The
long term funding of social care for the elderly is one of the greatest
challenges facing Britain today. Yet the stark reality is the care system is
struggling to function.
Earlier
this year it was likened to a ‘humanitarian crisis’ and now a new poll, carried
out by older people’s charity Independent Age, reveals that nine out of 10 MPs
do not believe the
social care system is fit for purpose.It
is a damning indictment on governments both past and present that have failed to
adequately tackle what is fast becoming a ticking time bomb.
Theresa
May’s Government has promised a consultation on social care, but for this to
bring about fundamental change it must set out a long-term vision that has
cross-party support. The Department of Health has provided an additional £2bn
that plugs the funding gap in the short-term, but we urgently need a lasting
solution that integrates health and social care services and is sustainable for
many years to come.
There
are no easy answers but for too long political leaders have failed to properly
tackle this issue, one that affects every family in the country.
The
scale of the challenge should not be underestimated. Britain has an ageing
society with more of us living for longer, which means an unprecedented number
of older people need support in later life.
The
trouble is high-quality care is hard to find and costly and it is ordinary
families that are holding this creaking system together. Unpaid work by UK
carers equates to £132bn a year, a sum which is more than double the estimated
cost of HS2.
However,
this is an issue that goes beyond just money. This is about the kind of support
we want for our loved ones. And if we do not radically overhaul the entire
health and care system now we are only creating a far bigger problem further
down the road. Yorkshire
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