Richmond Council is encouraging vulnerable people to apply for home care with a campaign to raise awareness of the generous benefits available for people in need.

Vulnerable people with savings of less than £30,000 are eligible for help with vital services in their homes. The savings limit is among the most generous in the country and 50% higher than the London average.

Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Social Services, Cllr Jane Boulton, said: "Home care is a vital service for many of our borough's vulnerable residents. And I don't believe those who need it should be denied simply because they have worked hard for years and managed to put a small nest egg aside.

"We are not talking about the very rich here who could afford to pay without making sacrifices. We are talking about people with modest savings who need home care."

In most London borough's, service users start to pay the full cost for home care from the level of £20,000 in savings. With the limit set at £30,000, it makes home care and a better quality of life available to hundreds more residents, says Cllr Boulton.

The homecare service is one of the most flexible support services provided by the council. Care-workers visit clients' homes and offer assistance with personal care, such as dressing and bathing. They also help with cleaning, cooking, shopping, laundry and other services.

The charging system for homecare is based on Government guidelines and all clients who have savings of less than £30,000 complete a financial assessment to determine the percentage they pay for services.

For more information about the homecare service, call the local Social Services teams:

For those living in Kew, Richmond, Mortlake, Sheen, Barnes, Petersham or Ham the phone number is 020 8891 7967.

Residents living in Whitton, Twickenham, St Margaret's or Hampton Wick, should call 020 8891 7971.

For people living in Teddington, Hampton, Hampton Hill or Hampton Wick the number is 020 8891 7971.

Friday, October 22, 2004

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