Elderly care '˜crisis' looming over Living Wage

Homecare for elderly people in Scotland could be plunged into 'crisis' amid concerns over a funding black hole, industry leaders have warned. They say the new living wage will threaten services and could even see some operators go under.

Homecare for elderly could be plunged into 'crisis' over new living wage.

Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care fears that the implementation of the new Living Wage may result in “drastic unintended consequences”

Councils are now being urged to sign up to a ‘compliant’ rate for homecare services of £19.03 per hour, based on a model developed by the UK Homecare Association.

“We need to move away from a drive to the bottom on price in homecare and recognise how damaging that approach is for both care services and the people who access them,” Dr MacAskill added.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Government is committed to shifting health spending in to community care services.

She added; “This year we have allocated a further £250 million from the NHS to integration authorities to protect and grow our social care services and deliver our shared priorities, including paying care workers supporting vulnerable adults the Living Wage.”