TEN Reforms in
THE mastermind behind a 10-yearold plan to cap catastrophic care costs urged Boris Johnson yesterday to “act on his promise” of reform.
Sir Andrew Dilnot spoke out as 76 charities blasted a decade of “wasted years” for the crisis-hit system.
Former economist Sir Andrew, now warden of Nuffield College, Oxford, said: “Fixing social care is no luxury and it’s long overdue.
“In the last 10 years we have seen the numbers of older people grow, yet funding has failed to keep up.”
The 2011 Dilnot Commission report said pensioners’ care costs should be capped at about £35,000, with a means test threshold of £100,000, enabling elderly people to keep more of their assets.
But over the years the savings level, which determines if you are entitled to help with care bills, has been frozen at £23,250.
If the threshold had kept up with inflation since 2010/11, it would be nearly £6,000 more.
Meanwhile, the average cost of a care home place has risen 34 per cent to £672 a week – underestimating the charges faced by those in London and the South East.
Galling
There are now 1.7 million more older people and an additional 857,000 adults who have disabilities, compared with 10 years ago.
Charities coalition the Care and Support Alliance says since 2012/13, vacancies in the sector have soared 82 per cent, with 45,000 additional empty posts.
A poll by the group found 83 per cent of people want the care system fixed “once and for all”.
Alliance co-chairman and Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “It’s galling to think what a wasted decade this has been for social care here.”
Sir Andrew said: “The distressing scenes we saw through the pandemic of the struggles of the social care sector have just underlined the need for action.
“The way people are looked after when they are at their most needy is a good measure of the strength of a society and right now, we don’t measure up well in England.
“It’s hugely encouraging that the Prime Minister has said we will ‘fix social care’. Now is the time to act on that promise.”
Ms Abrahams added: “In many respects social care has got worse here over these 10 years and the huge rise in staff vacancies is a big part of the reason why.
“It’s time for the Prime
Minister to stand by his word and for politicians in all parties to demonstrate leadership on an issue which should be above politics.”
She has also called for a cash injection for town halls to meet demand in their communities and “strengthen and professionalise the social care workforce”.
Mr Johnson made his historic promise to “fix social care once and for all” on the steps of 10