§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy initiatives he plans concerning homes in Wales for the elderly mentally infirm.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettWe recognise the vulnerability of elderly people with mental infirmities and the need for adequate networks of care for them and of support for their families and friends who provide care.
Where it is no longer possible for an individual to stay in his or her own home, admission to residential, nursing home or hospital care should be a positive choice based on a full assessment of realistic alternatives. Such care should be in appropriately designed and staffed, locally based accommodation.
Our detailed policies and programme of action are set out in the Welsh Chapter of the White Paper "Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond" (Cm 849), in the guidance on social care plans published by the Welsh Office in September 1990 and in the all-Wales mental illness strategy published in May 1989. Copies of these documents are in the Library of the House.
These are being carried into effect through complementary county plans for mental illness services and social care more generally which are to be published by April 1992. Earmarked Welsh Office funds under the mental illness strategy, the elderly initiative and the new grant scheme to promote more flexible forms of community care for elderly people and those with physical or sensory disabilities are helping to develop the required patterns of local services.
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§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the Care Homes Association concerning the fees paid to care homes and to nursing homes.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettNone this year.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he will take to enable local authorities to top up payments to homes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntLocal authorities have the power to top up payments to independent sector residential homes in respect of people receiving the residential rate of income support who are under 65 or who continue in such care from the age of 65. From 1 April 1993, the Government intend that these arrangements will remain in place for those who continue in residential or nursing home care which they entered before that date.
For new residents of all ages from 1 April 1993 there will be new arrangements. Local authorities will manage a single unified budget to cover the costs of social care, whether in a person's own home or in a residential care or nursing home. People who enter homes under this new funding system and who need public financial support will no longer, therefore, have their care costs met by social security. The present rules on local authority topping up payments will, therefore, no longer apply to this group. In place of the present special income support limits, they will be able to claim help from the normal income support system of personal allowances and premiums, and from housing benefit. The financial incentives towards residential care under present income support rules will therefore be eliminated.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many residential homes for the elderly mentally infirm there are in each county in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe number of homes for elderly people as at 31 March 1990 is shown in the following table. Homes catering for elderly mentally infirm residents are included in these figures.
Local authority homes Private homes Voluntary homes Clwyd 20 151 5 Dyfed 29 68 2 Gwent 24 22 — Gwynedd 27 84 2 Mid Glamorgan 34 32 2 Powys 14 17 1 South Glamorgan 21 79 9 West Glamorgan 21 26 3 Wales 190 479 24