Care for the elderly is a top priority for people in Notts. In the build-up to the June 4 county council election, DELIA MONK asks what the parties will do about it

The number of people over 85 in Notts is predicted to rise 45% by 2020 – stretching the resources of the care services.

Notts County Council predicts its annual spending on care for older people will rocket from £115m to £271m.

The Labour-run council is investing £19m to build four Extra Care developments, a new type of housing for the over-55s where people live independently but 24-hour care is on hand.

The county has 154 Extra Care places but that will rise to 550 over the next five years. .

Labour Party leader Coun David Kirkham says they are committed to the initiative as well as improving care in the home.

"Money is being spent in areas like home help, and on equipment for people's homes, like stair-lifts.

"We've built new residential homes in the past four years and we've got plans to invest £20m in a new home in Ashfield and Mansfield and Extra Care developments throughout the county.

"We do prioritise the elderly because they are some of the most vulnerable people in society.

"We're listening to older people and involve them when we're planning new developments."

Some care homes have been closed by the council and more closures are planned. "We've closed some of the older ones and rebuilt new ones to replace them. The older ones are out of date, they were built about 50 years ago."

Malcolm Byron, 65, of Bingham, said: "I'd like to see more sheltered accommodation. I don't want it now, but I might in the future, there's not enough in Bingham."

Coun Kay Cutts, leader of the Conservative party, said: "Our plan is to keep as many people in their own homes as possible, we will not close the old people's homes where people are living - they are their homes and we won't do that.

"I think we've trivialised elderly people's services, the fact is older people are many and different as the rest of us. They don't want to be talked down to."

Liberal Democrat leader Stan Heptinstall says more Extra Care developments are needed but added: "There's a fear that by closing some care homes we may not be providing the full spectrum of care needed."

The Lib Dems also pledge to keep council tax down. Coun Heptinstall said: "What we can do locally, rather than increase council tax to bring in more money, we could look at how the council could be more efficient."

Mr Byron said he would like to see discounted or free leisure facilities for pensioners – he says the gym is a luxury most cannot afford.

"They've got running machines and walking machines which would be great for the joints. I walk around to keep the weight down but you can only walk so many places so many times."

An Ipsos Mori survey asked more than 3,000 Notts residents their opinion last year; 44% said they thought social care for older people was the most important council service.

The Green Party say social care for the elderly should be free. Paul Anderson, who is standing in Beeston North said: "We're in favour of free social care and we don't agree with this business where people have to sell their houses to pay for it."

UKIP would increase the state pension by £25 per week, funded by cash gained by leaving the EU.