Ten years of chronic underfunding of community care has resulted in older people facing increasing rationing of key services, according to a new report.

The study, which was commissioned by Help the Aged, argues that changes in policy, such as the withdrawal of the NHS from almost all long-term provision and changes in capital limits for residential and nursing home care have led to a disproportionate allocation of resources going into hospital care at the expense of social care.

Forum Response: Help the Aged

Gail Elkington, policy officer at Help the Aged, told ePolitix.com: "Funding has simply not kept pace with need and this is having disastrous consequences for older people.

"It is recognised that prevention is a key principle of social care. Yet more and more people are facing barriers, rationing, uncertainty and long delays. We urgently need to see this chronic inadequacy in funding addressed in the chancellor's forthcoming comprehensive spending review.

"We also want to see far greater transparency from local authorities about what people can expect from service providers. For example, many older people find that the eligibility criteria are tightened or cut. They fear charges may be levied. Reductions in staffing levels are leading to long waiting times for assessment and services."