Older people in the media awards - vote for your favourite

£50k wouldn't buy much care!! Questions about the equity remain. Apologies if you are dyslexic honourourforces, there are a number of programmes available for computers which could help with this. My son has dyslexia and has just completed an MA, he uses them.
If you want to close the thread stop posting
As you have said free speech means I am able to express my views on any matter, although you seem to believe I shouldn't be doing this.

POGS Sorry for defending someone who i support and can i ask what i have said wrong

honourourforces

I may well be an isolated case but to be frank I think you are not enhancing the nomination with your posts.

Are you officially a spokesperson for the 'organisation' if so what position do you hold within the 'honourourforces' organisation.

If you don't like the Awards why come on here to put other people down, and re the criteria that down to the Judges, i understand. did you also not note that Robbie has already paid £50k himself. and re the punctuation sorry for having dyslexia.... Now i will ask you have had your say and that is fare. and lets not drag this on and close the subject and let people make there own mind up about 97 year old WW2 Hero who stood up for freedom of speech.

Oh dear me what a fuss. Firstly I didn't suggest the payment should be deferred (that was someone else) I did suggest that equity in the house could be used to pay for care. Money raised through Equity agreements can be used for any purpose whatsoever. Many people I know have had to sell their parent's houses to fund their care. If you don't understand council limited funds, and the commitments they have to honour, that is unfortunate. As far as the Awards go I'm not keen on them and I have said so, but I don't see how refusing to support someone is sabotage. In any case Robbie doesn't fulfil the criteria for either 2 or 3.
honourourforces ever heard of punctuation?

if anyone wishes to follow Robbie story please follow @HONOUROURFORCES on Twitter

Hi Jinglebells if they funded robbie to stay at home at the same rate as if in a care home that is all is being asked for, re the Mirror we atteded brent council to hand in a petition with robbie 188k signed. and meet was set up with the family by the time we returned to Robbie House Brent Council sent a press release saying everything was sorted it wasnt and and they miss-led the public and press. that ran the story.

Is that Mirror article I linked to, totally wrong? Because it seems to be saying a deal has been struck with the council to fund the live-in care with the proviso that the money is repaid later out of proceeds from house sale.

Still don't see which category in the Awards this would come under.

I think the council should fund care at home for this gent at the same rate they would be willing to do so for care in a care home. And then the difference could be made up using equity release on the house. That's how it should be for everybody.

I wonder if this is the right place to have this discussion. You could start a thread about it, perhaps under 'Other Subjects'.

Soontobe No not related at all to Robbie we support members and ex members of the Armed forces

honourourforces - are you related to Robbie, and the poster MyDadRobbieClark?

Trisher you are aloud your opinion and free speech, but we find you words very hard to take, Yes its Robbie own wish and mind to stay in the home has lived in for 50 years he has payed out of over 50k over his own money for the care he needs this money has run out. we brought Robbie story to world and i mean world that Brent Council had said no to funding his care. the offer of deferrd payment can only be used if the person leaves there home and enter a care home so that is none starter. also i would like to add that you seem hell bent on on sabotaging the awards reading you other updates. yes as i said it free speech, but if it had not for people like Robbie you may not have had the freedom you have today.

It was the cost I compared, not the service. The money comes from the same source and is finite, so everything cannot be funded.

That's ok - everyone is entitled to their views. Robbie has paid for all his live in care without support from Brent Council - to compare this issue with collecting bins is quite extraordinary.

I understand what Robbie would like to happen, but the council has limited resources and funds basic services. If someone wants to adapt what is offered they will have to pay. So my bin is emptied weekly but if I want big items or extra waste collected I will have to pay. It would be unreasonable of me to expect them to turn up, where and when I wanted them to, free of charge. I also do not want Robbie to be the older people's champion. He is entitled to express his views, but they are not mine. I hope when the time comes I will make my decisions taking into account the practicalities and the effects on the people around me.

I too wonder about releasing equity on this gentleman's house. That seems a reasonable way to pay for the care needed.

Robbie's case is about Individual choice v Council policies - he is vehemently opposed to going into Residential Care - the preferred option of the Council - and wants to die at home. Other elderly people make different choices. Many though want to live at home even if they need full time care. It is not about money or inheritance - Robbie has more than paid his way and will continue to do so - the Council agree he needs full time 7 days per week care but disregard the cost of his live in carer in financial assessments even though it is a Disability Related Expense.

Also please check the Care Act regarding Deferred Payments and living at home. Thank you

Although I fully respect Robbie's history and bravery during the war I am unable to support his desire to remain in his own home. We all will at some time face decisions about where we will live. My mother is 93 and didn't fight in the war although she did undergo some of the fiercest civilian air raids. She gave up her house several years ago and moved into a small sheltered housing flat where she lives a fairly independent, if restricted, life thanks to family support. Staying in a house isn't always practical and if everyone insists they must be allowed to do this and be funded to do so the costs will be astronomical. I also wonder why someone willing to move into a care home should be expected to sell their home to fund their care but Robbie should be allowed to remain in his home, presumably keep the value of it to pass on to his family, and have his care paid for. It would presumably be possible for him to raise money through an equity scheme to pay for his care so he could remain in his house.

The offer of what is called a Deferred Payment - repaying the Council for the cost Robbie's care after he dies - does not apply in Robbie's case as he wishes to live at home and not in residential care - this is just a way the Council have attempted to deflect the publicity. The Council do not and will not provide any funding towards Robbie's live in care - please check the Care Act 2014 for legal explanation of deferred payments.

According to this Mr Clarke has been offered round the clock care with the proviso that the money is repaid to the council after he passes on. This seems reasonable to me.

Brilliant

Robbie has our vote a true hero and a lovely lovely man

I definitely vote for Robbie.

I would like to nominate my 96 year old (nearly 97!) Dad, Robbie Clark, under Category 3 - Best Older Person's Champion in the Media.

Robbie's case this year has captured the hearts of the British Public and his personal struggle has been a symbol and a ray of hope for other elderly people who are facing the same issue - namely their personal desire and individual decision to live the rest of their days in the comfort of their own home, and not being forced against their will into Residential Care as a result of Local Government policies and lack of support.

Robbie is a Second World War hero, having survived the dramatic 'Death March' between January to April 1945, walking, with a German rifle pointed at his back, over a 1000 miles without a food supply during the coldest of winters in Poland. Many thousands of British and Allied prisoners died on the March. Robbie survived through his personal will power and determination - he did not want to 'die on foreign soil'.

This part of Robbie's story was featured in a BBC News report in January this year -http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30926964

Now, Robbie has been facing his latest battle - his battle to stay in his home for the rest of his life. Robbie has unfortunately plenty of care and nursing needs now, and has to have 24/7 care. Robbie simply has chosen to have this care in his own home and for the past three years, he has employed dedicated live in carers who provide the best care for him. Robbie has now used all his life savings to pay for the cost of this care, without any financial support from his local Council, Brent Council. Brent Council will only offer funding for his 24/7 care if Robbie goes into Residential or Nursing Care - this is their preferred option as it offers better 'value for money'.

The case was featured in the Daily Express in January and as result a national petition was started - 'Save Robbie Clark from Eviction' - , which eventually reached 187000 signatures in April. The petition was also highlighting the predicament of other elderly and vulnerable people who wish to be cared for at home.

The national media picked this up and Robbie was able to passionately represent his wishes and individual choice - he was featured in all the national newspapers and national as well as local TV reports - here is an example from RT News UK report - youtu.be/2UUCvG4Iu-Y

All this happened over a space of a few days and Robbie took this challenge of being an Older Persons Champion in the Media with determination and gusto - just like the way he survived his Prisoner of War experiences.

This publicity led to a national debate on social media and on radio stations 'phone ins' about elderly care issues and funding at the time of the run up to the General Election.

As a postscript to this story, the British Public have stepped in and supported Robbie with funding through Help For Heroes and Honour Our Forces - this is providing temporary financial relief for Robbie to continue to have the best care at home while the debate with Brent Council progresses.

Robbie has been humbled by this support from the public and is appreciative and very grateful.

Please vote for Robbie - your vote will also help to highlight the practical and day to day issues that elderly people do and will face when it comes to their care towards the end of their life.

Thank you!!

I nominate Niamh McGarryGribbin. She has been campaigning tirelessly for a few years for better care of the elderly in Care Homes. She has put together a training package to be given to staff in nursing homes to improve the care of the residents. She has almost 13 thousand members on her Facebook CareHomes Should Care page where she makes a point of highlighting incidents of poor care, neglect and abuse. She has appeared on television on a few occasions trying to put this issue into the spotlight and makes herself available to anyone whose family members need support in dealing with carehomes whose care is failing their vulnerable loved ones. Niamh deserves some recognition for her tireless efforts