Crisis Claims In Fife Social Services
Claims have been made that social services in Fife are in crisis over changes to the home care policy.
{mosimage}The local authority is planning to introduce massive rises in the amount it charges people who need carers. It has frozen all new claims and many people have said they have been left in a state of limbo. Others have said they can no longer afford to have carers. Fife Council said the changes, which come into affect after Christmas, are needed to meet a budget shortfall.
But a group of people who are affected by the changes have formed a campaign group to try to convince the council to reverse its decision over the price increases.
Campaign Against Charges has said many elderly people or those with disabilities will have to choose between having carers in their homes or paying fuel bills.
The carers carry out duties such as washing or bathing a person, helping them in and out of bed or carrying out household chores.
For some people, the cost of the service is increasing from £4 per week to £8,000 per year.
Tom and Agnes Robson from Lochgelly, both in their 70s, act as carers for their daughter Marie who has special needs and needs round the clock care.
In July, Marie signed a tenancy agreement with a local housing association on a specially adapted house.
But the freeze on new care packages has meant she has been unable to move into the property, which has since stood empty.
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