Since April, a council in East London has assumed responsibility for funding home care services for its residents. How has this initiative fared?
Fifteen years ago, Sam van Rood suffered a stroke, and his wife took on the role of caregiver. However, last year, he began receiving assistance from council-funded carers.
In an interview with BBC Politics London, he remarked, “The support I get has been life-changing. Someone visits almost daily to help me with basic tasks like getting dressed and preparing to go out. It’s all about fostering independence for individuals.”
Throughout the UK, local councils typically cover home care expenses for individuals with savings below £23,250. Yet, Tower Hamlets Council made the decision last year to provide this service at no cost.
This support is offered within residents’ homes and includes a range of adult social care services from personal assistance to practical daily help. However, it does not extend to nursing homes or residential care.
As of now, the council estimates that this initiative, which costs around £4.9 million annually, has benefited approximately 1,300 residents, making it the second council in the UK to provide similar support after Hammersmith and Fulham.
Fleur Anderson, the Labour MP representing Putney, expressed her concerns about Tower Hamlets’ capacity to effectively implement the home care program.
A council spokesperson indicated that the funding comes from “careful financial management,” achieved by “reducing waste” and “redistributing resources from affluent areas of the borough like Canary Wharf.”
The council is led by Aspire, a local political party founded by Mayor Lutfur Rahman, who stated, “Our goal is to assist the most vulnerable, unwell, and isolated individuals in our communities.”
He further explained, “[The initiative] aims to support people as early as possible to avoid creating a larger burden on the council, the state, and the NHS later in life.”
The mayor asserted that the council manages its finances “very effectively” and is a “fiscally responsible council” that has “always maintained a balanced budget,” emphasizing that this is a high priority for them to aid those in need.
“The funding is available, and we also have a healthy reserve,” he added.
Andrew Boff, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, commended the intentions behind the program but noted that not all councils in London have the financial capability to offer such services.
“Local authorities need to be empowered to innovate and provide what their residents require,” Boff remarked. “It’s difficult to find fault with an initiative that cares for vulnerable elderly individuals.”
He highlighted the need to lower costs for local authorities since adult social care is straining government finances and is becoming a significant issue.
Additionally, the council is testing a complimentary meals-on-wheels service, anticipated to cost £3 million and currently serving around 80 individuals.
Cornelia McCarthy, 63, is one of the recipients. She shared, “It means the world to me, and the food is delicious.”
This service is set to expand later this year.
