A hugely welcome report - but the Government must tackle the spiralling crisis in social care immediately

30 March 2006

Age Concern’s response to the King’s Fund report by Sir Derek Wanless on Social Care and Older People

Age Concern’s Director-General, Gordon Lishman, said:

“This groundbreaking report has rightly highlighted the enormity of the social care crisis gripping the nation and will hopefully pave the way for a long overdue debate. Chronic under-funding is denying thousands of older people the help and support they need and the situation will only get worse without action. The Government cannot afford to bury its head in the sand any longer and must introduce immediate short-term measures to ease the growing crisis.

“It is appalling that less money is spent on social care for older people per head than any other adult group, despite the over 65s being the biggest users of health and social care services.1 Unless the Government rapidly invests much more in preventative services - aimed at preventing falls, helping people to keep active and helping with household tasks - thousands more risk losing their dignity, independence and health. The report clearly recognises that too many older people are missing out on the help they need because limited funding has to be targeted at those with the highest needs.

“The report’s recommendation to scrap means-testing for personal care will be very popular with older people who find the means-test deeply worrying, complex and intrusive. Many older people tell us they are furious that they get nothing from a system that they have paid into all their lives. The idea that all who need it will be entitled to a free basic package of care, with a ‘partnership’ of matched funding in place to pay for additional care, certainly sounds like good news but the devil will be in the detail. The needs of those who are unable to contribute themselves must also be adequately met.

“The publication of this report is a defining moment for social care and it is crucial that the Government does not gloss over the recommendations. Older people have been treated as second class citizens for too long. The Government must launch a public debate to discuss what needs to be done in the long-term and announce a substantial increase in funding for social care in its next Comprehensive Spending Review.” 2

- Ends -

Notes to editors

1. Source: Government Statistical Service 'Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care 2004/5'
2. The next Comprehensive Spending Review will be published in 2007. It will examine the working of the spending reviews since 1997 and set out the priorities for the next ten years.