Somerset Council warns care costs are out of control

Sally Hebeler says "Its all about the uncertainty" as she plans her mother Jocelyn's care

A council leader is warning a "massive underfunding crisis" in costs for care is pushing the authority towards bankruptcy.

Somerset Council figures show significant rises in costs for care home beds across the West.

It comes as the government has announced a national 6.5% rise in council funding this year.

But councils have warned they will still need to make cuts next year to cover rising costs.

Sally Hebeler says she is very pleased with the standard of care her mother Jocelyn Beaton is being given.

The 93-year-old has dementia and needs 24-hour nursing care at Linden House Care Home in Wellington.

"I don't have to worry about the basic care, all the keeping an eye on her, and her anxiety levels have decreased considerably," said Mrs Hebeler.

A year ago the council paid around £600 per care bed. This year it is £750 but the care home said that is still not enough to cover costs.

The home has to rely heavily on private payers like Jocelyn. So far it has cost her £167,000 since her mother, a former teacher, was admitted three years ago.

Mrs Hebeler said she agrees that those who can afford to should pay for care, but there should be a higher cap on how much money they have in savings before they are charged.

Sandra Joyce, owner of Linden House, blames the cost of living crisis for the current funding issues

Sandra Joyce, owner of Linden House, blames the rises in the cost of living for having to put up her fees.

"Wages are my biggest cost. The national living wage going up has a massive, massive impact," she said.

"I can't pay my senior people any less, [otherwise] I can't attract them.

"It's the best job in the world but people don't really understand about social care - I call us the hidden service."

Council leader Bill Revans warns of funding crisis fuelled by rocketing care costs.

Somerset Council is facing a forecast budget deficit of £100m.

Leader Bill Revans said about three quarters of that gap is from supporting about 8,000 people in care and a "broken" government funding system, leading the council towards bankruptcy.

He said costs for care have gone up by 47% over the past three years.

The council has also said it is disappointed with its share of government funding for next year being below the national average at only a 6.1% increase.

"We are basically doing an impossible job because we've been left at the coal face of tackling a massive underfunding crisis in our adult social care system and within local government," Mr Revans said.

"We are having to do a job of fixing it. It's a national problem but we're having to find a local fix for something that is fundamentally broken."

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has announced an extra £4 billion in funding for councils, with a total of £64 billion to be shared across England in 2024-25.

He said: "These proposals will provide councils with the support they need. It ensures stability, delivers additional resources for social care, and maintains balance on council tax."