Old people having to sell home to pay for care is discrimination and ageism

merlotgran, The standard of care in general in this country has been a disgrace since Thatcher who started to private everything.

We are talking over 30 years here folks, and not "at the moment".

Sel, ""Ivanhoe you're throwing your toys out of the pram with that comment to Ana Shame on you. Abolish the welfare state? People working for nothing? How did you come up with that idea?""""

Because all we hear on the media is about the deficit. People have been brainwashed.

If the deficit is so important, the people on the receiving end of the cuts cant be.

So, lets go the whole hog, and maybe this will please everybody brainwashed by the deficit.

I agree but please let's have some decent care? It's the least you deserve after a lifetime of hardwork and saving. Don't hold your breath though. The standard of care at the moment is, at times, horrific.

Nellie

So very well put. I hadn't thought of putting that point over so succinctly.

Brilliant.

I wish the media etc etc would stop using the phrase Selling your home to pay for care.

They should be saying selling their former home to pay for residential care!

The home only has to be sold to pay for permanent residential care. That is selling their former home or their childrens inheritance or what ever you want to call it.
I am sure the loose use of that phrase must put the fear of God into some elderly people who think that getting homecare will mean that the value of their home will be regarded as capital.

Please Media etc. Say "selling their former home to pay for residential care!"

Temper, temper Ivanhoe!

Ivanhoe you're throwing your toys out of the pram with that comment to Ana Shame on you. Abolish the welfare state? People working for nothing? How did you come up with that idea?

Ivanhoe you're priceless I have a private pension, totally self funded. I also have a state pension which is about £173 pw. I also have another pension which I have yet to draw, again, totally self funded but tax efficient. I chose to make provision for my old age. I was part of the 'working population' - most are. We can't expect the state to take care of us, we're baby boomers - it was apparent years ago that that idea was unsustainable. I believe somewhere you said you were 63? Have you really reached that age thinking the way you do?

Ivanhoe

I thought that's what you thought the Tory's had done already.

Jane

Ana, okay. This is what I suggest to get rid of our dept.

Remove the welfare State completely. And abolish the State pension.

And make people work for nothing.

How's that. ?

B----r it Ivanhoe you have hooked me in again.

Are you one of these Trade Union apprentices we have heard about.

Ivanhoe
"Yes Ana, taxes and NI contributions would have to be increased, and a greater amount of GNP spent "

Is it not the case that our current difficulties are due to our spending more than our GNP?
How would getting even further into debt help anyone?

Oh! I've just remembered! It's nothing to do with the profligate Labour Government at all! It's all Baroness Thatcher's fault!

I'll just repeat Sel's question as Ivanhoe hasn't deemed it worthy of a response:

'Ivanhoe GNP? What is your plan to increase this given our Debt?'

Sel, Would the working population wish to pay into the insecurity and expense of a private pension ?

iVANHOE

I was eluding to the comment made and you agreed with that went loosely as follows. Not the list you posted.

Why should people who have managed to buy their house and save for a pension be penalised in their old age?. If you hadn't bothered the state would pay for you to be in a care home.

I am not arguing with that point, although I do believe if you have finances you should pay for your care not the tax payer. I am realistic about the cost and at the end of the day I am responsible for my every day living, not the tax payer. My father infact does have government help with his home care and I am very grateful for it.

I just think that comment would be deemed by a socialist as typical selfish, right wing values.

It's almost as though Ivanhoe had to ask someone what response he should give....no doubt we'll have to wait a while for him to reply to your question, Sel

So taxes would have to be increased, etc, so that the richest in society should be able to keep their expensive houses, and allow their often well off children, to inherit the lot - whilst others pay. This is not as I understand socialism . Champagne socialism perhaps ?

Ana Wait for it....

Ah Ana we have an answer: in order to pay £300 pw pensions, taxes and NI contributions would be increased. That'll go over big with the working population

Ivanhoe GNP? What is your plan to increase this given our Debt?

Oh! You've finally answered the question I, and others, have been asking for days - how amazing.

Ivanhoe you keep mentioning (apart from Thatcher) that you are a Labour party activist. What is that? What do you do? It sounds a little...antiquated to me.

Yes Ana, taxes and NI contributions would have to be increased, and a greater amount of GNP spent

You also believe that the state pension should be increased to around £300 a week for all, Ivanhoe, but you don't put any proposals forward as to how this should be paid for. Saying what you believe and want is one thing - we can all do that - but you have to have a workable plan to achieve all these things if you want to be taken seriously.

POGS. I became a Labour party activist because I ageed with Labour's values.

I agree with council housing for people who cant afford to buy, I dont believe that council houses should have been sold off.

I also believe that because when working we all pay into the system our taxes and NI contributions, that those taxes and contributions should be used to fund the vital services that we all need and use from time to time.

And I believe in a universal State pension for all when old age retirement comes.

I believe the retirement age for all should be 60.

That's my form of Socialism.