Families shock at months to wait for care home places
PEOPLE dramatically underestimate the costs and the time it takes to find care for elderly relatives, a survey has revealed.
Many expect it to take a working week or less to find a care home or carers to visit relatives in their own home, not the month or more that is reality.
One in five people surveyed searched for longer than two months and one in 10 had to wait longer than four months or was not able to find a provider.
This leaves the NHS with the bill as patients well enough to leave hospital take up beds.
And there is a nasty financial shock in store.
More than a third (35 per cent) believe care homes cost less than £400 a week.
About 15 per cent expect home support to cost less than £200 a week and 10 per cent believe regular visits are free.
But Age UK said residential care can cost more than £600 a week and even the most basic at-home care could cost around £270 for 14 hours each week.
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Director Caroline Abrahams said yesterday: “Many people’s first experience of the care system is during a time of crisis and people are unaware of how the social care system works or what is available.
“Things are so bad in some places that it is becoming impossible to source care, even if you can afford it.
“The idea that there will always be a care home or home care agency able to help you in your neighbourhood is not the reality for growing numbers.
“We see the prospect next year of total system collapse in the worst-affected areas.
“Millions of older and disabled people depend on social care to stay safe and well while living their lives on their own terms.When good care is available it makes a fantastic difference, however this is something that is not readily available.
“The money the Chancellor pledged in the recent Spending Review was welcome but this will only paper over the cracks for a while and is not a substitute for the long-term plan and the sustainable funding model social care badly needs.
“While Brexit sucks all the political oxygen out of the air, millions of older people who need care are having to make do with a care system that’s way past its sell-by date.” The UK’s first care comparison website Care Sourcer surveyed more than 2,000 people and found four in 10 people are supporting their loved ones on top of the formal help.
Chief executive Andrew Parfery said: “The results are clear – Britons are underestimating the realities.
“And not only do they expect care to be found much more quickly and easily than is really the case, in many instances they are having to eventually settle for care that is located much further away than they hoped.
“Our care system is struggling. There is a missing link between providers and those seeking support.We think technology can be the answer by matching people to providers.”