Comments on ORGANIZED RAGE: Disability living Allowance saved for some, but no...

Hi Mick, The fairytale gets better.If you get tim...

2009-11-04T23:30:50.553Z

Hi Mick,

The fairytale gets better.If you get time read the articles on this link..

http://carerwatch.com/cuts/?p=117#comments

Carerwatch, No need to apologise for 'a rant,' as...

2009-10-29T10:16:08.659Z

Carerwatch,

No need to apologise for 'a rant,' as in my experience 9/10 times they are heart felt and all the better for that. I found your last two sentences very powerful and worthy of a letter to the press.

Hi Mick, Like with any job there are good/bad wor...

2009-10-29T00:07:36.354Z

Hi Mick,

Like with any job there are good/bad workers - social workers just one example, dare I use MPs as another ...*wink*.

Sorry to hear about your dad and I understand perfectly about his fears of 'being taken away'.

For most families care starts in the home and that is what future plans should build on. All of the £millions profit made by private companies is a disgrace - money that should be ploughed back in to the system so even more elderly can access care and not just those with critical/substantial needs.

I have just read an article online which will be in the papers tomorrow about the issue of MPs employing family members. One has said their family member is the best person for the job.

However, under care packages that are assessed and then put in force, someone that is elderly/disabled, is NOT allowed to employ a family member living in the same household, unless under extreme circumstances or say language communication difficulties.The final decision rests with soc services.

Sorry for the rant Mick

Thanks for your link, you make some excellent poin...

2009-10-28T18:03:02.516Z

Thanks for your link, you make some excellent points.

Especially your point about many disabled people not wanting to get involved, unless it is absolutely necessary with social services. By saying this I am in no way belittling the good work of many social workers, etc, who work in that field.

My own Dad who has now sadly died fell into this category, his reasoning was two fold, before he became ill and frail he had taken responsibility for his life since he was a young boy. He also feared if he let such people in the door he might be taken off without his consent and placed in what he called in a disparaging manner 'a home.'

Fortunately almost to the end of his life, due to family support and the benefits in question, he was able to have a reasonable quality of life. Yes, as you say there are changes needed in the system of care etc, but taking away the benefits of those who are already living independently in their own home is NOT the way to go about it.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks for highlighting this. You can also follow...

2009-10-28T15:13:42.579Z

Thanks for highlighting this.

You can also follow this link and see many replies received plus comments that have been added.We have been working alongside Steve D and others in raising these issues.

http://carerwatch.com/cuts/ several pages to read

The present govt, and any future ones, must not be allowed to take these proposals further.

Many of those in receipt of Attendance Allowance do not want the involvment of social services,they want to maintain their independency,the very thing that the govt say they should have.
Remove AA and for many elderly you remove their control, their choice.

With local authorities tightening care criteria there would be no guarantee that adequate cover would be given, so in effect the govt would be storing up even more trouble for the years ahead.

Many in receipt of AA have family members caring for them.They provide a minimum of 35 hours care for the pittance that Carers Allowance is.No way could local authorites come close to matching that or come anywhere close to it.

Paying in to an insurance scheme does not guarantee a payout.Who to say a person will even need it.You also have the issue surrounding continuing care costs, which are currently met by local PCTs. Too many questions and not enough answers just now, too many grey areas.

The main thing is to not look at just the issue surrounding paying for future care and how it would affect the disability benefits but also read it alongside the Welfare reform Bill. This is all about both main parties starting to streamline all the benefits, so that eventually most will claim only ESA or JSA and then ultimately a single working age benefit.

Reform is most definitely needed but not at the cost of those most vulnerable, whom in many cases cannot speak up for themselves.

If I can add one last note. Both papers have actually ignored the strong foundation family carers are. With increased support both financially and practical measures, respite care made available, more families in the future would be ensuring their loved ones maybe lived with them longer.

The battle is by no means over.....