By Citizen editor Ian Mean
A happy New Year to all Citizen readers - thank you for your support and loyalty.
Your Citizen stories are being read by more people than ever before now that our online offering on thisisgloucestershire.oc.u.uk - giving you coverage of all the county's stories round the clock-continues to grow in popularity.
Looking into 2013, I feel that we all need to show that we care a little more for those in our communities less fortunate than ourselves.
I am thinking, particularly, of our older people.
And I totally support the thoughts of our care minister, Norman Lamb in the Daily Telegraph today where he says that Britain has become a "neglectful society". A place where the elderly are driven into care homes unnecessarily because they lack support from their families and communities.
He claims that many older people were being let down by their friends and neighbours who should help them to live independently at home.
I totally agree with him. What do you think?
I have called this challenge of looking after the rising number of elderly people in Gloucestershire, the county's "ticking time bomb". That is not an exaggeration.
We are a relatively small county of just under 600 000 people and are a net importer of older people because this county of ours is so popular with the elderly for their last place to live.
But the county council just cannot afford to support those rising costs—particularly of care home places. That is why it is vital that this government implements the Dilnot report proposals on the future care of the elderly and not leave it in the drawer for the next government.
Throughout this year, The Citizen will be seeking to champion the care of our older people, many of whom are unfortunately ignored by their families and the system.
We should be proud to look after our older people- just as they generally do in Europe. And government and our local authorities must elevate this ticking time bomb to the top of their agendas for 2013.
Email us your thoughts at citizen.news@glosmedia.co.uk
A happy New Year to all Citizen readers - thank you for your support and loyalty.
Your Citizen stories are being read by more people than ever before now that our online offering on thisisgloucestershire.oc.u.uk - giving you coverage of all the county's stories round the clock-continues to grow in popularity.
Looking into 2013, I feel that we all need to show that we care a little more for those in our communities less fortunate than ourselves.
I am thinking, particularly, of our older people.
And I totally support the thoughts of our care minister, Norman Lamb in the Daily Telegraph today where he says that Britain has become a "neglectful society". A place where the elderly are driven into care homes unnecessarily because they lack support from their families and communities.
He claims that many older people were being let down by their friends and neighbours who should help them to live independently at home.
I totally agree with him. What do you think?
I have called this challenge of looking after the rising number of elderly people in Gloucestershire, the county's "ticking time bomb". That is not an exaggeration.
We are a relatively small county of just under 600 000 people and are a net importer of older people because this county of ours is so popular with the elderly for their last place to live.
But the county council just cannot afford to support those rising costs—particularly of care home places. That is why it is vital that this government implements the Dilnot report proposals on the future care of the elderly and not leave it in the drawer for the next government.
Throughout this year, The Citizen will be seeking to champion the care of our older people, many of whom are unfortunately ignored by their families and the system.
We should be proud to look after our older people- just as they generally do in Europe. And government and our local authorities must elevate this ticking time bomb to the top of their agendas for 2013.
Email us your thoughts at citizen.news@glosmedia.co.uk