Increased charges for adult care services approved

Drastic changes to Rochdale Council’s charges for social care services received by adults living at home have been approved.

Cabinet members agreed the changes tonight (8 February). It is estimated the changes will save the council £110,000 per year.
 
The following changes will be implemented from April:
 

• Transport will increase from £1.55 per journey to £3.10 per journey
• Day services will increase from £5.20 per session to £7.50 per session
• Careline will increase from £3.23 per week to £3.38  per week
• Support at Home will increase from £5.70 per week to £5.96 per week

The Cabinet also approved:
 

• Service users in receipt of the motability car scheme should pay the full cost of transport should they choose to use council provided transport;
• The level of net disposable income assessed for charging purposes should be increased from 90 per cent to 100 per cent - this proposal would affect 740 people who would see an increase in their charges of £1.17 per week.
• Invoices for care charges should be issued at the start of the charge period for service users with a personal budget; and
• All existing charging policies should be revised and consolidated.

 
The proposals were part of the council’s phase three savings programme but were deferred so consultation could be carried out.

Following consultation some of the original proposals have been withdrawn.
 
It was proposed that Home Care be increased from £12.44 per hour to £12.50, this is not being implemented.
 
It was proposed that meals increase from £3.22 per meal to £5.52 per meal. This is not being implemented. Because the Meals on Wheels service has been replaced with the delivery of frozen meals this proposal was no longer necessary.
 
The proposal to remove the maximum weekly charge has also been withdrawn.
 
The Council carried out the consultation using a questionnaire. The responses were presented to Councillors.
 
One person said: “You could save money by not sending out questionnaires like this. The savings could be used to provide services.”
 
Another said: “I understand that savings are required but feel that is always the most vulnerable and least well off who suffer in savings cuts. Most elderly service users have spent their working life paying taxes, National Insurance and Council tax and should be supported to live independently in their old age.
 
“Lack of support will result in more people having to live in nursing homes which overtime will cost more to the Council.”
 
One respondent said: “It always seems that the vulnerable always face the brunt of any proposals regarding cuts. This is not fair.
 
“Many of the people are elderly pensioners on fixed incomes. Why can' cuts be made elsewhere - for example in the wages of those who make such draconian decisions.”
 
Another added: “As well as these changes I suggest that Councillors cut their expenses. They will almost all say that they do it for the benefit of the people they represent. A couple of years ago I took the trouble to read the list of claims. One Councillor was paid £14,000. More than many people earn in a year.”