Council Care for those who need it most

Recent figures which suggest that the number of Council funded care home places in the district is among the lowest in the country only tell part of the story

Issued on 4 March 2010

Joe Mooney, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Community Care said: "It is right that where people can afford to pay for their care that they should do so. Many older people in areas such as West Berkshire will be in a position to fund their own care, far more so than in other parts of the country.

"The Council implements national guidance on charging for residential care. We also have excellent performance ratings for working with older people to help them to remain in their own homes. This is usually better for residents who prefer not to have to leave their property and at the same time reduces the need for care home places.

"We have limited resources and in the face of an increasing number of residents who require some level of care, we have to make sure that we help those who need it most."