Extra home care staff to be recruited

Published on 28/07/2012 00:00

ALMOST 40 extra permanent staff are to be recruited, at a cost of about £1 million, to cope with “unprecedented” demand for home care for the elderly in Aberdeen.

The city council’s urgent business committee approved the recruitment of the extra staff yesterday, after being told 56 elderly people, with a high level of need, were waiting for care at home.

Liz Taylor, the head of service for older people and rehabilitation, said: “There is an increasing demand for care at home, from a continuing shift from care homes to care in people’s own home, and from increasing numbers of older people with complex care needs requiring a service.

“This is an unprecedented situation. The lack of care is increasing the risk of harm and further loss of independence and of emergency admission to hospital or a care home.”