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Concern Over Funding for Elderly
ThisisLondon.co.uk
UK
July 25, 2005
Elderly people in need of care are being "starved" of funding because social services across the country are "creaming off" money and diverting it to younger clients, a new report says.
The report by SPAIN, a large coalition of charities including Help the Aged and Age Concern, also said the number of households receiving home care had gone down by a quarter since 1997.
"What Price Care in Old Age?" has been published in the same week that the Government finishes its consultation on the Adult Social Care Green Paper.
But Annie Stevenson, chair of the SPAIN coalition, said under-funding was one of the main reasons for the problems that its report was highlighting.
She said: "Older people everywhere are paying for inadequate social care funding with their own mental health, physical health and dignity.
"Rationing social care funding for older people is making later life a misery for thousands.
"The Social Care Green Paper says it will offer people control and choice over their care, but these promises are destined to be broken unless we see more funding to meet the needs of the ageing population."
The report said that although older people make up 62% of social services' clients, they only see 47% of the budget because funds are diverted to pay for other adults' services.
It also claimed local authorities are still paying lower rates for older people's residential care than for other groups.
The report added that cash shortages meant that crucial services for older people like cleaning, housework, respite and transport aids are being cut across the country.
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