Government must find the cash to allow the elderly to be cared for with dignity, says UNISON

Commenting on the warning today (Monday), from the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, that dignified care social care for the elderly will be at risk unless the government makes more money available, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:

“Government spending cuts have put local authority budgets under intolerable pressure, which in turn has meant that many councils are expecting home care companies to provide care to the vulnerable and the elderly on a shoestring.

 

“Because money is tight, councils tend to let their care contracts to the firm who puts in the lowest price. When this happens the only people who lose out are the elderly person needing the care, and the worker desperately trying, against all the odds, to provide care with dignity.

 

“Ministers clearly have it in their gift to come up with the cash that could lessen the growing pressures on both social care and the NHS. But councils too must step up and make sure that, despite these tough times, they are not expecting quality care to be provided at bargain basement prices.”