Take politics out of care funding

By Tony Watts - Editor - 08/03/2010

The unprecedented political focus on how to fund care for older people shows no sign of diminishing, with a White Paper on care expected this month.

 

Such a high level of political attention is long overdue: all of the political parties have – at long last - recognised the need for fundamental reform. The concern now amongst all those in the care provision sector is that the debate is not degraded into a party political football – or that the subject is lost in the lead up to the election.

 

In the words of Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel and Care, “It is vital that the motivation behind the calls for change is not forgotten. The growing number of older people left to struggle on their own or with family carers should prompt all politicians to commit to long-term solutions for better care.

 

“The vision for reform must be ambitious and based on the acknowledgment that care and support for older people in this country is substantially underfunded.” “Calls to Counsel and Care’s advice service,” says Mr Burke, “demonstrate this funding gap day in, day out. What is more, further cuts to councils’ care budgets seem likely.

 

“These pressures, together with our ageing population will, without major intervention and proper funding, encourage the current care funding gap to increase rapidly. It is inevitable that better care will cost more for everyone who can afford to contribute. We need an honest and serious debate that recognises this reality.”

 

Because the funding of care has such long term implications, the obvious way forward is for all parties to work together to generate a consensus solution that would survive future changes in government. 

This possibility, however, was blown out of the water during February when ‘secret talks’ between the three parties were leaked to the press by shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley. The Conservative Party then accused Labour of planning a ‘£20,000 death tax’.

 

Voice of Older People Joan Bakewell told MT: “In the weeks and months 

prior to an election politicians are seized by collective madness.  

They rush around feverishly creating initiatives, slogans and posters.  Meanwhile the old and lonely live lives of quiet desperation.  The time is ripe for a nationwide and thorough debate among the citizens of this country.  The politicians are too pre- occupied to help.”

 

Care campaigners like Counsel and Care believe there is a strong case for a transparent funding system. “One way to generate the extra funding needed for better care would be a care duty on estates, but it must be done fairly through a percentage on all estates above a certain value. For example, 2.5% on estates above £25,000 would raise enough to meet the current shortfall in care funding. And it would help older people and their families who currently face losing their home to pay for care.”

 

Adds Mr Burke: “We need to work together to create a universal care system which everyone can use and benefit from. Finally, a new care system must reflect the reality of older people’s and carers’ lives. 

They don’t just depend on social care but also on better housing, transport, safety and community facilities as well as adequate income.

“Radical action is needed to deliver a national care service that truly meets the needs of our ageing population wherever people live,” concludes Mr Burke.

 

“In order to achieve this, action must be based on finding consensus, where possible, across all political parties.”