Free Care for the elderly in Scotland

[golach]

Well if you are a Senior Citizen and voted for Wee Fat Eck and his Tartan Tories AKA Alex Salmond and his Nationalist Party look what they have done to you.
We got this right of free care from the Labour Government and now Nicola Stugeon sees no need to comment on this ruling from the High Court.
When the last Governement awarded this right to us elderly, it was to have Free Care For All, not just when they felt like it. Yes reap what ye have sown. [disgust]
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1662422007 (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1662422007)

[Angela]

Well if you are a Senior Citizen and voted for Wee Fat Eck and his Tartan Tories look what they have done to you.
We got this right of free care from the Labour Government and now Nicola Stugeon sees no need to comment on this ruling from the High Court.
When the last Governement awarded this right to us elderly, it was to have Free Care For All, not just when they felt like it. Yes reap what ye have sown.
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1662422007 (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1662422007)

golach, with respect, I for one feel you would be more persuasive if you referred to Alex Salmond by his name! What on earth has the man's height and physique got to do with anything.:roll:
I am disappointed that the Scottish Government were not represented in court, to clarify policies on this very important issue.
However, as far as I can see, nothing has changed. This was an instance of an elderly gentleman's care being arranged without a care needs assessment being made or a contract being put in place with the local authority.
It would have been a nice gesture if Argyll and Bute Council had seen fit to reimburse Mr McLachlan, the gentleman's son, for the payments he made for his father's care, but in the circumstances they weren't obliged to do so.
I know from my own experience that this was the case, when we still had a Labour administration in Scotland. People could (and presumably still can) quite often be stranded in hospital for a long time awaiting the necessary assessments to be made and paperwork to be completed so that care arrangements can be put in place. If you decided to go home before that was done, you, or your family, would foot the bill. :(

[peter macdonald]

Golach lets be honest here total care for the elderly was NEVER free in Scotland unless you had under the 18000 pounds threshold .. That is why under the previous admin a good friend of mine (a desert rat (even got his picture taken with Churchill)) who worked all his life and was staunch labour voter had to sell his house to pay for his care Criminal I agree ..but from all parties

[Rheghead]

In the SNP's defence, free elderly care for all isn't really financially possible anywhere without substantial tax increases and further cuts in public spending in other areas.

[peter macdonald]

Rheghead that is exactly true With the thresholds set as they are I wonder how many folk ever qualified for "free" care
PM

[Angela]

In the SNP's defence, free elderly care for all isn't really financially possible anywhere without substantial tax increases and further cuts in public spending in other areas.

I agree, Rheghead, it never was, unfortunately, but it was a vote winner I'm sure.

What I would most like to see is more money for the carers who are looking after their sick and disabled relations of all ages. Their contribution to society is not adequately recompensed, and they are often living in poverty as a result. :(

[brandy]

throwing a spanner in here .. *grins* but seriously.. at least in this country you can get care.. if you dont have money..
bush has just veto'd a bill that both parties democrat and republic.. fully endorsed.. that would see all children getting medical care..
it was to be that children of parents that made too much for medicaid but not enough for private insurance would be able to get proper medical treatment.. but even after it passed with approval all around.. americas mighty leader.. over ruled it.. saying that he did not want america to end up a federalised medical state. and that he wanted everyone to have private medical insurance.. good for those that can afford it ... but not for the average person!

[Errogie]

Don't forget that the whole reason this has come up is because the legislation created by the last government was incompetently drafted.

But then what can you expect from a party that has presided over the release of the foot and mouth virus, refuses to own up and pay for the consequences and can't even organise a dental service? They used to boast "Labour works" I don't think!

[scorrie]

Rheghead that is exactly true With the thresholds set as they are I wonder how many folk ever qualified for "free" care
PM

My Father qualified for "free" care during his brief stay at a care home. Of course, they took all his weekly pension, bar around £19, to help fund the care. The Council made up the rest of the incredible weekly charge, which was in excess of £500!!

The system IS unfair though. If you make savings and investments during life, you are expected to cough up at least some of the cost. If, however, you spent every penny, you get pension credit and other benefits to make up for your lack of financial investment. My Dad had a couple of small works pensions and every time they increased, his pension credit decreased in response, meaning that the pensions were, effectively, worth nothing to him.