Fees in nursing homes can be as little as �20 000 rising to �40 000 in upmarket establishments. Those who have the financial means are expected to meet the cost of care.
In Scotland, government has suggested that nursing home residents will qualify for
up to �65 per week nursing care (money goes direct
up to �90 per week personal care to home)
5. Latest info on the elderly
From the latest census (2001) the statistics show that there are more people over 60 than under 16. There are now 1 million people over the age of 84 in the UK. The cost of staying in a residential home is between �200 and �800 per week
6. Community Care
Parliament introduced the "Care in the Community" Act in 1993
The government was concerned that as the number of elderly people grew they would be unable to meet the demand for residential care
The government believed that it was better for elderly people to stay in their homes instead of being placed in residential care. This is also more cost effective
Social work department would assess the needs of the elderly person and draw up a care plan detailing the support needed to allow the elderly person to remain in their own home
Support services include: health visitors, district nurses, home helps, meals-on-wheels, day care centres, lunch clubs, occupational therapists
Any combination of these can be used to help an elderly person to remain in their own home.
It is anticipated that with all these levels of support the majority of elderly people will be able to live in their own home.
Therefore residential care will be seen as a last option.
Criticisms
Cheap option - there is evidence that the government is trying to provide care for the elderly on the cheap
Many services not properly funded - this means some elderly people miss out
Cooperation between Social Work Department and others was sometimes poor - this resulted in care plans not being fulfilled
Quality of community care is excellent in some parts of the country but poor in others
Some elderly people would be better cared for in residential care however this is sometimes not offered because of the cost