Page 26 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • June 1996
26
Crisis in the provision of care for the elderly
There has been a great deal of coverage recently of how the Government proposes to assist elderly people preserve their
assets. Old Town solicitor Michael Fisher casts a critical eye over the ideas that have emerged so far.
Of all the problems facing this people who need nursing home or to having everything they had which that person has to pay for
Government the biggest and po- residential care. Long term care worked for all their lives being his own care is then increased by
tentially the most disastrous is the now costs about £22 billion a year taken from them at a time when that sum.
problem of how we are to pay for and by the year 2030 there will be they should expect some benefit The proposals are better than
the growing number of elderly 500/u more people aged over 65 and from all the taxes they had paid in nothing but they do not help the
a corresponding increase in cost to their working lives. people who most need it - ie those
around E35 billion. Without swing- There was an attempt to reduce who own their own homes but
Donmar ing increases in tax the govern- the outcry when the effective limit have a small income. The cost of
Residential ment simply won't be able to af- was increased to £10,000 in April insuring against care charges is
but that made little practical dif- going to be high even with tax
ford it.
Care Home In 1993, in an attempt to reduce ference as people still had to sell incentives. For example, a woman
the cost to the state the Govern- their homes and more practical of 65 protecting a £50,000 house
A small home offering family ment introduced the National ideas are needed. would have to pay premiums of
type care for elderly people Health Service And Community Further proposals are now be- over £50 a month and there are not
Care Act which provided essen- ing put forward in a green paper many old age pensioners around
Respite & day care available
tially that anybody who had more by the Health Secretary, Stephen here who can afford even that lim-
Pets considered than £3,000 in savings had to pay Dorrell. These are that the Gov- ited cover.
Marlene and Gordon Elliott for their own care. This resulted in ernment should offer tax incen- People will still keep me busy,
34 Birdcombe Road, a lot of relatively poor people hav- tives to people to enable them to arranging their affairs to avoid los-
Westlea, Swindon. ing to sell their family homes and take out their own private insur- ing them to the state. The Govern-
use up their life savings to pay for ance against having to go into care. ment will have to come up with
Tel: (01793) 872847
their care and it caused an outcry. The idea is that the individual something better than this.
Wilts County Council Rightly or wrongly people objected should insure him or herself for a For specialist advice on the needs
Social Services registered
fixed sum - the value of their house of the elderly, Michael Fisher can
say - and the financial limit above be contacted on 512982.
WORRIED Friendship is rewarding
HAVE YOU
about what will happen Befriending an older person can be a very rewarding experience.
MADE to your property and savings According to Pat Chandler, Vol- more about becoming a volunteer
I A WILL? if you or your parents unteer Organiser for Age Concern with Age Concern, contact Pat at
have to go into care?
We can help!
/ Thamesdown, volunteer visitors 14 Milton Road, Swindon. Tel-
For free initial advice call
gain as much if not more from the ephone: 692166. Alternatively,
• Home Visits Anytime friendships they make. come along to the Age Concern
• Fixed Low Prices Michael Fisher "The number of older people on Open Day which takes place at the
• Free Advice Solicitor our waiting list grows each week", Pilgrim Centre on Wednesday 5
• Prompt Service Old Town Chambers, I 19A Victoria said Pat. "Perhaps some people June from lOam to 4pm.
ACT NOW! Road, Swindon SNI 313H think that they are too busy to take
Just Wills Wiltshire Tel: (01793) 512982 on voluntary work of this nature, Elderly creatives
but even an hour of their time can A new group for older writers is
For specialist legal advice on the make the world of difference to an being formed by Age Concern
needs of the mature client Wills,
(01793) 727091 Probate, Conveyancing Trusts older person who otherwise would Thamesdown in response to calls
and Community Care Law not see anyone all week." from retired people for the chance
Over 200 volunteers of all ages to share their work and learn from
spend time each week visiting each other.
MOVE IT ALL" older people in their homes or at Fiona Sampson, Age Concern
day centres run by Age Concern Thamesdown's writer in residence
Thamesdown, but many more are is organising fortnightly meetings
Large or small, Give us a call! needed. There is no age limit - at the Arts Centre in Old Town
some volunteers are as young as starting on Tuesday 11 and 25 June,
Tel: 01793 435361 twelve and many are in the eight- from 11am to 1pm.
ies. Just turn up, or call Fiona
Removals/Clearance 7 days a week If you would like to find out Sampson on 01974 261276.

The Double BRITISH

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