Critics of the Health Minister's new policy on long-term residential care for the elderly continue to claim it's an attempt to give care 'on the cheap'.

Minister Eddie Teare wants elderly people to be supported for longer in their own homes and three of the Island's long-term homes halted new admissions earlier this month.

Mr Teare says elderly people want to be independent and many don't need all the services offered in a home.

He says it's horses for courses (audio file attached):

Eddie Teare was speaking to James Davis on Agenda.

On the same programme, North Douglas MHK Bill Henderson made it clear he was still staunchly opposed to the new policy.

He said talk of putting resources into the community just didn't wash.