Some of the most vulnerable members of our society are the elderly
– Retired and often living alone, many can struggle to pay bills and look after themselves without assistance.
It is no surprise then that these people felt the effects more so than anyone when the government announced cuts to social care.
The Numbers :
The number of over 65’s being helped by councils has fallen by 26% to 850,000 in the four years to 2014 despite our ageing population needing more and more help.
A report commissioned by The King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust has identified that the care and support older people receive is more dependent on where they live and how much money they have, as opposed to their needs.
The report has assessed the status of social care services for elderly people in England and takes into account the impact of cuts in local authority spending on providers of social care as well as older people and their families.
It has become clear that many social and home care providers are under immense pressure.
Local authorities are having to make tough choices on where to make cuts, and there is an increased reliance on volunteers to provide care. Indeed, spending on care by councils had fallen by 25% in real terms in the five years to 2015, and it is estimated that approximately one million people with care needs receive no help. This equates to a rise of 10% in a year.
Some Positive News
On a brighter note, the government said it was, in fact, investing in the care system. £5bn has been put aside to encourage work and development between the NHS and the care sector. An additional £1.5bn should be added to that by 2019, and councils have been authorised to increase council tax by 2% a year to invest in care services.
The Great Care Company is different from other home care providers because we provide a truly personalised service tailored to your exact needs. When you enquire with us, we schedule a free care assessment where we can work with you to create a care plan just for you.
If you’d like to hear about how we can help you, give us a call on 0333 200 7199 or get in touch.