Department of Health social care finance chief John Bolton has said that evidence suggests personal budgets are more cost-effective than traditionally commissioned care, David Brindle reports in The Guardian today.
Southampton Council has become the latest authority to announce proposed cuts to adult care services, according to a report in today's Southern Daily Echo.
This follows news of proposed reductions in York and Cambridgeshire.
Neil Hunt is to step down as chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society after seven years in the job.
Hunt, who used to work in social care and is a former NSPCC director of child protection, played a key role in the development of the national dementa strategy for England and for putting dementia on the map across the UK.
A parent of a former resident of Orchard Hill in Sutton, Surrey, - the last long-stay hospital for people with learning disabilities - has raised concerns about his care in the supported living scheme he and other former residents were moved into.
The trial of a nursing home manager for the alleged murder of two residents started yesterday. Rachel Baker is accused of giving Frances Hay, 85, and Lucy Cox, 97, fatal overdoses at the Parkfields nursing home in Glastonbury, Somerset, in 2006-7.
Further concerns have emerged today over the health and social care systems' treatment of people who have lost or are losing mental capacity in charity Counsel and Care's annual review of calls to its advice service, published today.
The latest stage of the Personal Care at Home Bill takes place in the House of Lords on February 1.
Today care minister Phil Hope is expected to announce the government's long awaited response to its consultation on No Secrets, adult safeguarding guidance.
He is expected to announce three key components aiming to strengthen safeguarding procedures.
The Guardian is reporting that 1.7m pensioners will miss out on cold
weather payments to help them with their heating bills during the
present cold weather.Researchers in the US have found that a drug commonly used to treat blood pressure may also treat or prevent Alzheimer's.Durham County Council is planning on closing up to 12 of its local
authority run care homes. It says this is due to fewer people
wanting to live in residential care.The Department of Health yesterday published a summary of responses to its consultation on an autism strategy for adults. Over 1,100 people responded and the report reveals strong support for fundamental change to the way services are commissioned and delivered for people with autism.
Chat show host turned dignity ambassador Michael Parkinson has reported on his year in the latter role today. His report seeks to highlight what he terms "the good, the bad and the ugly" in the social care and health systems' treatment of older people.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's announcement today that the party had dropped free personal care as a firm manifesto commitment for the next Parliamentary session is more than it appears.Northamptonshire Council has come under fire after an older couple - a disabled woman and her husband/carer - were found dead in their freezing home. The case has prompted calls for an inquiry after it emerged that local MP Sally Keble contacted the council before Christmas calling on social services to visit Jean and Derek Randall and carry out an assessment.
Scientists in the US are claiming that the radiation from mobile phones may help to prevent Alzheimer's after it was found to reverse one of the causes of memory loss in mice.With the exception of snow and travel chaos, the big story hitting the headlines today is around the the inappropriate tube feeding of people approaching the end of their lives who have swallowing difficulties, often because of dementia.
A working party report published by the Royal College of Physicians states that 'nil by mouth' tube feeding should be a last resort and decisions about nutrition should "never be based on the convenience of staff or carers".
Crucially, it adds that artificial feeding should never be used as a criterion for admission into any setting providing care.Book burning is more often reserved for political demonstrations, but
this winter pensioners are resorting to raiding local charity shops for
hardbacks to heat their homes, The Metro reports.Unbelievably, while those of us at the Community Care office were enjoying the company of family and the warming sensation of a mince pie, the cogs of the social care world continued to turn. Therefore there were a few stories which we have not yet been able to bring you, so here's a summary.The Adult Care blog looks behind the policies, practices and personalities involved in the care of older and disabled people for any hidden truths, helpful tips or humour. It is written by Community Care’s adults’ services beat editor Mithran Samuel. |
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