A CARE provider has hit out at funding cuts that could cause a shortfall in the care of the elderly.

Dorset based Altogether Care has reacted to a recent report on care that stated there could be a shortfall in elderly care services due to the ageing population.

According to the report by internet site Yahoo! there could be as many as 4.8million people over the age of 80 by 2030.

Chairman of Altogether Care Brian Westlake said that the situation was not helped by government cuts and banks not lending money.

He said: “The rising number of elderly people will put great pressure on all care services.

“This situation is not helped by several factors, one of which is that major banks have no appetite for lending and at the moment take a short-term view on funding care services, which makes investment difficult.”

He added: “Government cuts also make it difficult for local authorities to pay for care services and some authorities are increasing the criteria for receiving publicly funded care, which makes it unavailable to an expanding number of vulnerable people.”

“All of these issues will have a negative effect on care provision and unless there is more investment into these services, there will be a huge problem in the future.”

The company said that it planned to expand its services to meet the future demand.