Luckygirl is correct, l.a.'s have statutory responsibilities but the austerity agenda means they don't have the finances to meet their statutory responsibilities to any client group, including the elderly.
I now feel I worked in a golden age, during the late 70's and 80's when we had in house resources to support our communities. So far as the elderly were concerned, we had teams of Home Care workers, who could visit, lay the fire, make a cup of tea and chat to the 'client'. A hot meal was delivered mid day, cooked in our kitchens, and delivered by our drivers and their assistant. A "no reply to meals on wheels" would be phoned in and a social worker or social work assistant sent out to see if Mr X had gone to the pub or had fallen and was unable to get up.
Gradually, l.a's had to outsource all those services. They're now run by private agencies and the carer gets 15 minutes max. The carer isn't paid for the travel between visits.
Gillybob we can afford it, honesty.
As for 'charity begins at home' - tell that to the starving children in the Lebanon or the children being bombed in Syria. We are a wealthy country and can afford to offer assistance to those in need.