HOMECARE charges for elderly people have become a political battlefield at County Hall.
Labour's adult social services spokesman, Blacon County Cllr Brendan Doyle (Lab), argues a 70% increase in charges has had a significant effect.
For the Tory controlled administration, County Cllr Lynn Hardwick, executive member for adult social services, insists there is a comprehensive monitoring system to assess the impact of increased costs on users.
Cllr Doyle insists a new study shows at least 20% of vulnerable people targeted by the charging increase are at greater risk because they have cut back on assessed services or have refused services altogether.
'This figure is extremely worrying. I believe that people have little alternative because of the massive increases in care charges,' said Cllr Doyle.
Cllr Doyle proposed a motion at the last meeting of the county council which called for a constant review of the charging policy in light of the
increased charges.
Meanwhile, Cllr Hard-wick points to the fact that around 4,000 people in Cheshire receive care free of charge.
Some 3,500 are asked to pay an assessed contribution and two thousand people, with savings of more than £21,000, pay the standard charge.
County Hall argues that given their financial assets, those who pay the costs in full are not in a position where they cannot afford to pay the charges.
'The aim is to enable older people to live independently by providing the right amount of care at the right time,' said Cllr Hardwick.
'We have been listening closely to older people and adults and consequently new arrangements have evolved which may, for example, involve ourselves, a care company, family or a voluntary organisation.'
