Home care rises by 10 per cent

The average charge for an hour of home care has risen by 10 per cent in the last three years, according to a new survey.

The survey of local authorities, published by Labour, reveals the average charge for an hour of home care has increased by 10 per cent between 2009/10 and 2012/13 – from £12.29 to £13.61.

The survey also found there are wide disparities in the price people pay for care depending on where they live. Home care is free in Tower Hamlets, but it costs £21.50 per hour in Brighton and Hove.

Eleven per cent fewer older people had their care fully paid for by their local authority in 2011/12 compared to 2009/10.

Home care involves washing, dressing and feeding older and disabled people in their own homes.

Liz Kendall MP, Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, called the increases in home care charges “a stealth tax on the most vulnerable people in society”.

She said: “Fewer older people are getting their care for free, and more older and disabled people are being forced to pay more for vital services that help them get up washed, dressed and fed.

“These services are a lifeline for older and disabled people and crucial to help them stay living independently in their own homes.”

Ms Kendall claims the Government is out of touch with the growing care crisis.

“They promised to protect social care services, but more than £1bn has been cut from local council budgets for older people since the Conservative-led Government came to power.

“They also promised to legislate on a future legal and financial framework for social care in this Parliamentary session. Yet last week’s Queens Speech only committed to publishing draft legislation on reforming social care law, with no commitment to introduce a Bill on reform of care funding.

“David Cameron must act urgently to tackle the care crisis. He must engage in serious cross party talks, which Ed Miliband initiated, about how we can secure a fair and sustainable way to fund long term care in future,” she said.

The increase in home care charges means the average annual cost for an older or disabled person who pays for 10 hours home care a week has increased to £7,077 a year in 2012/13 – up over £680 since 2009/10.

Some councils limit or ‘cap’ the weekly costs people are required to pay for home care. This cap varies from £90 a week in Barnsley to £900 a week in Brighton and Hove.

Almost half of the councils who reported having a cap on home care charges in 2009/10 have now removed it. Forty-six per cent have increased their cap and six per cent have frozen it.

Louise Lakey, policy manager of the Alzheimer’s Society called it “disgraceful” and said: “Many people with dementia and their carers are already struggling to pay for home care and some may not be able to afford the increased prices.

"The extortionate costs in some parts of the country don’t even guarantee good quality care. Home care services are vital in helping to maintain quality of life for people living with dementia.”

She added: “The Social Care White Paper is due imminently, we must ensure it urgently paves the way to provide people with dementia with the right care at the right time at the right price.”

Image: Liz Kendall MP, Shadow Minister for Care and Older People