Councils' axe condemns elderly to loneliness
Friday 28 December 2012
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EmailOlder people face living out the last years of their lives alone because austerity-stricken local authorities are axing services, charity Age UK warned today.
It said the number of older people using day-care centres in England has fallen by nearly a quarter in three years and blamed coalition cuts for the crash.
It warned that thousands of older people faced "the prospect of living out their last years in loneliness" despite government claims that there's enough cash to protect services.
Lunch clubs, exercise classes, hairdressing, podiatry, social activities and respite care services are all falling victim to the Con-Dem cuts obsession.
Age UK said council spending had been reduced, charges increased and eligibility criteria tightened.
The charity claimed council spending on the sector had dropped by £500 million in real terms between 2011-12.
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