New poll reveals 'huge gap' on who will pay for care in the future

2.01.34pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th Oct 2007

Lib Dems say Government must provide more money to care for the elderly

Nine out of ten adults expect subsidised care from their council in old age, new research published by MORI has revealed. These figures come at a time new analysis of the Comprehensive Spending Review shows that councils will receive very little additional funding from 2009 to meet the needs of the growing numbers of older people.

People were asked what kind of financial assistance they would expect to receive from their local authority for basic care such as help with shopping, bathing and cleaning. 39 % said that they expected to receive free home care and 54% expected to pay part of the cost. Only 5% expected to have to pay for all their care.

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland said,

" There is a huge gap between what people think they will get and what will actually happen. In Bradford, the budget for adult services in under extreme pressure and is overspending by over £4m this year. We have had to fight to keep washing and dressing services - many other councils have stopped helping people whose needs are assessed as low or moderate and some are not even helping those with substantial needs

It is absolutely essential that the Government provides extra money for social care as the number of older people increases. This year, the extra is just 1% and even this will fall away over the next two years."