Our care lags way
THE nation’s social care system for the elderly is “in crisis” and has badly fallen behind similar countries such as Germany and Japan, according to a report released yesterday.
While other advanced nations have reformed the way they care for the elderly, England is now woefully out of date, research has found.
As a result, more and more older people are having to shell out on care in their more advanced years.
Charities for older people warned that as a nation this has led to a “lost generation” who have missed out on the help available in other countries.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, which commissioned the Incisive Health report, said: “Sadly, this new report shows England has been left behind in the race to update the funding of care for older people, compared to some other similar nations.
“As a result, our older people and their families are paying more and bearing a lot more of the risk of needing expensive long term care.
“What’s more, the freezing of thresholds and allowances in recent years has made our offer to older people in this country even stingier.
“The reality is that an entire generation of older people in England has lost out, given that Germany embarked on care funding reforms in 1995 and Japan in 2000. Here, we have had to make do with a succession of consultations gathering dust.
“It is crucial that the forthcoming social care Green Paper isn’t yet another failed exercise. The evidence but if they can do it in these other countries surely we can here too. And the sooner we start the better.”
The report found that in England, charges for care have increased as local authorities have come under growing financial pressure.
In 2010/11 the average charge was £2,016.49 per year. By 2013/14 this had risen to £2,563.90.
In addition, since 2010, the Personal Expenses Allowance in a care home – the amount someone can keep out of their income for themselves – has only risen by £2.60 to £24.30 a week.
Mike Birtwistle, founding partner at Incisive Health, said the social care system in the UK was now in crisis and he called on the Government to act.
Councillor James Jamieson, vice chairman of the Local Government Association, agreed.
He said: “Adult social care is at breaking point due to years of underfunding, rising demand and costs for care and support. Council tax payers cannot bear the costs of solving this crisis on their own.
“There is a pressing need to bridge a £3.5billion funding gap facing adult social care by 2025, just to maintain existing standards. Action is needed.”
Glen Garrod, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “With an ageing population and a significant funding gap facing adult social care it’s crucial that the Government seize the opportunity of the upcoming Green Paper to explain how it will put social care on a sustainable, long-term footing.”
Last night a Government spokesman said: “We have provided local authorities access to £9.4billion in dedicated social care funding over the last three years. Our Green Paper will set out our plans to reform the system to ensure it’s sustainable for the future.”