Surely This Is Not Only A Scottish Problem?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21918120

Many of us may take for granted the matter of getting our cars out to go shopping, getting together with our friends etc, , but there are many elderly or disabled who may live off the main bus routes, who are prisoners in their own homes.

What is the answer?

[Gromit]

Subsidy.

We had a good network of Volunteer minibuses/Dial-a-rides/Community Transport but funding for it has been serverely cut.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes agreed, whereas public sector workers can strike over cuts to their very generous pensions, and school teachers can strike over pay, pensions and workload, but what action can the elderly take?

[woofgang]

Well one answer, which is what many people do, is relocate to somewhere more convenient when they get older.....now I am not saying that they should do that but for some it can be an answer. Sadly subsidy is unlikely to be an option.

[Gromit]

Many older people themselves volunteer to drive minbuses for other elderly people. Groups like Age buy minibuses through fundraising. If local or national Governments can help with operating costs, a service run by volunteers can be run. That is done at a fraction of running a for profit service.

Unfortunately grants have been cut so the services don't run.

[Gromit]

Cutting funding to such groups is a false economy because they are incredible value for money.

[Gromit]

Should have been a video with that ladt post.

[Gromit]

Try again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX-CuxVu6Do&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[youngmafbog]

How do you get it to be a false economy?

No funding, no minibus (according to you) but they wont do anything else so cost to Government coffers nill.

If is a difficult one AOG, but always going to be the price of living in the pleasant country. Why should fold that put up with living in a town have to subsidize those who choose to live somewhere nice?

[DangerUXD]

wait till they are "independent"!

[pdq1]

With a reported 5000 pensioners dying because of the cold thank goodness we have the Liverpool Pathway to help them along.

[youngmafbog]

Where is that reported?

And dying or dead. Quite a difference; one is simply circumstantial emotive writing.

[pdq1]

youngmaglog would you believe the printed word

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298246/UKs-coldest-spring-1963-claims-5-000-lives-Pensioners-worst-affected--experts-say-final-toll-horrendous.html?ito=email-homenewsletter-20130324

[Zeuhl]

/the Liverpool Pathway to help them along/

I wondered when a UK version of Dignitas was opening

[woofgang]

pdq1, not when its printed in the Daily Mail!