Synopsis

The video, produced by the filmmaking collective Barefoot Video, directed by Su Braden in Brighton & Hove in 1985, critically examines the shortcomings of government Community Care policies through interviews with service users, nurses, policymakers, elders in care homes, and carers. The film highlights key concerns such as funding cuts, the strain on domiciliary services, and the growing reliance on private care homes.

The documentary captures the testimonies of both carers and those receiving care. It highlights the pressures faced by elderly caregivers, with 50% looking after a relative over 65 and many struggling with their own health. A woman in her 80s recounts caring for her aunt in her 90s, while a young local authority home worker laments the lack of daycare services. An elderly woman describes suffering from malnutrition and hypothermia before being moved into residential care, while a man in a private care home speaks positively about his placement. The video asks the question, "Do Elderly People Really Have a Choice?" as Ken Young, director of East Sussex Social Services, discusses disparities in care quality based on financial means. The final interviews expose systemic limitations, as David Howe acknowledges the NHS's inability to fully meet demand and a home worker critiques the tendency to place individuals in profit-driven institutions rather than genuine communities. Ultimately, the documentary drives home the point that community care is impossible without greater government funding for care services.