Margot is concerned that older people don't lose out as expenditure is cut
15th October 2009
Margot met the head of Dudley Council’s Older People’s service, Maggie Venables, to discuss how the financial pressures are affecting older people.
Of course, just as Gordon Brown was affecting the ‘Tory cuts versus Labour investment’ line as recently as June of this year, so Local Authorities were already in the midst of implementing reductions for this year and the next three years.
The good thing about Dudley Council’s service, which is four star rated, whenever they make cuts in cost they always ensure quality is protected. This is achieved mostly by working with the voluntary and not for profit sector. These groups, and carers, are increasingly the mainstay of care and support in our borough.
So the Women’s’ Royal Volunteer Service (WRVS) has taken up the meal service previously supplied by the Council. Age Concern run a day care service for hundreds of older people 364 days per year. And then there are hundreds if not thousands of family members who care for their older relatives.
Government should increasingly be the enabler, co-funder and regulator rather than the provider of services. Services that can often be better provided by charities, voluntary organisations and family members, better value for money as well as better quality of care.
Photo: Margot James listens to members of Age Concern
