Health News - How to pay for care heroes like Foot’s Vladimir? - Vladimir Zodiak Michael Foot's Home Carer

Published: 18th March
by Tom Foot

VLADIMIR Zodiak grew up in the picturesque town of Podolinec in Slovakia, set beneath the cloud-capped mountain range of High Tatras.
After the collapse of Communism, he followed his dream of moving to London – travelling through Prague and Amsterdam before finding work in a bar on Camden Lock.
For the past year Vladimir, now 34, has lived in former Labour Party leader Michael Foot’s home in Hampstead as one of his live-in carers.
He was employed to help Michael when his body began to fail him, and the pair became  close friends.
Vladimir, or “that chap”, as he was affectionately called by Mr Foot before his death last week, was a reliable figure during a difficult time – always there, ready to rush up and down the stairs or listening out for him during the night.
He has become something of a hero in the Foot household.
Camden Council currently provides home care for those with “critical” or “substantial” needs – people who are unable to use the toilet or get out of bed on their own, or are in danger of being exploited financially or at risk of a mental breakdown.
Anyone with more than £30,750 in the bank, or who own their own house, are not offered free home care.
A report from the London Assembly last month found that, as a result of this policy, 165,000 elderly people living in London on low incomes are paying for home care themselves – and this figure is expected to rise to 240,000 by 2030.
“Many will be on very low incomes and may not be able to afford the care they need to prevent their conditions deteriorating,” the   report said, adding: “Most elderly patients in need of care live alone and without family support.”
With our population living longer, a debate is raging about whether home care can be comprehensively funded for people who cannot afford it.
But who should pay? There are three basic options: the individual, the state, or a mixture of the two.
The Free Personal Care at Home Bill proposes that all older people assessed as having “critical” needs will receive free personal home care service.
The government is looking at a range of solutions including a voluntary personal care insurance scheme, or a one-off compulsory contribution. The latter has been condemned as a “death tax” by the Conservative Party.
A Camden Council spokesman said: “Access to publicly funded social care is determined by the government’s Fair Access to Care guidance and the government allocates councils funding to provide social care – 72 per cent of councils provide services to clients with ‘substantial’ or ‘critical’ needs. For people receiving home care, the council provides reablement services, day services and support for people who care for them – ie family members. Camden does not charge for day centres, transport or services provided to carers.
“Residents with ‘low’ or ‘moderate’ needs can access the council’s open  access services and services that we provide, or commission from the voluntary and community sector.”