Threat of £100 charge for Shropshire day care
Hundreds of vulnerable people using council-run day care centres across Shropshire could be forced to pay up to £100 for each visit, a new report revealed today.
Up to 700 vulnerable and elderly adults could face financial assessments to establish how much of a new daily attendance charge and transport costs they will have to pay.
People who have savings of £23,250 or more will be required to pay the full charge for each day they attend – anything from £34 to £97 depending on the day care centre, under plans being considered by Shropshire Council.
Daily transport charges, depending on how close a person lives to a centre, will range from £4.50 to £9 if the council's cabinet approve it next week.
It means someone with learning disabilities attending the £97-per-day Aquamira Day Care Centre in Shrewsbury, from more than 10 miles away could end up paying £106 for a single day. If accepted, the charges will apply from November 19.
Stephen Chandler, Shropshire Council's assistant director of adult social care, said: "We have this anomaly in Shropshire where people who attend council day centres are not asked to make a contribution towards the cost of their care – and that is unique in this region and in non-council-run services."
