Older People Deserve Better

Older people have paid disproportionately for this government's incompetence. Council tax raises hit pensioners hardest. Responsibility for care of older people has shifted more and more from the NHS (which is free to the user) on to social services (which is means tested). Pensions have fallen far behind earnings and to get the top up pension credit people have to get means tested and fill out endless complicated forms. A lot of pension credit goes unclaimed because many older people find the means test insulting.

Congratulations to Age Concern Stourbridge who do a wonderful job picking up the pieces. They provide company, care, delicious food and all sorts of activities to thousands of older people in Stourbridge. I have visited both the facility behind the Mary Stevens Hospice and the Elton Centre just off the ring road. I am walking the Dudley Trail on May 6th to raise money for them, so do please get in touch if you'd like to sponsor me and contribute to the excellent work they do.