“Ferocious cuts” to home care and community services mean many older people are forced to sacrifice their dignity, says Age UK, which is urging Southampton residents to support its Don't Cut Care petition.

The charity's petition calls on government to invest urgently in community care for older people.

It says day-to-day tasks that many of us take for granted – like getting dressed, using the toilet, making a meal, or getting to the shops – can be almost impossible for many older people without help. Older people should be able to live well, not just survive, and the right care and support can help them do this, it says.

‘Many older people are sacrificing their dignity because they can’t get the support they need’

But the charity claims more than a million older people are left to struggle by each day without any support – a number it says is growing all the time.

“This is a silent disgrace that is being repeated up and down the country, in each town and city, on every street,” says Age Uk Southampton.

“Ferocious cuts to funding for care at home mean that many older people are sacrificing their dignity because they can’t get the support they need. This is because unlike your GP or local hospital, services to help people stay safe and independent at home are mainly arranged by local councils, whose budgets have been severely cut.”

Peter Bennie, Chief Officer at Age UK Southampton said that the Spending Review on November 25 offered a “great opportunity for the government to begin to address it and a million older people need them to take urgent action”.

“We need to create a big noise to make sure the Government listens to our concerns and takes action now. Please help us secure good care for older people now and in the future by signing our Don’t Cut Care petition,” he said.

Links
Age UK's 'Don't Cut Care' petition