Local Authorities Invited To Bid For Additional Funding For Extra Care Housing, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 07 Mar 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Delivering true equality requires more than piecemeal action

Help the Aged today responded to the Government's invitation to local authorities to bid for £80 million of funding to build extra care housing that would allow older people and those with long-term conditions to live in a home of their own.

Kate Jopling, head of public affairs at Help the Aged said: 'It's good to see this money being released to support extra care schemes.

'However, far too many older couples are still being forced to separate when one or other of them enters a care home. Forcing couples to separate is an infringement of the basic human right to family life - and additional extra-care housing on its own is not going to solve this problem.

'Plans to help older people stay together when they go into care are long overdue.

'But delivering true dignity and equality to older people will require more than piecemeal action. We need full protection in law and a shift in cultural attitudes toward older people.'

Notes

'Right care Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit http://www.rightcare.org.uk

Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

Help The Aged