Caring for Mum and Dad in China and Britain
SIR – China’s decision to revise its one-child rule (report, telegraph.co. uk, October 29) is a stunning, but not unexpected, reversal of a longstanding policy. It reflects a growing understanding of the implications of controlling the birth rate for the demographics of China as a whole.
An increasing number of elderly people, often with dementia or other illnesses, are left stranded in the countryside as their only child moves to one of the mega-cities, such as Shanghai. Funding the care of the elderly will have a serious economic impact in China, and this will have knock-on effects across the globe.
We urgently need collaborative work between researchers in Britain, who are working on the challenges of global ageing, and their colleagues in China to understand these problems, share best practice and develop solutions.
Professor Nikolas Rose Head of Social Science, Health and Medicine King’s College London
SIR – A year ago, our independent report warned that the health and social care systems were heading for a crisis.
One year on, that crisis is becoming apparent in social care. The Government’s manifesto promise to cap the costs of residential care has been shelved. Fewer people are receiving publicly funded care. More people in need are receiving no support at all. Care home providers are closing. Staff shortages are leading to a rise in abuse and neglect.
This is not only causing huge distress to vulnerable people; it is piling pressure on an already overstretched NHS.
Our proposals last year set out how a new settlement could fund social care. Tackling the deficit does not need to be at the expense of older and disabled people in need of care and support.
We call on the Government to ensure protection for social care funding in the forthcoming Spending Review. Beyond that, policymakers must act urgently on our fully costed recommendations to put in place a new settlement for health and social care. Dame Kate Barker Geoff Alltimes Lord Bichard Baroness Greengross Sir Julian Le Grand King’s Fund London W1
SIR – It would be cheaper for me to send my son to Eton than it is to pay for my father’s annual long-term care in an averagely priced Devon care home.
Of course, the quality of lodgings and care at the latter is far below that of Eton. While the care home staff work long hours at very low pay the consortia of care home owners grow richer by the day, raking in huge profits for substandard services.
Jane Robinson
London SW6