‘Have your say’ over care cuts (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

‘Have your say’ over care cuts

12:00pm Saturday 26th January 2013 in News By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

Vulnerable and elderly people who could see their home help cut as Bradford Council tries to make savings are being warned they must get their stories heard to influence a consultation about the service.

Keith Nathan, the chief executive of Bradford and District Age UK charity, said he wants to hear from those currently receiving the Fair Access to Care (FACS) service who could lose out under Council changes aimed at saving £1.57 million a year.

Bradford Council is launching a public consultation asking people if the FACS guidelines should be moved to substantial or critical, meaning 2,000 people with “moderate” needs, who get help with personal care or domestic routines or with work, education or learning across the district, would no longer receive help unless their need becomes critical.

That potential move has already been slammed by Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) who said that it will “condemn lots of people to long-term loneliness”.

The 2,000 who would be affected include 1,290 aged 65 or over.

Now Mr Nathan is urging those receiving “moderate” help to get in touch because he fears changes will mean intervention happens too late, leaving people in desperate, yet avoidable, need.

“I think it makes much more sense to fight strongly for having a decent level of established support,” he said.

Coun Sunderland told the Telegraph & Argus weeks ago that cutting help for those with moderate needs would affect those managing to live at home independently, and would affect the elderly who needed help getting washed and dressed.

She said: “This is not a subsidy for a football field or a theatre ticket, this is day-to-day help and it is unacceptable to change it.”

Anyone wishing to contact Mr Nathan with their story can call (01274) 395144 or call the T&A on (01274) 705255.