A Cornish woman was left without the support she needed after the council told her she could not pay her daughter to care for her, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman said. The unnamed woman, who has significant and complex needs, had been using her direct payments to pay her daughter to provide care for her. But Cornwall Council told the family this was not allowed because the daughter lived with her. The council said paid care could only be provided by a live-in family member in exceptional circumstances, where it could not be provided by an external agency. In this case, the council believed the mother’s care could be provided by an agency.
A review finds there were missed opportunities to help a pensioner in Cornwall who was murdered by her husband Picture from file: Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images A review has found that there were a number of “missed opportunities” to help a pensioner who was a victim of domestic abuse and murdered by her husband. The 88-year-old woman, identified as Margaret (not her real name), was found dead in her home in February 2017. Now a combined Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) and Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR) has been published into her death. This review found that there were a number of “missed opportunities” by various agencies involved in Margaret’s care. Cornwall Council has apologised to Margaret’s family.
Stock photo elderly care (Image: copyright free from pxhere.com) Cornwall councillors have called on the Government to provide immediate extra funding for adult social care and long-term reform. The council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee made the call when they considered the council’s budget plans for the coming year. Cornwall Council is set to add an extra 3 per cent onto council tax bills which will be used to fund adult social care in Cornwall. The extra precept has been allowed by the Government and will be on top of a proposed basic 1.99% increase in council tax.
CLINICALLY, extremely vulnerable residents are being reminded by Cornwall Council, NHS Kernow and Volunteer Cornwall that support is available with food shopping, medical prescriptions and mental health throughout the current lockdown. The government is writing to everyone who has a health condition which makes them clinically extremely vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 and who may have been shielding previously to stay at home as much as possible during this period of restrictions across England, except to go outdoors to exercise or to attend health appointments. They have been asked to work from home if possible and if they cannot work from home, they should not attend work. They may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme during the lockdown.