People in Shropshire are facing debts of up to £50,000 to pay for the care of elderly relatives, it has been claimed.

The huge financial burden was revealed at a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Senior Citizens’ Forum where it was also claimed that elderly people in Telford are also worried about the treatment they will get when they or their elderly family members do eventually in residential homes.

It follows undercover television investigations which revealed appalling neglect elsewhere in the country, the meeting in Oakengates was told yesterday.

But Telford & Wrekin Council has promised to do what it can to reduce the financial burden on pensioners and their children and it may soon introduce a lay visitor scheme to ensure care homes come up to scratch.

The burning issue attracted more than 200 people to the forum and sparked lively questioning from the Oakengates Theatre audience.

Forum chairman Martin Brookes said: “How long will we live? And will the money last? That’s the question facing all of us.”

He added: “If you have to sell an elderly parent’s home and the sale doesn’t go through and the care fees are therefore not being paid, some local authorities are charging horrendous interest rates on loans.

“People are facing debts of £40,000 to £50,000 to pay for the care of a relative who is now deceased.”

Jan Evans, from the adult and consumer care finance team at Telford & Wrekin Council, said, unlike many councils, the borough offered a deferred payment scheme – effectively an interest-free loan – to help avoid the debt trap.

Richard Webb, the council’s director of adult and consumer care, promised everyone would be given a personal budget, funded by the council and/or their own resources, with more individual control on how this money is used.

He said care providers were chosen on quality as well as price and a lay visitor checking scheme may also be introduced.

By Peter Johnson