Does anyone who reads this site have any information, views or comments on Rosemary Park, Haslemere Surrey and St Magnus, oth owned by a private company Oldercare Ltd. My husband has frontal lobe dementia, became medically ill, was Sectioned, which was lifted before time, was sent to St Magnus, had earlier been in Rosemary Park but I had moved him. We seem to be having a problem removing him from this place, they seem to be unable to do the required assessments and they have had weeks. Section lifted Nov 11 09

Is the following true? And does it matter - I measn its a young persons world now is it not??!! Pensioners 'paying too much tax - Oct 23 2009 Millions of pensioners are paying too much tax because of the complexity of the system and their reluctance to seek advice, the National Audit Office has said. Some 1.5 million older people over-paid income tax due to processing errors, while about 3.2 million were failing to take up their allowance entitlements, the watchdog found. It also estimated that 2.4 million were paying more than they needed to on their savings because of their tax arrangements. The overpayments ran into hundreds of pounds for many pensioners, who are particularly affected by losing the cash because of their relatively low incomes. There were also 500,000 older people who had underpaid tax, by an average £207.The NAO said errors occurred because the tax situation for pensioners was often more complicated than for the rest of the population and HM Revenue and Customs struggled to cope. It said that the average income tax overpayment due to error was £171, having a disproportionate effect on a group whose mean income was just £16,000. A spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs said: "We're very pleased that 80% of older people are satisfied with the service they receive from us but we are determined to reduce over and underpayments. "During the last few months we have significantly upgraded our computer systems to improve accuracy and deliver a better service to older taxpayers. "We will shortly launch a publicity campaign designed to encourage older taxpayers to reclaim tax and have their investment income paid tax-free.

Care homes pen pal scheme Over 80 people in Gloucestershire care homes have been matched with pen pals as part of a scheme to combat loneliness. The Plume Project could also help allay people's fears about going into care as their contact with the homes increases. It is the work of Anita Miles, activity co-ordinator network facilitator at Gloucestershire County Council. A recent article in a Golucester Paper - is this a way forward for other homes to increase the cognitive skills of the residents?? What do you think??

International Day for Older People. With the closure of care and nursing homes by public authorities and the funding crisis in all public services how do with aspire to meet even one of the intentions of the UN day for the elderly? Can we in fact manage to do so?? Is there any intent to try and provide care for the elderly and are we bothered....really bothered? The cynic in me says no but I know that there are kind, caring and wonderful people out there working against the odds to make things happen so how do we distil this and encourage all to be as good - help!!!

 

Does anybody have any experience or knowledge about wheel chairs in NHS nursing homes. Specifically  are they commonly available, and do users have to be measured up to have one?

My own experience of private nursing homes - albeit part funded by local government - shows that they have a number of wheelchairs for common use - these are standard none powered chairs for those who need them to use as required.

With the publication of the Governments new Green Paper there seem to be more questions to be asked then answered.

The Government are saying that only a certain amount of social care will be provided free to all despite paying the £20K- £25k recommended. At this time it is suggested that this will be only for dressing, washing and moving around the home, those needing residential care will continue to pay for food and accommodation themselves although it is argued that this can be deferred and paid as a lump sum at ones death!

 Seems  to be no change despite paying a lot of money, further what happens to those who need help now?

 

The governments plan for a new "National Care Service"  are to be unveiled soon but is it really a tax on those who can afford it or a real benefit. 

 Questions.... how do those close to retirement pay the sums needed to meet the contributions for live time care? Will they be asked to pay a lump sum?

Regarding really21's comments on the payment of care home fees - I have to say that I have not heard of this twist on how local authorities "grab" money from residents and their families. My initial thoughts are that apart from this being grossly unfair - it is probably not the case and I would really check the source of this information.

 While I am not an expert, my sources of information do not show anything about relatives having to fund care, if residents own capital is below the limits. Can I recommend going to the links page on this site and contacting either Help the Aged or Age Concern for help, further assistance can also be gained from Counsel & Care - again see the link on the useful links page.

Sorry if it isn't much help but if anybody else has any ideas please let everybody know and please really21 could you update this site on the results of your questions.

regarding the funding for care homes re Silverfox & greywolf,We as a family have been floundering re care for relatives even older than ourselves.  My mother in law was a grafter worked hard all of her life, but has to pay her care home fees, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers 7 years ago by her then health authority and was in danger of being admitted to hospital, we were so appalled by the conditions that we moved her to a residential home closer to us, where she has never been assessed for her mental health although being treated with an alzheimers drug, at what stage does the governing authorities kick in with some financial assistance for her care.  If she had cancer, kidney failure or any other physical disease she would be eligable, £2800 per month is a lot when she has already paid tax all her life and still pays tax on her savings, it's not that we want her money, we have our own, but why should she have to pay when others that squandered their money receive the same treatment, but without paying. 

I am now informed that should my elderly relatives run out of funds, the family can be called on to fund their care if the relatives own funds exceed XXX amount. Who will care for our generation if this is the case, does anybody have any first hand info on this.

We see more and more stories in the media about the bad treatment of our elderly in hospitals and in care/nursing homes,  how they are ignored,  left without food or fluids, we hear about bad and down right filthy conditions,  a lack of care or dignity - why oh why??

Is it because the elderly do not complain like present generations? Is it because the new generation have lost that basic respect for old age and the more vunerable?  Is it more mundane and down to a lack of money? Or is it that as a nation we just doe not care anymore?

If we do not look after the vunerable in society then we are no longer a society that matters in this world.