CUTS to council-funded domiciliary care are putting elderly residents at risk, according to the owner of an East Lancashire care firm.

Alan Cooper, who owns Majestic Care North West Ltd, has highlighted the case of his 91-year-old mum to draw attention to the issue.

He said social services staff at Lancashire County Council (LCC) want to slash her care package in half, meaning just one carer will be available for home visits from next week.

Winifred Cooper, herself a former social worker, has a hoist in her home in Lowerhouse Lane, Burnley, to lift her out of bed and into an arm chair. Alan said the hoist must be operated by two carers to meet health and safety rules.

Alan, whose firm is contracted by the council to provide home care to his mum and others, said: “If one carer used the hoist on their own it would soon end in tears. Our manager would not agree to this either, as it would be illegal, so my mother will be bed-bound with all the problems that that brings, such as bed sores.

“The council are putting finance before my mother’s care and I won’t let them do this to her.

“It’s just one example of elderly people’s care packages being cut in the last year or two as we have been constantly fighting with social services.”

Mike Banks, LCC’s interim director of commissioning for social services, said: “We have a duty to review people’s care on an ongoing basis and particularly when circumstances have changed.

“With regard to Mr Cooper’s specific concerns, we’ll continue to work with the family to agree a support plan that can safely meet his mother’s needs in the community within her budget.”

Both LCC and Blackburn with Darwen Council came under fire from a national charity last year, after it emerged some residents were receiving home care vists of just 15 minutes.

Steve Tingle, commissioning director at Blackburn with Darwen, admitted that ‘substantial budget cuts’ had made the organisation of home care more difficult’.