Cost of care to rise
COUNCIL TO SCRAP ADULT CARE PAY CAP
Reporter A SHAKE-UP of adult care in Gateshead which could cost some elderly people thousands of pounds a week has been approved by councillors.
Gateshead Council’s cabinet has voted to remove the maximum weekly amount an adult is required to pay towards their care, which up until now has been capped at £205.
The move means users who are able to meet extra costs will be told to pay their full assessed contribution – a figure the council says could amount to between £5.18 and £2,743.40 per week.
A proposal to reduce the Disability Related Expenditure (DRE), from £20.60 per week to £15 has also been approved.
DRE is to cover additional expenditure an adult may have due to their disability, such as speciality clothing.
The changes will also see the adults’ contribution calculated based on the cost of two carers (if they require this) rather than on one carer in every case.
The changes are due to come into effect as of April 1 this year.
A report to councillors estimated that there were currently 1,787 adults paying for community based care provision who could be impacted by these changes.
A study of the potential impact said there are 67 adults in the area who would be affected by the removal of the £205 maximum charge cap.
It said: “Based on our current understanding of those adults’ finances, the increase would range between £5.18 and £2,743.40 per week.
“Sixteen adults will have an increase of £100 – £200 per week; 9 adults will have an increase between £200 – £400 per week; and a further 9 adults will have an increase of over £400 per week to pay for their care.”
Charging for two carers, it added, would affect 17 people at present, with the increase ranging between £1.51 and £94.92.
The reduction in DRE impact around 850 people.
The changes were originally consulted on in December 2016 and agreed in March 2017.
But implementation was halted after it was found that some service users had not been notified of the consultation.
The second consultation period took place in July last year. Ian Wolstenholme will A report to councillors said the majority of the comments received during the consultation were regarding the ‘fairness of the system.’ The proposal agreed by Gateshead’s cabinet stated: “The Council’s Adult Social Care provides a range of services for vulnerable people but is reliant on income from charges to help pay for them. Without this income, service levels could not be maintained.” Bosses in charge of a charity to support older people say they will be working to support those affected by the plans. Ian Wolstenholme, CEO of Age UK Gateshead said: “Age UK Gateshead work closely with Gateshead Council and our partnership has ensured that, together, we deliver excellent services which help and support older people of the borough. A number of our customers have raised real concerns regarding the plan to remove the weekly cap. Gateshead are a listening council and I will raise these concerns with the leader of the council, Councillor Martin Gannon, and feed back to our 4000 service users. Age UK Gateshead will also work with any older person affected by the changes.”