The Commission faced with the task of devising a sustainable system for long term care funding has made it clear that it is taking the broadest approach to its task – including looking at money currently committed to disability benefits.
It is encouraging that the Commission will not seek a simple one-size-fits-all reform. The Conservatives fought the general election on a policy of unlimited care funding in return for a voluntary, one-off insurance payment of “around £8,000″; Labour planned a national care service, which in stage one would have guaranteed free domiciliary (home) care for people with the highest needs and, in stage two, free residential care after two years in a care home; the Liberal Democrats, whilst proposing a commission to sort out a solution, nevertheless favoured a “partnership” scheme by which the state would match individual contributions pound for pound above a universal minimum.
Reform of the system has become more pressing due to our ageing population. Over the next 20 years, an estimated 1.7 million more people will have a care need; of the present cohort of 65 year. At the same time councils are warning that home care for hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people could be withdrawn as spending cuts force them to restrict services to those with “critical” needs.
The Commission has been charged by the government with producing a comprehensive analysis of the issues, recommendations for reform and an implementation blueprint – all by July. The next few months will be very interesting!!
For more information please contact Bluebird Care on 0161 210 3746
