AROUND 3,500 people face paying more for home care help that often enables them to stay in their own home rather than being hospitalised or placed in long-term care.

Kent County Council plans to increase what are known as domiciliary care charges in a bid to save £628,000.

The increase has been criticised by opposition parties who say it will hit some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Social services chiefs say individual increases will be "capped" at a maximum of £15 a year for the next three years to help cushion the blow.

Home help involves carers helping elderly people, the disabled and those with chronic conditions with activities such as washing, dressing, getting in and out of bed. Other services include meals-on-wheels.

The amount residents are asked to contribute to the overall costs depends on their personal circumstances, taking into account whether they are on benefits, savings and investments.

Under the changes, KCC says greater weight will be attached to how much disposable income individuals have. Contributions have previously been based on 65 per cent of available income; that will now rise to between 80 and 85 per cent.

Cllr Kevin Lynes (Con), KCC cabinet member for adult services, admitted the increase was "unpalatable" but better than the alternative of making it more difficult for people to get care by tightening the rules on who was eligible. It was also aimed at ensuring KCC could continue to help as many people as it could.

"This was not an easy decision. No-one would choose to have people pay higher charges. All of the options [we considered] were unpalatable and they will cause some people some problems. But we do not have an endless stream of cash and have to find a way of making savings," he said.

Kent had provided residents with a "very good deal" for several years when compared to other authorities, he added.

Cllr Les Christie (Labour), shadow cabinet member for adult services, said the increase would penalise vulnerable residents.

"The people who use these services are among the most vulnerable in the county and deserve at this stage of life to be able to live with some dignity.

"They will now be priced out of this market and even more responsibility will fall on already-stretched families and carers," he added.