Age will catch up on UK’s care industry

THE Office of National Statistics predicts that by 2032 the number of people aged over 75 living in England will have increased by 57 per cent.

It means Government must revisit its policies on when we can draw our pensions, which will have to be a minimum of 70, possibly even 72.

It also means officials will have to concentrate on a plan for social care.

Care of the elderly can take place either in their own homes or in specially designated developments that will take care of the various stages of infirmity.

It also means, to my mind, that social care should become an independent industry, at arm’s length from the National Health Service.

It should have its own career structure for staff ranging across many skills and specialities.

It should also have a pay structure that recognised and rewarded dedicated and qualified staff accordingly.

Inevitably, shifting the official retirement date will be very unpopular, but sadly, unless people are prepared to pay away a much greater percentage of their income during their working years to fund longer lives on a pension, there is no alternative.

It also means many workers will have to have two careers, for although as a generalisation, we are all living longer, the body will not be able to undertake continuous heavy physical work.

The second career will thus have to be of a more sedentary nature, perhaps passing on skills.

Keeping the elderly in their own homes has to be the best choice, and from a commercial point of view, much cheaper.

Yes, there is the cost of visiting pensioners every day, sometimes up to as many as four visits, but it has to be more economical than having people placed into specialised institutions.

I, as an octogenarian, would much prefer to end my days in my own home than go into a strange place full of rules and regulations.

I am convinced that Government should plan and support a social care industry.

It would at least stop bedblocking in hospitals.

Russell Luckock is chairman of Birmingham pressings firm

AE Harris