DISABLED people fear being forced out of their own homes and into residential care centres due to controversial council cuts.

About 2,000 residents with severe disabilities get round-the-clock care in Worcestershire – including home visits and 24-hour support for tasks like dressing, washing and feeding.

But the council says costs are too high and moving people into care homes will save it £500,000 over the next four years.

From now on, all new service users will be offered alternatives like living in care homes or ‘cluster’ flats, with oncall nursing.

The changes mean anyone currently receiving the package will be faced with the agonising decision to go into a home if their needs “escalate” and are deemed too expensive to maintain at home.

At-home support will be avoided unless families can contribute to the costs, or in cases where it is cheaper than a residential care home.

Worcestershire County Council cabinet chiefs voted through the proposals last week, despite bitter opposition.

Jacky Payton, co-chair of the Worcestershire Coalition for Independent Living, told councillors: “This has potential to restrict choice and goes against the ethos of independent living.

“It is difficult to see how it will not force people into residential care.”

The council say home care costs can run to £3,000 per person. The council’s community care package has cost taxpayers £11 million in the last six years alone.

Councillor Philip Gretton, adult social care chief, said: “The approach will be to compare, on an individual basis, the costs of meeting their needs in a residential setting against the costs of meeting it in the community.

“This will allow a discussion about how their needs could be met in the community in a way that is comparable.”

An “exceptional circumstances”

clause will allow some new users to get 24-hour care.

  • Are you affected? Call us on 01905 742246.