Care crisis as we live longer

LIVING longer means older people now need an extra 16 months of “substantial” care compared to 25 years ago, a study says.

And nearly 4.5 million people will be looking to their families for low-level care within eight years.

The study at Newcastle University found a looming shortage of care home places, with 190,000 more needed by 2035.

Prof Carol Jagger said: “We’ve seen continued gains in life expectancy, but not all of these years have been healthy years.”