Elderly Being Forced Into Poverty Say Royal Commission
September 30, 2003 12:00 AM
Lack of free personal care for the elderly is forcing thousands to sell their homes. These were the comments made on Monday by the Royal Commission set up to review elderly care provision, four years after their Report called for free personal care.
"This is just one more example of how elderly, vulnerable and disabled people are being dismissed by the Labour government in Westminster" said Cllr Jonathan Brown, Lib Dem Social Services spokesperson. "How different this is from Scotland, where Lib Dems have used their influence to push through free personal care for older people north of the border".
"This year in Leeds, we have seen many examples of how the most needy in our society are being left to struggle. Voluntary organisations, who provide essential services for elderly, disabled and disadvantaged citizens, were asked to make 2% cuts in their budgets; a new eligibility criteria was imposed for adult social services under the banner of Fair Access to Services; Fairer Charging for basic care services were introduced. Opposition parties united to fight "unfairer charging" but were defeated by the ruling Labour Group."
"Here in Leeds, just like up and down the country, the elderly are being treated like third-class citizens. This can no longer be tolerated", added Cllr Brown.
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