Summary
A report from the charity Independent Age and the Strategic Society Centre think tank presents statistical findings about how over two million older people in England struggle to cope in their own homes, due to difficulties with basic tasks including washing, dressing, cooking or eating. Of these people 560,000 are classed as having severe needs, but 160,000 receive little or no help; and 70,000 receive none.
850,000 older people receive help at home, whether paid for by themselves or the council. State / local-authority-funded services are rationed to an increasing extent.
“The Care Act, which comes into effect from April 2015, represents the biggest legal change to England’s care and support system for decades. It places specific new duties on councils to target older people experiencing unmet needs, carers and other groups currently independent of the local authority care system. People who pay for their own care will be encouraged to present themselves for assessment to their council”. (Press release).
Reference
Triggle, N. (2014). Elderly people: thousands ‘left struggling’ at home. London: BBC Health News, November 27th 2014.
This relates to:
Reference
Lloyd, J. (2014). The bigger picture: understanding disability and care in England’s older population. Policy insights and recommendations. London: Independent Age and the Strategic Society Centre, November 2014.
