08/02/06 Free care policy 'should be extended to sick'
FREE personal care for the elderly is an "ageist" policy which should be extended to cover people suffering from conditions like dementia, MSPs were told yesterday.
Representatives from Carers Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland told Holyrood's health committee that the scheme - which costs £140 million a year to help older people with washing, dressing and grooming - should be extended. In a written submission to the committee, Carers Scotland - which represents people who look after family, partners or friends because they are ill or have a disability - called for the policy to cover other services, such as day care, lunch clubs and meals on wheels.
The group said: "It is essential that free personal care for older people is not seen in isolation but instead is part of the wider health and social care agenda. We would therefore suggest extension beyond its original remit to include quality of life services."
In a similar plea, the Alzheimer Scotland charity told the committee that "people with dementia and their families should be entitled to free personal care in the same way that people with other illnesses are entitled to free medical care".
From (thescotsman.scotsman.com)