£25k per person per year: the shortfall in care for older people

Charity calls on government to adopt radical new framework to meet ‘care funding gap’

Informal and private care is plugging a funding gap of £25k for every disabled person over the age of 65 in Britain today says a new report from national charity, Counsel and Care. Millions of people are relying on loved ones or their life-savings, simply to make up the £66.4 billion shortfall.

Drawing on new survey evidence from Counsel and Care’s Advice Service, the report also points to “widespread confusion” about the care system caused by the lack of funding, an information gap and a strong perception of unfairness.
Counsel and Care is calling for 2008 to be ‘the year of the care debate’. In a unique framework for care and support published last month – A Charter for Change – the charity states that:

• 1.9 million disabled people over the age of 65 receive no state-funded care and rely on informal care, a figure set to grow to 2.6 million by 2022
  
• the combined value of informal unpaid and privately funded care for over 65s has escalated to £66.4 billion every year. Most people are reliant on friends and family to make up the shortfall
  
• 3 in 4 local authorities only provide care to those whose needs are “critical” or “substantial”
  
• the cost of social care is expected to rise from the 2002 level of £10.1 billion to £24.0 billion by 2026 in response to our ageing population.

Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel and Care said: “On current rates of population growth alone, the costs of social care will double in twenty years. But this is not just a crisis of funding. It’s a crisis of fairness and a crisis of confidence.

“We know from our Advice Service that there is a real frustration amongst older people and their carers with the lack of fairness and lack of clarity over who is actually eligible for care. Widespread confusion is also rife on issues like self-funding and there is a huge gap in information about local services, particularly from local authorities.”

Counsel and Care is a national charity getting the best care and support for older people, their families and carers. Counsel and Care reaches 100,000 people through its Advice Service every year.

Advice on issues affecting older people can be obtained by calling 0845 300 7585 or emailing advice@counselandcare.org.uk.

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