HAMPSHIRE'S ELDERLY HIT HARD BY HIKE IN CARE HOME FEES

8.29.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Oct 2005

Hampshire elderly are hit hard by care home fees

Sandra Gidley, MP for Romsey and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Older People says vulnerable older people should not have to be forced to find additional resources to guarantee their place in a home.

She was commenting on a survey of 348 nursing and residential homes for older people conducted by Hampshire Care Association (HCA), which has shown that a growing number of local families are being expected to top up the care home fees of their loved ones.

The HCA have stated that the practise has risen dramatically in the last five years. In four out of ten cases, fees are expected to be topped up by relatives. In Portsmouth it has increased four-fold over the last five years.

Sandra said:

"This report follows damning reports on care homes from the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the King's Fund and the OFT over the last nine months, illustrating that the situation is not unique to Hampshire. This Government are still betraying elderly people by refusing to end the scandal of charges for long term care.

"In August, the Department for Trade and Industry commented that councils are responsible for meeting the full costs of accommodation - including top up fees. However, their bland acknowledgement that this does not always happen shows that there is no real Government interest in the long term care of the elderly.

"In order to pursue this matter further, I am urging people to get in touch with me if they are paying top-up fees for care homes."

Contact Sandra by writing to her at 3a Victoria Place, Love Lane, Romsey S051 8DE