New day care prices ‘punish pensioners for council’s crisis’

THE city council was today accused of punishing pensioners for its own cash crisis after it doubled the price that it charges pensioners for day care.

A new pricing structure for day care – where elderly people take part in activities and are fed at a council care centre – came into force this week.

It means that the 1,500 people who use the council service in Edinburgh will have to pay £5.50 for each four-hour session that they attend, compared with £2.80 previously.

Elderly groups and opposition councillors say that the increase in charges will result in far fewer people using the service.

But the city council insists that the new price still represents “value for money”.

Nick Waugh, a policy officer at Age Scotland, said: “Quite a lot of services like day care have become a lot more expensive as council budgets have become squeezed.

“We are concerned that the people who are being punished are the most vulnerable people who have done nothing to cause the financial crisis.”

Letters were sent out to people who use the service last week.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, health and social care spokeswoman for the Labour group on the city council, said:

“It is outrageous that they expect elderly people to come up with that kind of money.

“A lot of people will have to think about whether they can afford this. And if they do still go, they might need to save the money somewhere else.”

But the Conservative group on the council supported the rise in day care prices. Cameron Rose, its finance spokesman, said: “Although I appreciate that it will have an impact on people, I think that the new charges reflect the true cost more.”

The price rise was part of a raft of measures approved by councillors in February as part of the council’s 2010/11 budget. The council said it has invested an extra £870,000 in day care services over the last two years, while new day care services have been launched in the last year at Canalside and North Merchiston. Another new centre is also planned at Drumbrae.

A council spokesman said: “Our revised charges are part of our plan to standardise day care charges across the city.”

‘Some won’t be able to afford it’

MARY Bell has been attending a day care club close to Easter Road Stadium for two years. The 86-year-old, from Warriston, said the weekly visits to the Portlee Resource Centre give her and the other 100 or so pensioners who attend the chance to get out of the house and speak to people.

But she said that she might not be able to afford the visits now that she is facing a doubling of the price. It is going to have a big impact,” she said. “This is often the only time that some of the people meet other people.

“It is a shame that they are charging them more. Some won’t be able to afford it.

“It is a wonderful service. They give you a nice meal. It is a great thing they do but some people will not be able to go now.”

Your Say: Should the elderly be made to pay more for day care?

Kathleen Green, 68, retired Newtongrange: “If you’re going every day I don’t think pensioners would have the money to pay for it.”

Tom Loughray, 73, retire, Muirhouse Gardens: “I don’t think the council should be charging the most vulnerable people.”

Jim Taylor, 57, taxi driver, The Murrays Brae: “No, it should be free. Why are we taxing our elderly? We have been taxing them all their lives and now we’re taxing them again.”