800,000 elderly people in care crisis
By Adrian Roberts, Morning Star, Monday May 30th 2011
Hundreds of thousands of older people who need social care in England are not receiving formal support from the private or public sector, charity Age UK warned today.
It said the figure of 800,000 was likely to reach a million by 2014 as a result of the government's budget cuts.
According to Age UK's Crisis in Care report, two million older people in England currently need care.
The charity predicts that by 2014 spending would be £250 million less in real terms than in 2004.
Age UK director Michelle Mitchell said: "Care and support in England has reached breaking point, putting older people at risk and their families under intolerable strain.
"The figures we have uncovered beggar belief."
The report said the criteria for receiving care are getting tougher.
Half of councils provided support to people found to have "moderate" needs in 2005-6, but that figure dropped to 18 per cent in 2011-12.
Age UK's director of policy and public affairs Andrew Harrop said: "There has been unprecedented debate on the future of care - both its long-term funding and the 'transformation' of council provision today.
"But in the meantime local authority spending decisions have changed the 'facts on the ground' with a significant deterioration in services for older people."
Since 2004 net spending on older people's care has risen by just 0.1 per cent each year in real terms - a total of £43m, while real spending on the NHS has increased by £25 billion.
"Spending cuts are projected to reduce spending on older peoples' care by £300m over four years," Mr Harrop said.
"Real spending on older people's care will be £250m lower in 2014 than in 2004. Over the same period the number of people over 85 has risen by two-thirds."
The charity also found large regional variations in quality and quantity of care for older people, with Tower Hamlets spending five times as much per person as Cornwall.
Age UK is now calling for the government to reform the system and commit £2bn to £3bn for older people's care.
It wants the government to set money aside for everyone who needs care, regardless of their income.
An independent review into the system is due to publish its findings in July.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The government recognises the urgent need to reform the social care system - an ageing population and rising expectations make the current system completely unsustainable."
He added that plans to be put forward later this year would "put in place a lasting and fair settlement for social care."
