Urgent Change Needed for Social Care for Elderly

The numbers of older people who need social care from the state is, according to Age UK's recent report, due to rise from 800,000 to one million by 2014.

This situation must improve so that those in the latter years of their lives are accorded the care that they need. At the moment, social care for the elderly is inadequately funded, and the legal framework to make it possible is in a state of chaos.

At present, elderly people often find that the only way to fund their care is to sell the family home, as they receive little or no support from social services who are working under restricted budgets. Investment in social care has increased by only 0.1 per cent per year in real terms since 2004 as central government has made large cuts in its support to local councils.

The problem is spiralling as, since 2004, the number of over 85s has increased by two thirds so demand for social care for the elderly is greater than ever. For the problem to be resolved requires a change in thinking on the part of government; a more imaginative approach. It calls for a new partnership between the citizen and the state with both parties contributing more to the eventual financial settlement.

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