Older people are missing out on the support provided by independent, trusted, holistic information and advice services because of underfunding or cuts in funding to these services.
In the past twelve months, Age Concerns’ information and advice services around the country have collectively put £100 million extra in older people’s pockets but are under constant threat from underfunding.
How has this extra £100 million been achieved?
I&A services remove barriers to claiming e.g. through form filling and home visits as well as telephone advice.
The focus is on the person – advisers identify not only the presenting issue but other factors which are affecting each person. For example, the presenting issue may be housing related or the need for help in their own home but I&A services put together a package of applying for benefits and signposting to services with the older person and/or carer to meet their needs.
What is the impact of the extra money on older people’s quality of life?
They have more money to cover essentials such as food, fuel and clothes.
It helps those with disabilities or chronic health conditions to continue to live in their own homes with support.
It also tackles depression and frustration arising from health conditions and isolation by enabling some older people:
to become mobile, for example, to do their shopping.
to renew their social life through visits to friends, family and attending clubs and social events.
to treat those who help them so that they feel they have a reciprocal rather than a dependent relationship.
So what’s the problem?
More older people are becoming harder to reach solely because there is no funding for services that reach them.
When cuts are made the most valued services, which are labour intensive, are reduced – form filling, home visits and outreach.
Services are operating under increased pressure because of rising demand and the increased complexity of the cases dealt with.
90% of Age Concerns say their I&A funding, especially benefits advice, is precarious or that they are underfunded for what they do.
A majority say they have experienced funding cuts in the past twelve months.
Some services are being maintained only on the basis of the organisations’ fundraising or reserves reducing money available for other services.
There is a particular problem of information and advice ‘deserts’ in rural areas.
What do we want?
There should be a cross-government strategy to ensure the provision of independent, trusted information and advice services to support older people wherever they live.
Link to the Age Concern 'Price of No Advice' webpage
Contact Age Concern Colchester
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