Social care ‘timebomb’ means reform is urgent, says London Councils
The current system for accessing and funding adult social care is overly complicated and financially unsustainable, London Councils warned today.
The warning comes as the organisation publishes the results of a survey revealing widespread uncertainty among Londoners about how the social care system works, and a lack of planning for their own future care needs.
The survey found that four out of 10 people who have a relative with social care needs find it difficult to know who to speak to once they are in the system, or to understand what care is free and what needs to be paid for.
It also revealed that most Londoners were not concerned about their future care needs, with only one in 10 expressing ‘great concern’ and a further third being concerned only to some extent.
This is despite the social care funding timebomb caused by the capital’s increasingly ageing population. In 2008/09 London boroughs spent £2.4 billion on adult social care, of which £1.1 billion was on services for people aged 65 and over.
The capital has 900,000 residents aged 65 and over, and this is set to increase to 1.25 million by 2031. And the ageing population is in itself ageing – between 2006 and 2035 the UK’s over 85 population is expected to double.
Despite this growing burden, the majority of respondents clearly saw the provision and funding of social care as a state responsibility, rather than a personal one.
However, Londoners were also asked for their views on how best to encourage people to join a savings scheme to provide for future care and reduce the burden on the state. The most popular option was for government to match fund contributions to a scheme, with 51 per cent thinking this would encourage participation.
Responding to Londoners’ views, London Councils is calling on the government to:
* urgently investigate alternative funding models for adult social care – with particular emphasis on incentivising residents to save for their own care
* provide funding for local authorities to undertake a pilot scheme which would focus on a single point of contact for social care to make navigating the system easier
* begin an awareness campaign to help people understand the need to plan for old age, with more clarity about what services are currently provided free and what services are self funded by the person in need of social care
* work with unpaid carers and local authorities to develop a package of respite and support for unpaid or informal carers to relieve them of the pressures of caring for older relatives and friends.
London Councils’ Executive Member for Health and Adult Services Councillor Mike Freer said:
“The evidence from this survey backs up what councils have long warned – the social care system is confusing and difficult to navigate. We need to make it much easier for our vulnerable residents and their families to understand how to access care – and which elements are free to them.
“But even more pressing is the need to reform the way we fund social care. The current system is creaking at the seams and is already being propped up by relatives who are providing care for relatives without the support or recognition they deserve.
“The system simply will not be able to cope with the future demands soon to be placed on it. The government needs to investigate alternative funding models as a matter of urgency, before it is too late.”
The survey was carried out by CELLO mruk who carried out a total of 1,011 telephone interviews with Londoners aged 18-64. The sample was representative of the population in terms of age, gender and ethnicity.
The release of the survey results is timed to coincide with the publishing of the government’s anticipated social care green paper – expected the week beginning Monday 15 June 2009.
Other key findings included:
* One in six of people contacted have a parent or close relative aged over 65 years old with social care needs
* The majority of relatives (63 per cent) lived in their own home – with white elderly relatives tending to live on their own, while a higher proportion of people from BME backgrounds tended to live with family, relatives and friends
* With the exception of personal care, 70 per cent or more of the care is met by a family member, placing a burden on carers for support
* Concern for one’s own social care needs was at a relatively low level and only 14 per cent of respondents indicated that they were making plans for their care in terms of contributing to a savings or insurance scheme
* Residents were informed that the cost of social care in the UK can be up to £1,000 a week and were asked to indicate who should be responsible for paying this cost. Only a fifth thought the person in need of care should meet the cost themselves, and a quarter that they should be met by the family
* Nearly half (44 per cent) wanted more information about how to plan for care in the future.
