Plans have been revealed by social services chiefs, proposing an increase in the cost of care which with result in changes to those who receive help in their homes, such as shopping, cooking meals, cleaning and personal bathing.
The plan is to be put into action in order to help KCC raise more income, as the demand for care is increasing as the number of elderly and delicate residents is also on the rise.
As it stands at the moment, people who receive free care to assist with mental health problems are also likely to face paying some costs for the first time, affecting about 530 people.
Although roughly 6,000 people who qualify for some kind of care will remain unaffected by the plans to make cuts because they already pay for care or qualify for free care whereas, an expected 5,300 are likely to begin paying for their care.
After speaking to a resident from Canterbury, Margaret Lennon, the quality of care in the town is one for concern.
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Under KCC’s care scheme current care packages cost the authority an average of £35 per week. The amount individual’s pay will vary but the council says it now intends to increase the amount of available income that is taken into account when working out a persons charge. The plans will also affect those with a disability, resulting in a reduction in the money allocated from £21 to £17.
QUOTE FROM WILLIAM AND CARRER
The plans would save the authority about £2.9m at an ideal time where it is under pressure from cuts in government grants, alongside the demand for more services. The council pointed out that it was not a new decision made solely by the Kent Council, they are following in the footsteps of other councils and mentioned that unlike other councils they are preserving services for residents with reasonable needs.
Cllr Graham Gibbens, Kent County Council cabinet member for adult social care told Kent online:
"The extra money from these new and increased charges means that more people will be able to get services they need.
"These are services that could help people stay out of hospital or residential care and every person would be assessed to determine what they should pay.
"This together with keeping eligibility criteria at moderate means that the council is able to get support to more people.”
A support of 12 weeks on the proposal will run until the end of July and decisions will be finalised.
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