Home Help Disgrace

A blind 98-year-old has had his council home help withdrawn because cash is to be focused on “the most vulnerable and at risk”. George MacDonald, who lives in sheltered housing at Haugh Court, Inverness, was registered blind 15 years ago, had a stroke 12 years ago and has suffered poor health since he was hit by a car in Union Street seven years ago.

But he has now been told that, following assessment, he no longer meets the criteria for a Highland Council home help.

“I just don’t understand this,” he said. “I have had three home helps in the last 10 years — Morag, Kathleen and Doreen, every one a gem. They came in every Monday and Friday to tidy up and hoover. They would read and write for me as I am no longer up to that. They were my social life, my contact with the outside world, because I no longer get out as much as I used to.”

The bombshell came during a visit by Joan Ross, a council senior home care officer, last month. She explained that the council’s policy was to focus resources “on those who are most vulnerable and at risk” and he did not come into that category.

In a later letter to Mr MacDonald she stated: “The care at home services can only carry out personal and or domestic care tasks when failure to do so is likely to result in a significant increased risk of admission to hospital or residential care or will prevent someone leaving that care to return home. I have assessed that, although you experience some difficulty in carrying out the following tasks — domestic — this assistance does not meet the eligibility criteria.”

Mr MacDonald was shocked by the decision and felt let down. “I am really not fit to do housework,” he said. “All my life I have paid my taxes and I have given service to my country in the Navy. I sometimes wonder what the council does with our money.”

Sheila MacKay, of the Highland Senior Citizens’ Network, described Mr MacDonald’s situation as an outrage and was concerned it may not be an isolated case. “If Mr MacDonald is not vulnerable, who is?” she asked. “In this particular case, which affects a 98-year-old gentleman, the withdrawal of the council home care service which has enabled him to live independently is an absolute disgrace. We wonder just how many cases like George MacDonald’s there are. The Highland Senior Citizens’ Network would like to know about them.”

A local authority spokeswoman explained that, as part of its on-going management of personal care, it carried out reviews and assessments on what services it provided for elderly people. “When cases are reviewed it is sometimes necessary to make changes to the services we provide based on an individual eligibility, which is measured against national and our own criteria,” she said. “If any one is not happy with a decision made, we advise them to contact their area community care manager.” She added that Mr MacDonald’s case had been reviewed against both national and local criteria.

The cuts come against a background of cuts to the social work budget. The council’s Inverness Area is predicting a year-end deficit of £140,000 for its own care services and £387,000 for services purchased from the independent sector.