I read the news today – oh boy…..

By David Chandler

Care for older people has been in the news lately like never before. Not just as part of the general worry over government cuts to NHS and care budgets but with specific cases that set a worrying precedent for the future of care in the UK.

The legal case of former prima ballerina, Elaine McDonald, over the provision of her home care worker has possibly changed the quality of life for over 250,000 people forever. It opens the door for councils and health authorities to cut back on the number of care workers employed and utilised in the community. Here's the full article.

It is clear that these measures if implemented will mean that many older people will become isolated and lonely in their own homes.

The Home Calls UK service aims to be a comforting, friendly and personal presence in the lives of people who wish to remain active and independent in their own homes. Through building up a relationship with the person we can better cater to their needs whilst taking away the worries of their relatives have of them living alone. Their social and personal interaction need not be curtailed

Another high profile concern is people being forced to re-mortgage or sell their houses and move to fund their healthcare in their old age.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/jul/02/dilnot-funding-old-age

Home Calls can be paid for by relatives of the person separately but it also falls into a service that can be funded by the government’s Attendance Allowance . Unlike many other benefits this payment is not means tested and is available to anyone 65 and over whether they currently have home care or not. So Home Calls service won’t put a drain on your savings and can fill the gap that the councils no longer are willing to finance. We’re that cost effective life line as well as opportunity for a real conversation with someone knows you and cares.

For more information of Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance see this excellent guide from Age UK