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Main Content: An Open letter: 'No delay on free care'
Charities representing ill, disabled and older people and their families do not want to see a delay in implementing free personal care in people's homes.
Open letter: 'No delay on free care'
Charities representing ill, disabled and older people and their families do not want to see a delay in implementing free personal care in people's homes which, if the Personal Care at Home Bill is passed unamended, will start from October 2010.
An amendment tabled by Lord Best is calling for a delay in implementing this Bill by six months. It will be debated in the House of Lords at Report stage on Wednesday 17 March. If passed, it would delay something that families have been waiting for a long time - and it will be families who will be paying for care whilst we wait for implementation.
For people like Ellie who is aged 60, caring for her husband who is 79 and has dementia, a delay of six months could mean paying up to £1,320 for her care over that time, which free personal care might otherwise pay for. Over time she has spent down her savings to pay for this care, causing a great deal of distress since she relies on the care to simply leave the house to do her weekly shopping.
Delay will mean that 65,000 people could miss out on reablement services - vital support which helps people become more independent, fitter and more able to manage their lives. Without this extra help people will need more support for longer and will end up costing health and social care services far more in the longer term as independent research has shown. It is also the first step towards a White Paper on social care.
The Government's recent response to a consultation on the Bill makes it clear that local authorities must implement the provisions from October 2010, but can assess people later and backdate any payments that might be due. In other words, local authorities have been given time to prepare for this change.
We must not forget that people's lives are affected every day by policies and laws made by Government and Parliament and it is to their needs that we must pay most attention.
Signed,
Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK
Stephen Burke, Chief Executive, Counsel and Care
Michelle Mitchell, Director, Help the Aged/Age Concern
Liz Sayce, Chief Executive, RADAR
Lynne Berry, Chief Executive, WRVS
Srabeni Sen, Chief Executive, Contact a Family
Sam Smethers, Director, Grandparents Plus