A helping hand to farmers of all ages

THE Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has been around since 1860 and is farming’s oldest and largest welfare charity. This year, we have given out more than £1.1m to the retired, sick and disabled, and we remain committed to looking after farming people throughout their lives, not just when they are working.

In today’s world there are so many challenges people must face in later life and health issues can be draining, both physically and mentally. However, our motto is “once a farmer, always a farmer” and we will not shy away from supporting farming people of all ages, including retired farmers, farmworkers and dependants.

This year, we have paid out more than £214k towards home help costs and close to £100k on disability aids, equipment and adaptations. We have also given out more than £92k towards care home top-up fees – the difference between how much a council is willing to pay a care home and the care home’s fee to selffunding residents.

Recently the care home of a 92-year-old former land girl closed indefinitely for “refurbishment”. Most of the residents moved on quickly to a sister home, but they wouldn’t take this lady because of her physical needs.

Her daughter told us: “It was like a sinking ship. In the end there was only mum and one other lady left there with no proper night staff. Mum cried and cried.”

Needing to find a new care home for their mother at short notice, the family identified one that was suitable – but the local council wanted to move her

to an alternative home much further away. It became a battle – and the family contacted RABI to meet the costs of the top-up fee shortfall at their preferred home because they couldn’t afford to pay the fees themselves. We agreed to do this.

Most of us will need to rely on care at some point in our lives, if not for ourselves, then for loved ones. Demands on the care sector are already great, but things are only likely to get worse with a rapidly rising older population. We understand the anxieties many older people face and we are committed to offering long-term support to families in financial hardship from the farming sector. It’s simple – we’re here for the long haul. To contact RABI, telephone 0808 281 9490. Paul Burrows RABI chief executive