Thousands missing out on social care

A report released today by the Care and Support Alliance, of which the MS Society is a member, has found half a million older and disabled people in England who would have received social care five years ago now receive no local support.

The findings have been released to coincide with the Care Bill, which is being discussed by MPs in Westminster today.

The CSA is calling for a rethink to suggested changes to restrict who gets social care support, and to address the funding crisis in local social care.

Restricted care

The study, carried out by the London School of Economics, examined the social care system over a five year period (2007/8 – 2012) and found the number of people receiving support from councils with tasks such as getting up, getting dressed and getting out of the house has plummeted for five years in a row – by a total of 347,000 since 2008.

Adjusting for socio-demographic change, this is equivalent to 483,000 older and disabled people, who need support for basic tasks like getting washed and having a meal, and the families that care for them, being locked out of the social care system.

Of the 152 councils in England, government figures show 86% now offer care only to those with the highest level of needs – deemed as 'critical' or 'substantial' needs.

It means older and disabled people who are unable to undertake several aspects of personal care, or of work, education or training are no longer eligible for council-funded care.

Limitless care costs

The Government is planning to restrict the number of people who can benefit from the new social care system – those deemed as not having 'critical' or 'substantial' needs will need to pay for their own social care, with no cap on this.

The CSA is calling on the Government to set the eligibility level to 'moderate'. The final decision on where the national threshold will be set will be published for consultation in spring next year and voted on in autumn 2014.