Oxfordshire Care Changes Cause Concern

Council spending cuts could see many elderly and infirm people moved out of the county, and away from their loved ones, the Oxfordshire Care Home Association claims.

Association spokesman Mark Taylor made the claim after Oxfordshire County Council announced “modest shifts in funding away from institutional care, particularly residential care homes”.

Jim Couchman, the council’s cabinet member for social care and policy co-ordination, told a meeting that County Hall would be making savings in a number of services supporting older people.

Areas likely to feel the squeeze as part of a £276,000 “service reduction” include low-level home support – like help with shopping, cleaning and laundry – and residential care.

Mr Couchman said: “Over the next four years, we intend to make modest shifts in funding away from institutional care – particularly residential care homes – and make savings wherever possible.”

He said funding for “demographic pressures” would increase from £2.4m in 2007-8 to £5.9m in 2010-11.

But Mr Taylor said the cuts were down to the council ignoring the rise in the elderly population.

He added: “Despite everyone knowing about the rise in the older population, the council have ignored it completely – and now say they don’t have the money to pay for these people’s care.

“After a zero per cent increase in funding last year, we were promised and were expecting at least enough to cover our rising costs.

“But while they are giving us a little extra for existing residents, we have a whopping great cut for new clients.

“Unfortunately, as people die, that means more and more new clients, which will even out to mean another zero increase again for this year.

“We have a meeting with social services this week, but if we care home owners don’t accept the cuts, we could see them simply sending people out of the county, and this will see residents really suffer.

“Going into a care home can be difficult enough without being miles and miles away from your family.”

By 2010, it is estimated the number of people aged 65 and over in Oxfordshire will have increased by 10,000 to about 108,300.

Many of them will suffer from dementia and frailty, and require increasing amounts of care.

John Jackson, director for social and community services, defended the savings.

He said: “We are reducing spending in a number of areas, but nearly all of this is being used to improve services in other areas or to expand our services.

“Overall, total spending on adult social care will increase by £5.4m or 3.1 per cent next year.

“Nearly all of the spending reductions reflect genuine efficiency savings, as we get better value for money from the use of public money.

“Total spending on adult social care in 2006-7 will be £173m. Spending in 2007-8 will be £178.4m.”