Half a million over-85s will need 24-hour care by 2035
THE number of over-85s in need of round-the-clock care will rocket to almost half a million in the next 16 years.
ageing spouses and offspring who must work longer before retirement will not be able to cope.
This suggests a huge number of specialist carers will need to be recruited and trained.
Nick Forbes of the Local Government Association said: “With Councils say social care is already at breaking point after years of Tory cuts. They want the Government to plug a £3.5billion shortfall expected by 2025.
The worrying research by Newcastle University and the London School of Economics warns that people living longer, increased costs and less funding, things are at breaking point. This ramps up pressure on unpaid carers who are the backbone of the system.”
Report author Carol Jagger said: “It’s a considerable challenge.” That’s double the present figure, according to a new study.