shows there is a current funding gap in adult social care of about £634 million per year. Government and local authorities are going to have to make brave decisions

 

The lack of money to fund appropriate care for the elderly means that politicians and local authorities need to start thinking innovatively.

How do you want to spend your old age? Many of us would prefer to spend our final years in our own homes, but not to be completely isolated. If we have to go into residential care we want that setting to be comfortable, safe and stimulating. In sum we want dignity, autonomy and security in our old age.

However for too many people residential care is catastrophically expensive, poor quality and disconnected from the full range services they may need.

A new paper written by LGiU for the RSA and published Friday 2 November highlights the scale of this problem, not just for national government but especially for local government which funds and commissions the vast majority of social care.

As recently as April this year Paul Burstow, then social care minister, told the House of Commons health select committee: “There is no gap in the current spending review period on the basis of the money that we are putting in plus efficiency gains through local authorities redesigning services.”

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Parents of autistic children: Care worker changes scare us

November 2, 2012   autism, Carers, mental health, ukcuts, young carers

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.

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Vote of thanks for the carers

November 2, 2012   Carers, Older care

MORE than a dozen Oxfordshire care home staff have been recognised for their dedication at an awards ceremony.

By Emma Harrison, Reporter covering Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley. Contact me on 01865 425430

Lisa Khan, who won Leader of the Year award for her work at Longlands Care Home, Blackbird Leys, with Bill Willoughby, 87 Buy this photo » Lisa Khan, who won Leader of the Year award for her work at Longlands Care Home, Blackbird Leys, with Bill Willoughby, 87

MORE than a dozen Oxfordshire care home staff have been recognised for their dedication at an awards ceremony.

Lisa Khan, head of care at Longlands care home in Blackbird Leys, was among those honoured at The Orders of St John Care Trust’s 2012 Oxfordshire Staff Awards.

The trust is a not for profit charitable organisation, with 72 care homes across four counties, including 18 in Oxfordshire along with others in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire.

Ms Khan, 34, is on a six-month secondment from her role at Abingdon’s Old Station House.

She was nominated by her colleagues in Abingdon and won the leader of the year award.

Ms Khan, who collected her award at the ceremony at The King’s Centre in Osney Mead last month, said: “It was a wonderful achievement, I started in the trust about six years ago as a carer and worked my way up the ranks.

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