A 77-YEAR-OLD grandfather is calling on the Government to stop “destroying” the social care system after a week of controversial campaign promises.

Last week (May 18) Theresa May announced huge changes in the way social care is funded as part of the Conservative Party manifesto.

Current rules state that if you are in a care home, you have to pay for your care down to your last £23,500, including the value of your home.

But last week the Prime Minister laid out plans to apply the same rules to care received at home, sparking outrage people with complex conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia could be left with almost nothing.

Branded the “dementia tax” by her critics, days later Mrs May made a U-turn, promising pensioners they would not have to cough up until their or their partner's death, and would get to keep £100,000 in assets.

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John and his wife Pauline at home in Newbury Park

But former chairman of the Redbridge Pensioners’ Forum John Coombes is calling on whoever wins the election to “sort things out before it goes to hell in a handcart”.

Mr Coombes, of Oaks Lane, Newbury Park, said: “Theresa May talks about other politicians committing political suicide, but what she’s doing is exactly that.

“All they’re offering is more of the same – austerity. They don’t really care what happens to us.

“Pensioners are the one group she can always rely on to go out and vote, but this makes me feel so disenchanted with it all.”

The grandfather-of-two stepped down as chairman of the pensioners’ forum two years ago because of a chronic lung condition.

He added: “The idea of the forum was to listen to people talk about their experiences and try to help them – regardless of their political colour.

“These politicians don’t understand what we’re actually going through.”

Announcing her original plans, Mrs May said social care funding needed to be reformed because of the increasing costs of the ageing population.

But Mr Coombs says after a lifetime of paying their way, pensioners are being “vilified” for living longer.

He said: “I’m not as fit as I used to be, and getting old can be debilitating, but when the Government complains we’re costing them too much money, they need to remember we worked hard for 50 years or more.

“We paid our taxes and saved every penny, and we’ve seen that completely eroded over the last 10 years.”

Mr Coombes claims he only asks for help when he “really needs it” because council and NHS services are so strained already.

As a former Redbridge councillor he claims the authority has always prioritised social care, but is pleading with the Government to pump more money into local services before the system is “destroyed”.

He also wants the Government to be clear on what the care funding cap will be and to reverse its plans to means test winter fuel payments.

He said: “When my wife and I die we want to pass our house on to our children – we want to leave them with something.

“But every house in Redbridge is worth way more than £100,000, so we’re not sure we’ll be able to.

“Social care has to be dealt with. After the election the three main parties need to sit down, put their differences aside, and sort this out once and for all.”

Redbridge cabinet member for health and social care Cllr Mark Santos said it is “no wonder” elderly people in the borough are worried and angry.

Labour candidate for Ilford North Wes Streeting slammed social care proposals as a “complete shambles”. But his Tory rival Lee Scott claimed they offer pensioners “peace of mind £100,000 of their savings will be protected”.

The Conservative Party has been contacted for comment.