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The Homecare Association has warned that government efforts to shift care from hospitals into the community will falter unless it provides councils with the funding to make that shift real and backs the care workforce delivering it.
Responding to the ADASS Spring Survey published today, the Association stressed that people who draw on care and support are already feeling the effects of overstretched local budgets. Some councils are reducing or cutting care services; some are cutting fee rates, forcing providers to hand back work, which affects continuity of care; and some are encouraging a shift to unregulated homecare because it is cheaper, leaving older and disabled people with no protection or recourse if something goes wrong. Preventative support and care, which helps people to live well at home, is being sacrificed to pay for those with complex care needs.
Dr Jane Townson OBE, CEO of the Homecare Association, said:
“Homecare transforms lives. It helps people stay well, connected and independent in their own homes, close to their loved ones, and part of their communities. However, it’s being systematically undervalued.
Directors of Adult Social Care are clear: without proper funding, they cannot pay providers fairly, meet rising demand, or invest in prevention. This results in people waiting too long for care, going without care, or being admitted to hospital unnecessarily.”
Keeping your home warm in the winter can be expensive so benefits like the Winter Fuel Payment can make all the difference.
The fuel poverty charity NEA estimates that around 4 million UK households are unable to afford sufficient heating, and in January 2023 it reported there were around 4000 excess deaths during the winter months.
If you are an older person and receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for financial support with your heating bills.
What is the Winter Fuel Payment?
Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free lump payment to help you to heat your home in the winter.
The benefit was introduced in 1997 for older people who feel the cold more, are less active and stay indoors more.
How much is the Winter Fuel Payment?
The payment is either £200 or £300, depending on your date of birth and whether or not you live alone.
If you or your partner were born before 23 September 1944, it should be £300.
Payments are usually made in November and December.
For more information see homecare.co.uk
Personal Independence Payment, also known as PIP, is a benefit available to people who have a long-term health condition or disability. The benefit is intended to help cover the extra costs people can face due to the impact of their condition.
There are two components to PIP:
- Daily Living component
- Mobility component
If you are eligible for Personal Independence Payment, how much you receive will be based on which component is most relevant to you and your needs.
The Daily Living component is aimed at people who require additional assistance in everyday life such as with eating and drinking, washing and other personal tasks and communicating with others.
The Mobility component is based on providing assistance to those who find it difficult to get out and about due to their condition. This could be because they need physical help when outside of their home or require assistance with planning a trip, for example.
For more information on PIP rates visit the homecare.co.uk website
If you’re in the process of looking for home care, whether for yourself or a loved one, one of the first things you’ll likely think of is how you are going to pay for care at home.
A detailed guide provides information about the average costs of home care and how much financial help you can expect from your local authority according to where you live in the UK. There is also information on a whole host of benefits you may be eligible for.
How much does home care cost per hour?
The price of home care also known as domiciliary care and in-home care does vary across the UK.
Home care in the UK costs on average between £23 to £34 per hour.
If you need home care two hours a day at a rate of £30 per hour, you will pay:
- £420 per week
- £1,680 per month
- £20,160 a year
Bear in mind that some care providers will charge a higher rate for weekends and bank holidays.
For more on this please read the full story at www.homecare.co.uk
