Care Fees For Leeds Elderly Set To Rise

Elderly people in Leeds face an increase in care fees. Social services chiefs in the city are considering a range of options which would boost the income raised by charges for services such as home care, day care and respite care by at least £2m a year.

Fees in Leeds are low when compared to many other authorities and Leeds City Council says it needs extra money to improve the quality of services offered.

Nearly 60 per cent of the 5,600 people who receive home care and day care currently pay nothing. Under the proposed changes and even with savings of up to £13,500, those people would continue to receive free services.

But councillors are worried a relatively small number of people could face hefty payouts.

Members of the council’s adult care scrutiny board – a watchdog body – spoke of their concerns after being presented with the hypothetical case of “Mrs K,” a woman with £20 a week retirement income, savings of £60,000 and receiving 40 hours of home care a week. She currently pays nothing but under any of the three options being considered would have to shell out £140 a week.

The board were told the council currently knew of only 11 people who would have to pay the maximum £140 a week. A further 289 people received a level of service sufficient to trigger weekly charges of £140, although what they would eventually pay was not yet clear.

Coun Clive Fox (Con, Adel and Wharfedale) said: “I am concerned about people like Mrs K.

“She has a net income of about £10,800 and we are suddenly going to take £7,000 of that income. Officers should do some work to consider that impact.”

Coun Ted Hanley (Lab ,Bramley) acknowledged the number affected might be quite small but added: “To suggest to people we are going to take so much of their income is incredible.”

He also argued that the public consultation into the proposed changes had been too narrow and there should have been more input from the wider population.

A report to the board said the consultation had included a series of briefings, events and drop-in sessions many of which were open to the public.

Coun Peter Harrand (Con, Alwoodley), executive member for adult care services, said no final decisions had been taken and all points raised during the public consultation would be considered.

The findings will help shape future income-raising proposals.