An elderly couple who have been together for 65 years and “still hold hands” are to be separated because of funding cuts to adult social care.

Ralph, and Cecelia Martin, from Worcester Park, are devastated - they have only ever been apart for hospital visits since they met.

Ralph, 89, suffers from dementia and Parkinson’s and has been receiving home care until now.

Four weeks ago at a meeting held in their house an OT aid, a social worker, and care manager delivered the news.

Patricia Hall, daughter of the couple, has said that she was told that due to funding cuts her father’s budget will be taken away and he will have to move into a home. They were given a month.  

She said: “Dad was in the army and worked three jobs a day to bring up a family. He never took benefits or signed on in his life.

“Mum is 94-years-old worked most of her life. They have been married 65 years. They still hold hands and want to be together.”

On top of this news, they had to wait one week to get a list of homes to choose from and when they were finally offered a place in one on December 8, the council told them the family they would have to contribute £250 a week.

Patricia said: “I kept asking if we would have to pay anything towards it and was asked if a financial assessment had been done which it has.

“I kept saying mum and dad and ourselves could not contribute.

“We have wasted a week. Social Care said we dragged our feet looking at homes but we have done our best to go and see homes and it’s hard to get us together quickly.

“Why oh why were we sent somewhere they knew we could not afford. We now only have two days to find a home.”

Social care funding has decreased since last year and the Chancellor Phillip Hammond did not set aside any funding for it in the autumn statement.

One day after the news the family would have to pay £250 a week (December 9), Patricia received a call from the council informing her that her father could go into Hendford House Nursing Home at no extra cost.

Patricia said: “We have another week to sort dad out.

“We may not be able to keep dad at home but at least he will go into a better one.”

A Surrey County Council spokesman said: "We work with individuals, their families and other professionals to ensure the appropriate level of support is in place to ensure people are safe and are receiving the level of care they need.  

“Moving anyone into a nursing home is a decision that will be based on the level of care they need to stay safe." 

To help fund social care, councils have raised council tax.

However, the wealthier the borough, the more council tax the council will receive, which will create an even bigger divide between rich and poor.

Over the past five years, local authority spending on care for older and disabled people has fallen by 11 per cent.

With an ageing population, the situation with adult social care is being described as reaching “tipping point”.

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