An article described the range of arrangements being used by local authorities to commission domiciliary care, and the different implications of contract choices.
Source: Julien Forder et al., 'Prices, contracts and motivations: institutional arrangements in domiciliary care', Policy & Politics Volume 32 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Apr
Research found that older people who needed care at home were not being protected by 'fairer charging' guidelines introduced by the government in 2003. Some older people had suffered a dramatic increase in costs; and an unjust postcode lottery was at work, with some local authorities not charging at all and others charging from 3.50 to 15.50 an hour.
Source: Pauline Thompson and Dinah Mathew, Fair Enough?, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Age Concern press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
A report said that government guidance on fairer charging for home care was not working. Many disabled and older people had to pay from their benefits for essential services they were assessed as needing, and were left with no choice but to reduce the level of service they received.
Source: Richard Holmes and Kate McMullen, The Costs of Care: The impact of the fairer charging policy on disabled and older people and their carers in England, Coalition on Charging, c/o Disability Alliance (020 7247 8776)
Links: Report (pdf) | Disability Alliance press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan