AN MP has promised to look into the cost of living crisis concerns of a residential home and its residents.

Sir Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, visited Drake Lodge, which is run by Abbeyfield Sheltered Housing, on Plymouth Road, to mark ‘Starts at Home Day’ — a national event celebrating the value of care and support services.

The residents pay for their meals and energy costs within the overall accommodation bills and some residents were concerned that they might face extra costs due to the expected rising bills in October and possibly in the New Year and wondered if they would get any of the Government support promised to housholders.

Abbeyfield invited Sir Geoffrey to look round the home, explain its history and met residents and also raise their concerns and those of the business of the impact of rising energy costs as they are not covered by the Ofgem energy cap.

Abbeyfield and other care providers are lobbying government collectively through the National Housing Federation and National Care Forum on issues such as the cost of living, housing demand and supply, recruitment of care staff and future of funding within social care.

Abbeyfield is also working with the wider Care Provider Alliance to highlight the challenge of meeting power costs, specifically whether support measures announced earlier this year apply to their residents.

Judy Hirst, joint chairperson of the trustees of Drake Lodge, said: ‘It’s really good to see Sir Geoffrey here and for him to hear the issues that are concerning residents.

‘We invited him to come on Starts at Home Day, which recognises the immense value of care and support service such as here at Drake Lodge.

‘We hoped he would also answer any queries our residents have. Top of the list is energy costs and we on the board of trustees would like to know specifically how the costs of living will be tackled for people who don’t own their own homes and live communally and buy energy on this basis. As a social care provider we are not covered by the Ofgem price cap on electricity and gas. So, potentially providers are being hit by huge bills with noi support’

Sir Geoffrey said he would look into the issue. He said there was support for communal residents as well as local council and government sources which included financial and retailer vouchers for pensioners.

Resident Douglas Housley, 82, said: ‘I’ve only been here for two weeks. I’m the newest resident and everyone has made me feel really welcome. The one thing I’m worried about is the extra costs and whether our rent will go up due to the cost of heating.