Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
#1
In the news today and, not surprisingly, the onus is on the family to care for their relatives as they age. Problems will, no doubt, be caused by the raising of retirement age leaving carers with less time to care for their loved ones.
Most people try to keep their relatives out of the care system for as long as possible, often fearing the level of care they will recieve and knowing how quickly they start to become institutionalized. Unfortunately night care is impossible to undertake if you are expected to hold down a full time job during daylight hours.
Unless you have been in this position yourself it is easy to make sweeping judgements on the practicalities of care. each case should, but is not, judged on an idividual basis.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
a major concern now and well into the future, i think k.c.c. have the right idea in concentrating their resources on keeping people in their own homes as much as possible.
i think it is a win/win situation, the council saves money and the elderly almost always want to stay in their own home.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#3
Jeremy Hunt: UK should adopt Asian culture of caring for the elderly
Health secretary says families should take in elderly relatives when they can no longer live alone as they do in Asian cultures
"Jeremy Hunt will today tell British families they should follow the example of people in Asia, by taking in elderly relatives once they can no longer live alone...
...He will say: "In those countries, when living alone is no longer possible, residential care is a last rather than a first option...
...Hunt will defend his plans to set up a rigorous, Ofsted-style inspection regime aimed at rooting out abuse and poor quality care in residential homes. Under the new chief inspector of social care Andrea Sutcliffe - who he refers to as "the nation's whistleblower-in-chief" - 25,000 care homes will be inspected by March 2016 and given online "easy to understand" ratings...
...The Care Quality Commission is to take on 600 volunteers with first-hand experience of the care system to help carry out the checks. .."
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/18/jeremy-hunt-uk-families-asia-elderly
Well, good for Mr. Hunt. He does try to sound reasonable, and nearly makes it.
It all looks to be a jumble of sweeping statements passing itself off as a coherent plan. A string-vest:warm in winter, cool in summer.
If, as Mr. Hunt sees it, care homes were anything other than a last resort, right here - right now, there would be a great many more of them.
All Hail, the growth in supported accommodation, where the elderly/ageing can down-size to maximize their continued independent lives, under the watchful eye of a small team of facilitators.
As far as raising the pension age goes, it appears to be no more than a tussle between paying-out this benefit other than that one, and does nothing to address youth unemployment or the transfer of practical skills.
Mind you, all of this, Asianification, does fit in with the UK's 'drive' to become a tax-haven. We are to become desert-islanders, Europe's Maldives.
An over-rosy view of Climate Change, if ever there was one.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#4
thats going to be the norm in years to come
added pressures to many families
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
mr hunt is hopelessly out of date with his racial stereotyping, 20 years ago i lived in a road with 3 houses bought by newham council purely to house elderly asian ladies put there by their children.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#6
with todays pressures
not sure this policy will work
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#7
The young pay a heavy price for the support given to the elderly
Over-65s have every advantage - and the Coalition is bent on giving them even more
By Fraser Nelson...
"... Fifty years ago, Friedrich Hayek predicted that the welfare state would end up in such a mess. "Most of those who will retire at the end of the century will be dependent on the charity of the younger generation," he wrote in The Constitution of Liberty. And the outcome? "Not morals but the fact that the young supply the police and the army will decide the issue: concentration camps for the aged unable to maintain themselves are likely to be the fate of an old generation whose income is entirely dependent on coercing the young."
It was a bleak, even hysterical prophecy. But his idea of a conflict between the generations certainly sums up the attitude of some on the Left who are itching to confiscate the old's money via a wealth tax, or a similar device. But Hayek's analysis makes a major mistake: to imagine that the over-65s would be charity cases. In fact, they are the foot soldiers of the economic recovery, accounting for most of the rise in employment over the past five years while youth unemployment surges. By some measures, it's the old carrying the young - not vice versa.
So Hayek was wrong. The over-65s are not a massive grey pressure group sitting at home, threatening to vote Labour unless they get a free TV licence - although most political strategists seem to think otherwise. They are so concerned about the fate of their grandchildren that they're giving away £1,500 a year, according to J P Morgan. No one volunteers to have benefits shaved, but it's likely that British pensioners are more ready than politicians think for a serious discussion about how the burden should be shared. As the Prime Minister once put it: we are all in this together. "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10385889/The-young-pay-a-heavy-price-for-the-support-given-to-the-elderly.html
So, there it is. We need a Land Value Tax, and an immediate up-scaling of Council Tax Bands, and a refocusing of attention onto the plight of the young.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 1033- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 509
#8
I think its a great idea, get granny round when she getting too old to look after herself, stick her in the spare bedroom and the the bedroom tax (which isn't a tax) problem is solved. For those of you without a granny, borrow someone else's spare and you'll be well away. This will be Tory party policy propaganda, sorry manifesto for the next general election, you heard it here first !
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#9
Apologies Lesley our posts happened at the same time...........
Well done Hunt.......don`t stop at talking about it..........
'Our national shame': Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt blasts British society's neglect of its elderly
Jeremy Hunt's provocative speech blaming public for growing isolation of old people is welcomed by charities
Up to a million elderly people are being consigned to a life of loneliness and ill health because of society's shameful failure to take responsibility for older relatives, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will say today.
In a provocative speech, Mr Hunt will warn that too many old people are unnecessarily placed into care or left isolated in their own homes when they could be looked after by relatives. He will also call on Britain to learn from other cultures where "the social contract" between young and old is far stronger.
Mr Hunt's comments, which have been welcomed by charities, represent the first time that the Government has waded into the controversial debate around society's responsibility towards Britain's growing elderly population.
But it also highlights the concern amongst ministers at the increasing cost to the state of looking after people who might otherwise be cared for by relatives.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#10
We work hard to nurture our children for 20 years then they go off and do their own thing. When we get old they work hard to help us look after ourselves until the end. Then we leave them our assets to enable the next generation to do the same thing. That's how it works in civilised countries like India, Pakistan, China, most of Africa and the Middle East, and the third world in general.
Here we expect the state to shoulder our responsibilities. It seems to me that there is a close correlation between financial affluence and moral bankruptcy.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#11
We need public care homes and to build 1 and 2 bed bungalows for old people
If you build this type of accommodation the elderly tend to help one another more
Especially if you give them a communal place to gather
Private care homes over charge for this service ,and pay peanuts to the staff at the sharp end.
Ps .
If you promote selfishness in society its not surprising it becomes endemic
Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#12
Peter Garstin wrote:We work hard to nurture our children for 20 years then they go off and do their own thing. When we get old they work hard to help us look after ourselves until the end. Then we leave them our assets to enable the next generation to do the same thing. That's how it works in civilised countries like India, Pakistan, China, most of Africa and the Middle East, and the third world in general.
Here we expect the state to shoulder our responsibilities. It seems to me that there is a close correlation between financial affluence and moral bankruptcy.
Well Peter, when I saw the title of this thread my thoughts were much the same as yours except, in my experience, your children tend to need and use you a lot longer than 20 years!
There's the 'bank of Mum and Dad to get them through University and also when they have a family of their own there is help with the Grandchildren time and financial wise, which I hasten to add is a pleasure.
Having worked hard all their lives many elderly people have earned the right to a decent self financed retirement and do not expect the State to be responsible for them. This modern phenomenon, that we should all expect to be kept in our old age has reared it's ugly head, I would suggest due to the benefit culture that this country has allowed itself to slip into.
There will always be the odd needy case, through no fault of their own that needs help, but we should not encourage a 'Nanny State' culture to be accepted as the norm.
Yes life is hard but that has always been the case! We should all try to be responsible for our own lives and make an effort to plan our own destiny as we age.
I'll put on my tin helmet and wait for the flack!
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#13
keith b
the public care homes are not cheap either
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#14
Ho-hum...
"we should not encourage a 'Nanny State' culture to be accepted as the norm...
Yes life is hard but that has always been the case! We should all try to be responsible for our own lives..."
But "a Nanny State" is exactly what we have had for many hundreds of years. All wars have been fought to maintain this 'status-quo' [apologies VM], our entire State apparatus and our entire Political system, likewise, are geared up to this one aim.
And now, a word or two about the poor...
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#15
Compassionate Tories >
Energy price crisis: Lord Ashcroft dons jumper to back David Cameron's 'cover-up' call
He may be rich enough to cope even with the British Gas price rise but Michael Ashcroft is putting on his jumper in a show of support for the Prime Minister.
David Cameron's call for people to wrap up warm moved former Tory deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft to tweet a photograph of himself in a pale blue sweater. "Wearing a jumper in support of the PM's advice to cut energy costs," he declared.
Former Tory Health minister Edwina Currie caused a furore in 1988 when she advised the elderly to knit woollies to keep warm. She tweeted: "These days it's advice I take."
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#16
all this "well meaning" advice about wrapping up warm indoors sounds like a prelude to cutting the winter fuel allowance.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
#17
No matter who does the caring, it costs. The impact cannot be brushed aside as "responsibility". 99% of us love our elderly relatives, some others could not look after a dog. Who monitors the care givers?
I will do my upmost to care for my parents to the end of their days but am not foolish and know that at times I will need to rely on other services to provide that which I cannot.
A radical overhaul needs to take place, an independant review across ALL elderly care would enable the correct packages of support to be delivered where needed most.
One area which concerns me is funding to carers, it does not compensate for the carers income if they need to give up work. As families put off having children until their late 30 to early 40s, they will have more pressure on them to meet the demands of an aging population.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#18
a very good post lesley
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#19
Today's headlines in The Argus (Brighton ).
Yes Lesley, there is certainly something lacking in care for the elderly. Whatever amount of cash we throw at the problem the word 'care' still seems to be misunderstood in many care homes!
I quote from the newspaper report, 'The deaths of five elderly residents were directly linked to neglect at the now closed Orchid View near Crawley.'
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
#20
The term care home does not meet the needs of the elderly. There are two types of home classifications, residential and nursing, some do include the term dementia in their title.
As we age it is inevitable that we have health issues, some mild other which require more nursing skills. Because of a lack of expertise many who need the higher grade of care are incorrectly placed in residential care. I make no apology for stating that the elderly are big business, they provide a very good income for owners of these homes. To pass a long term resident into another home if their needs deteriate is not cost effective. I am not saying that all care is bad but sadly evidence proves that it does seem to be reaching crisis point.
I would like to see a nurse employed by every care home and that each resident be given a full medical on an annual basis. To achieve this we would have to be mindfull of the fact that many GPs own or have a stake in elderly care homes and therefore should be assess by another health provider.
