ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the government review of means-testing long-term care for the elderly and disabled.

Alistair Darling's comprehensive spending review included proposals for a green paper on the issue.

The document said the government would consult on reforming the care system, focusing on older people and on making it sustainable and affordable.

Stakeholder response:

To send a comment to Carers UK click here

A spokesman said: "Carers UK has been campaigning for better clarity about how we pay for social care and better investment in those services which is critically needed and we've warmly welcomed the announcement by Alistair Darling that there will be a new settlement for social care that will look at some system of co-payment.

"This follows hot on the heels of new evidence published by Carers UK from the University of Leeds which shows that the social care system is failing carers who are working, costing significant amounts to the Treasury in lost employment capacity and business turnover.

"Carers UK advises families every day who are shocked to find that they have to pay for care in the community - as they believe it will be free - like the NHS.  

"The system that we have now is already heavily means-tested for older and disabled people - that is not new.  

"Part of the problem is that families don't plan for the need to pay for care, leaving care funding on a short-term and unsustainable basis - and with limited funds from central government, this leaves local authorities cutting back more and more on social care. 

"The impact of the current system can be devastating.

"This announcement and dialogue is good news because it recognises that we need a sustainable and affordable basis for funding social care in the future."

Stakeholder response: Help the Aged

To send a comment to Help the Aged click here

Paul Cann, director of policy and external relations at Help the Aged, said: "The commitment to reform of the social care funding system is to be much welcomed - and is long overdue.

"We cannot underestimate the importance of fixing what many older people experience as a broken system - unfit for the future and unable to deliver the quality of care they deserve.

"The focus given by Alan Johnson in today's statement on dignity for older people comes not before time and is the culmination of years of campaigning by Help the Aged and other groups. 

"In a civilised society, it must be the top priority for government to ensure that our older population receive the care and treatment they need in a way which empowers them as individuals. To achieve this, there must be zero tolerance of neglect of older people in any care or health setting 

"Help the Aged is also pleased that the government is now talking about committing real resource to raising this country's game on public health.  

"The evidence clearly demonstrates that investing early prevents us paying heavy prices later - work around falls prevention is a prime example of this and is surely a strong candidate for some of the new finance the secretary of state has promised."