Alison Bartlett looks at how the financial crisis in the county's social services department will affect disabled people striving to live in their own home

Like many women in their early thirties, Elaine Madley leads a full and active life.

The 33-year-old lives in her own home, works as a volunteer for Oxfam and enjoys socialising with friends.

But Elaine values her independence more than most because she only moved out of her parents' home four years ago.

Elaine was born with spina bifida, a condition which causes deformation of the spine and has left her wheelchair bound.

With two visits a day from care assistants, Elaine is now able to live in a housing association property, which has been specially adapted for wheelchair use.

Carers help Elaine get in and out of bed, transfer to her wheelchair, get dressed and prepare her meals.

"I feel I have achieved a lot by moving from my parents' home into my own accommodation and I enjoy my independence.

"My parents have been very supportive, but I was thinking ahead and wondering what would happen to me in the future when they are not around to care for me", said Elaine.

According to Alan Sinclair, Oxfordshire County Council's head of service responsible for disability services, social services aims to support people with disabilities to live in their own homes.

Mr Sinclair said the cutbacks social services was making - to ward off a potential £5.4m overspend - clashed with the high quality level of care staff had been providing in the county.

Reducing the cost of providing disabled people with equipment in their homes is one money-saving measure that has been identified.

Mr Sinclair said: "We are faced with asking ourselves whether we provide a standard piece of equipment, or something that is slightly better. The cheaper option might meet the same needs, but it may not be the piece of equipment the client would like."

Once social services has assessed what somebody needs to help them live independently, equipment is ordered from a private company which has a contract with the county.

The supply system works well - 94 per cent of the equipment ordered is in people's homes within three weeks - but people wait up to a year before their needs are assessed.

Mr Sinclair said social services did not have enough funds to employ more occupational therapists to speed up the process.

Robyn Noonan, service manager for care management and commissioning for people with physical disabilities, said budget pressures were forcing the department to stop funding placements for physically disabled people needing nursing care.

She added: "People with physical illnesses and degenerative conditions often have very complex needs by the time they need a nursing home placement. Due to our budget pressure, we are proposing to put a stop on nursing home placements.

"The result will be that people will end up having to stay in hospital."