Dudley elderly face rise in day care costs
Elderly people may be forced to pay more for services such as home visits, day care and luncheon clubs under cutbacks planned by Dudley Council.
The authority currently has £5.3 million contracts for preventative care and support services. But some of these face being slashed as part of budget cuts.
Age Concern Stourbridge and Halesowen is among 65 organisations which could be hit.
The group receives around £216,000 in funding each year to provide its services but will now have to re-tender for funding over the next 18 months.
People using The Elton Centre, in Stourbridge, Halesowen Day Centre in Green Lane, and a day care centre at Stourbridge's Mary Stevens resource Centre, currently pay around £8.50 a day.
The fees goes towards luncheon clubs and day care activities.
Charity bosses say this is less than other similar organisations in the area which can charge around £25.
Dudley Council says it will need to make funding cuts to the voluntary and community sectors through its contracts known as service level agreements.
But bosses today vowed to ensure this happens without reducing front line services.
Age Concern chairman Ken Turner said the group did not want to have to face putting up prices for users but was worried about what the future may hold.
"It leaves a great deal of uncertainty as we are unsure about how much of the money will we continue to receive," he said.
"It will be hard for organisations like ours to plan. We don't want to ask people for more money."
Councillor Dave Branwood, who is in charge of adult social care, said talks were ongoing with organisations and no final decision had been made at this stage.
"The amount of funding from central government to Councils (Revenue Support Grant) decreases significantly over the coming financial years," he said.
"The council will need to carefully look at funding to some organisations as we make sure that the services we have meet the needs for local people.
"Before any decisions are made we will be working with local groups and speaking to people to look at the potential impact on the service providers.
"As a community council we want to make sure that local people have a say in how services are run wherever possible.
"Also, the Care Act requires the council to ensure the quality of its support and consider any impact on the financial arrangements of these organisations."
