Press Release

Disabled people must not be overlooked in social care debate

July 14 2009

Commenting on Shaping the Future of Care Together, published this afternoon, Su Sayer, Chief Executive of United Response, said:

"There needs to be a proper public debate on the future of social care, which is why the publication of this green paper is so important. The demand for social care continues to rise, partly as a result of demographic changes and increasing life expectancy, and we need to work out as a society how to fund it in the years to come, a question made even more pressing by the current economic situation.

"The paper lays out some bold proposals which will need to be carefully considered and debated in the months to come, however it does not appear to place enough emphasis on how these proposals will affect the lives of disabled people below retirement age. This will need to be resolved.

"Finding the right answer is not going to be easy, which is why everyone involved in social care - including central Government, local authorities, care providers and the general public - need to think not only about how to fund this growing need but also how to use the money that exists more creatively and more effectively.

"Investment in early intervention is one example, where providing just a few hours of support to someone with a moderate learning disability can be a lifeline. Failing to invest in that support, however, can not only damage quality of life, but can lead to deterioration in both mental and physical health, costing the taxpayer more in the long run. This is a false economy at a time when we can least afford one, and yet many local authorities are currently withdrawing support from people with moderate needs.

"In 2007, Ivan Lewis – the then care services minister – called the way we used to treat people with learning disabilities "a scandal which disfigured our society." Abandoning the progress made and going backwards would be even more scandalous, which is why we must continue to make our arguments for a strong, properly funded and efficient social care system ."

United Response case study - Alice's story

Alice is in her forties and has Down's Syndrome. She lives at home with her mother, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia. She is assessed as having moderate needs, and as such falls below the threshold where many local authorities provide support. Until recently, she received three days of support through a day service, but this recently closed.

Alice cannot travel independently and needs support with daily living activities such as cooking, managing money and travelling. Without support, she is at risk of increasing social isolation and deteriorating mental and physical health. Timely intervention now, to help her develop independent living skills, could prevent her needing far more intensive and expensive care in the future