Fix UK care jam, Ham
A FRIEND and I compete to find the most tacky nativity scenes. My favourite is one made from shotgun cartridges – cos nothing says Goodwill toAll Men like a spent bullet. So I laughed when I saw the Greggs advent calendar replacing Jesus with a sausage roll – even though I knew others would find it offensive. The wise men in marketing are rubbing their I COULDN’T sleep the other night because I was worrying about my old age.
I’ve been on a hospital course for chronic pain management – because of spinal problems – and it’s proved really helpful.
So helpful, in fact, that I enthusiastically joined a PE session... and put my back out.
It’s nothing dire but it got me down. Because I’d just read a study revealing folk who are unfit in their 50s are three times more likely to develop dementia a decade later. And I’m 53.
Then, while sorting paperwork, I realised I’d lost track of an old I SA. So I l ay i n bed catastrophising that by 63 I’d be broke, disabled and suffering f r om Alzheimer’s, and wondering what selling my home would pay for care-wise.
Next morning a quick call to the bank reassured me my savings were safe. And I felt a bit ashamed.
Because I’m far better off than many women my age, both physically and financially. I’ve got a London property, a company pension and savings and I’m being helped to get my fitness back.
But I dread to think what the future holds for the frail 50-somethings who develop dementia, or other disabling conditions.
Because Britain is in the grip of a social care crisis that is deepening every day.
Care home fees have shot up by 25 per cent in five years and now average £33,094 a year. But pensions have stagnated at £14,522, enough for five months’ care – while the average stay in a residential home is 30 months.
So if you have no savings you will have to sell your home and only when that’s all-but gone can you apply for council help with care costs.
But we are all living longer, which is forcing up demand.
The Local Government Association says at by 2020 60p in every £ of council tax revenue will be spent on social care. And the NHS boss has warned it needs £4billion just to keep going.
We urgently need a joinedup, properly-funded health and care system – something Chancellor Philip Hammond must acknowledge and address in Wednesday’s Budget. The British public are prepared to do their bit. A YouGov poll reveals backing for a one per cent rise in National Insurance or income tax, either of which could generate £5billion.
And if ordinary folk are willing to dig deep Mr Hammond must also crack down on tax dodgers and make big corporations pay more too.
It’s the only way to stop this painful crisis in health and social care – so the sick and elderly can rest more easily in their beds. I LOVE my job because I get to interview people from all walks of life.
And no matter how different our worlds I can usually find out what makes them tick. But not Tamara Ecclestone. I couldn’t work out what drove the Formula One heiress – apart from her dad Bernie’s chauffeur.
She was flogging superyachts when we met and seemed rudderless. But vast wealth must make real ambition a bit redundant.
Watching her new TV show Tamara’s hands, though – because sausage roll sales went through the roof. But perhaps other firms planning Christmas gimmicks could avoid besmirching the Saviour’s name and stick to carols. Like Ding Dong Merrily On Pie or Once in Roll David City. And I’ve got a winner for Domino’s – the Good King Wenceslas pizza. Deep pan crisp and even. World I was pleased she now has real purpose in life – daughter Sophia, three. But seeing her £70million mansion, 95 designer bags, 81 sets of Victoria’s Secret jim-jams and 37 pairs of Channel espadrilles I recalled one thing that riled Tamara when we spoke. “I get fed up with people sniping about my wealth,” she sighed. I suggest you stop flaunting it in a vulgar reality show – or flog a few Tamara’s World trinkets in aid of third world causes.