Avoiding ‘flying’ care visits

The charity Leonard Cheshire Disability has published a new report which concludes short care visits to elderly and disabled people are “disgraceful” and on the rise.

They found that 60% of local authorities in England now use 15 minute visits.

Leonard Cheshire Disability concluded that this is not long enough to provide adequate care.

They raised concerns that such flying care visits would “force disabled people to choose whether to go thirsty or to go to the toilet”.

While the new Care Bill going through parliament currently would prevent “inappropriate” short visits, it would allow these 15 minute flying care visits to continue.

These ‘whistle stop care’ visits appear to be on the rise. Leonard Cheshire Disability found that such visits had risen by 15% over the past five years.

In respect of some local authorities, over 75% of care visits lasted 15 minutes or less.

A couple of years ago I wrote about how 70% of over-55s do not believe they should have to pay for the cost of care in later life.

This is an opinion I completely respect; hard working people should not face financially devastating care costs in later life, having contributed to society for so long.

However, the downside of relying on local authority funded care is becoming subject to budget constraints and 15 minute (or shorter) flying care visits.

Paying privately for long-term care might seem unpalatable, particularly with such high costs involved, but it can often make the difference between an acceptable and unacceptable standard of care in later life.

Do speak to us if you or a relative needs professional independent financial advice on funding the cost of long term care.

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