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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Worries over high care home costs | Worries over high care home costs |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Elderly people and their carers have to search for suitable care homes "in the dark" - a charity has reported. | Elderly people and their carers have to search for suitable care homes "in the dark" - a charity has reported. |
| Counsel and Care wants the government to overhaul the entire care system and make it simpler and more transparent. | Counsel and Care wants the government to overhaul the entire care system and make it simpler and more transparent. |
| Of the 2,620 calls made to the charity's advice helpline in 2008, 30% were from people worried about how to pay for care homes. | Of the 2,620 calls made to the charity's advice helpline in 2008, 30% were from people worried about how to pay for care homes. |
| The Department of Health said it would work closely with local authorities to protect the welfare of residents. | |
| People with savings or a property worth £22,250 or more do not qualify for local authority aid with home fees. | |
| The amount is due to increase to £23,000 in April. | |
| Rising costs | Rising costs |
| Being able to pay for a care home was the most common worry of those ringing the charity; many were also concerned about how to cope with a lack of information when it came to choosing a home. | Being able to pay for a care home was the most common worry of those ringing the charity; many were also concerned about how to cope with a lack of information when it came to choosing a home. |
| The report - Finding and Financing Care in Hard Times - said many callers were concerned about having to use their savings to pay for rising care costs. | The report - Finding and Financing Care in Hard Times - said many callers were concerned about having to use their savings to pay for rising care costs. |
| The report states that sometimes people are forced to pick a home "in the dark, based on incomplete information and often during a time of great stress or illness". | The report states that sometimes people are forced to pick a home "in the dark, based on incomplete information and often during a time of great stress or illness". |
| The charity's chief executive, Stephen Burke, said the situation had become worse because of the economic downturn. | The charity's chief executive, Stephen Burke, said the situation had become worse because of the economic downturn. |
| 'More regulation' | 'More regulation' |
| He said: "This report is very telling, showing the real struggle older people, their families and carers are currently facing when trying to pay for care. | He said: "This report is very telling, showing the real struggle older people, their families and carers are currently facing when trying to pay for care. |
| "The credit crunch does not mean that the government has a 'get-out-of-jail free' card on considering a meaningful increase in funding for older people's care." | "The credit crunch does not mean that the government has a 'get-out-of-jail free' card on considering a meaningful increase in funding for older people's care." |
| The report calls for more regulation in the industry, which it says could prevent large annual fee rises. It also urges care homes to be more transparent about their fees. | The report calls for more regulation in the industry, which it says could prevent large annual fee rises. It also urges care homes to be more transparent about their fees. |
| The government is creating a green paper on the future of long-term care. | The government is creating a green paper on the future of long-term care. |
| Mr Burke said: "Clearly this report highlights the need for radical reform in the green paper to create a care system that is simple, fairer, consistent, transparent and flexible." | Mr Burke said: "Clearly this report highlights the need for radical reform in the green paper to create a care system that is simple, fairer, consistent, transparent and flexible." |
| The report comes before the charity's annual conference on the issue on 25 February in London. | The report comes before the charity's annual conference on the issue on 25 February in London. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "Arrangements between care homes and people paying for their own care are private contracts. | |
| "Care home residents are entitled to apply for public help with the cost of their care, subject to a test of their means, if they have less than £22,250 in savings. This will increase to £23,000 in April 2009. | |
| "The government will work closely with local authorities and care providers to ensure they are able to meet their statutory responsibilities and protect the welfare of care home residents." |