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Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern‚ said:

“These new statistics confirm what older people have been telling us. Fewer and fewer vulnerable older people are getting the care that they need at home.

“Cutbacks on services such as home care‚ community meals and day-care are only a short-term saving. Neglecting older peoples’ health needs today will cause more severe health problems and result in higher costs tomorrow.

“We welcome the rise in the number of older people receiving direct payments as it increases patient choice. However the numbers receiving these payments are still extremely small and more needs to be done to raise awareness and take-up of these payments.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The number of older people receiving home care has decreased from 493‚000 in 2003-4 to 489‚000 in 2005-6
• Those receiving community meals declined from 186‚000 to 155‚000 over the same period