Social care ‘debate not just about the elderly’

Social care debates continue to focus on the elderly and in the process overshadow the care needs of other adults, a national charity has claimed.

According to Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society, the needs of working age adults with disabilities, including those with autism, need to be factored into any discussion on social care.

“It is about time parliament recognised that the social care debate is not just about older people. It must be acknowledged that people with serious, lifelong and disabling conditions may be less able to save and pay for their social care,” he said.

Mr Lever stated that people with autism have been misunderstood and discriminated against for too long, adding that the current system is “counter-productive” and “often lets people reach crisis point before they get any help”.

His comments came after the government announced its plans for the National Care Service, which said anyone who has spent longer than two years in residential care will not have to pay for the service from 2014.