Camden New Journal - Letters: Care home alarmism helps no one

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 10 May 2007

Care home alarmism helps no one

• YOUR front page story about care charges and financial assessments for disabled and vulnerable residents was unnecessarily alarmist (Snoopers’ charter, April 26).
Despite putting an extra £6 million into care services last year, it is an unfortunate reality that the council has to ask the residents that can afford it, to contribute towards the cost of their care and support. If we did not, we could not provide the range of help that we currently offer.
The government does not provide all the money we need to provide these services and the limited resources we do have must go where they are most needed. The new charges also mean we can provide important new services to keep residents living independently and maintain their well-being.
We can only determine if someone is able to pay if we assess them. That is something we will only ever do in person and with their consent. The reviews are designed to ensure that any charge is affordable, making an allowance for the extra living costs many older and disabled people face.
This is why staff need to ask about what people spend their money on. The assessment aims to include anything that helps people fully participate in society.
If these assessments seem intrusive, however, take the example of someone who has mobility problems and has to use taxis when they go out. By knowing this we can allow for that extra spending when we work out their ability to pay any social care charge.
In fact, as a result of the review, we expect that most people will not be charged at all. Many could actually end up better off through extra benefits that we assist them to claim.
Everyone who is assessed will also be offered advice and assistance to help claim any extra benefits they may be entitled to. We use the same financial information in making those claims. For instance last week we assessed an 87 -year-old receiving home care services. They will now be £30.11 a week better off after a new Pension Credit claim and will continue to get their care for free.
I hope that no resident is made to feel so concerned about the financial assessments they miss out on the vital support they need.
Cllr MARTIN DAVIES(CON)
Executive Member for Adult Social Care

• I RECENTLY attended one of the consultation meetings on the future of Camden’s residential care homes, extra care sheltered housing and the Charlie Ratchford Resource Centre. The council have clearly recognised the need for residential care in the borough and are arguing that their proposals will better meet the future needs of Camden’s older residents.
The proposals, as presented to the public, do not set out the numbers of spaces which will be available. It does not set out any concrete or specific numbers and does not explore the future growth in demand. Most importantly the document does not acknowledge the probable outcome of the increased charges which have been introduced for home care and luncheon clubs. As increasing numbers of older people reduce their use of these services which they feel they can no longer afford there will be an increase in the number of frail older people who are unable to stay in their own accommodation.
This refusal to recognise the significance of the change in the charging regime for the future planning of residential care – as well as the assertion that this was not an issue of relevance at the meeting – demonstrates a lack of joined up thinking and understanding of the needs and wishes of a significant part of Camden’s residents.
JANET GUTHRIE
South Hill Park, NW3

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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