ELDERLY people are having the help they need to lead their daily lives cut by Bexley Council.

Home carers say they are becoming increasingly alarmed at the number of older people whose care has been removed or substantially reduced in recent months.

The council has defended the cuts saying: “We need to make sure our services are targeted to those who need them most.”

It says people whose help has been axed by the council, but who still want some assistance, can pay for it themselves.

It added: “We can no longer provide the service free of charge for all levels of care.”

Emily Parks, 80, from Belvedere, suffers from severe sciatica and has had three strokes.

Her son has emigrated to Canada with his wife and three sons, leaving her without any family support.

Her GP arranged for her to receive help to get up in the morning and empty her commode.

But now, she says Bexley Council has cancelled the 30 minutes she got on five mornings a week.

She said: “Unless you are bedridden, you have to manage on your own.”

A home carer, who does not want to be named, says she is shocked at the number of people Bexley no longer considers eligible for care, paid for in full or in part, by the council.

She said: “I know a man aged 90 who was receiving help with his housework.

“He received a visit and he thought the council was going to offer him more help, but he got less.

“A 70-year-old has been told there will be no more help to take a shower and, even though they receive income support, they have been told they will have to pay if they want help.”

She also cited another 90-year-old whose care was cut and who was told to get her daughter to help.

She said: “The woman explained her daughter lives in the Lake District, but it made no difference.

“I have been a carer for a number of years and I am really worried for the old people.”

Commission for Social Care inspectors visited Bexley a year ago to look at its care for vulnerable adults.

Lead inspector Lynn Hampton said then Bexley’s partner organisations were worried they might not be able to meet the needs of those no longer eligible for council help.

Bexley is in the process of changing the way care is provided and plans to give eligible people cash towards buying their own care.

A spokesman said the council was facing increased demand on its social care.

She said: “If a person is assessed as having substantial or critical needs, we can provide services.

“If the person’s needs are not at a substantial level, we can provide information about other organisations which can provide services.”

Bexley says it is currently reassessing people’s care needs and while some may get more help, others will get less or none at all.