Increase in Isle OAPs staying in their homes
More OAPs in the Isle are choosing not to go into a care home until they are in their late 80s.
A dramatic change in how elderly people have decided to live the last years of their lives has been revealed by North Lincolnshire Council.
Since personal budgets were offered to older people to arrange their own care three years ago the number of elderly people entering a care home in North Lincolnshire has dropped by more than a third.
Since 2009, the policy for adult social care is to offer all people who are eligible for long term support the option of having a cash budget as an alternative to arrange their own care and support.
The Governemnt claims the introduction of personal budgets has enabled people to have much greater choice and control over their lives.
The uptake of personal budgets has been growing locally and in 2013 a further rise is expected.
Figures released by the council show In 2012/2013 (1 April to 31 December 2012) 168 people over the age of 65 entered a care home, in 2011/12 there were 202 people, 221 in 2010/11 and 263 in 2009/10.
A North Lincolnshire Council spokesperson, said:
“People are finding all sorts of different ways to support themselves at home for longer, as a result the numbers of people choosing to enter a care home are reducing.
“The costs are unique for each individual based on their needs and the home they enter, consequently the overall budget is demand-led.
“More and more people are taking up the new policy of arranging their own care through a personal budget; therefore many people aren’t entering care homes until their late 80s if at all.”
The budget for Adult Social Services for the council in 2012/13 is £36,252,690.
Direct payments confer responsibilities on recipients to decide how their eligible needs are met, either by employing people, often known as personal assistants, or by commissioning services for themselves.
Service users can get support in fulfilling these responsibilities from direct payment support services commissioned by local authorities, often from user-led organisations.
Like community care services, direct payments are means-tested so their value is dependent on a person’s income and assets as well as their eligible needs.
The Government has recently proposed that in 2017, people with assets of £123,000 or less will get their full care home fees paid by councils.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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