Pensioners facing London home care’ crisis

THE elderly are facing a home care crisis in London because of tougher restrictions on entitlement and a shortage of care workers. Now the London Assembly has started a public investigation today into home-based social care services and how difficult it is for pensioners to get support

By Mike Brooke

THE elderly are facing a home care crisis in London because of tougher restrictions on entitlement and a shortage of care workers.

Now the London Assembly has started a public investigation today (Wednesday) into home-based social care services and how difficult it is for pensioners to get support.

London has a higher proportion of older people living in poverty, inadequate housing, poor health and in isolation than other parts of the country, the assembly’s public services committee has found.

Public services chairman James Cleverly said: “Older people are facing real problems getting the home care services they need because of increasingly restrictive entitlement’ criteria and issues with the quality of some services.”

RESTRICTIONS

Vacancy rates for local authority care staff are among the highest in Britain, yet the older population is expected to rise substantially over the next 20 years. By 2029, projections show there could be 219,000 more people aged 65 and over than today, including 61,000 over 80.

The committee wants to hear from pensioners and their relatives, friends and neighbours about the difficulties they have trying to arrange home care, through an online survey, alternatively by email here or by writing to Michael Cheeseman at the London Assembly, PP10/6th floor, City Hall, Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA.

Closing date for submissions is September 28.