Spending on social care services for vulnerable older people has been slashed in the past year, leaving thousands without the care and support they need, according to three leading charities. Help the Aged, Counsel and Care and Carers UK, working together as the ‘Right care Right deal’ campaign, are highlighting evidence from a new NHS report into social services expenditure, which shows a real terms decrease of £150 million for older people’s social care services, a drop of two per cent.
 
Older people were one of the only groups to face spending cuts in care services last year.  The ‘Right care Right deal’ campaign is warning that these cuts, combined with tightening eligibility criteria and an ageing population, mean millions of older and disabled people will go without the care and support they need.
 
Paul Cann, Director of Policy and External Relations for Help the Aged and spokesperson for the Right care Right deal campaign, says: “It’s disgraceful that older people have once again been the victim of spending cuts – for many, a two per cent decrease will mean a reduced care service or no care service at all.  In reality this might mean people can't get up in the morning, leave the house or shop for food.
 
“It simply doesn’t make sense that despite the growing numbers of older people needing care, the overall amount of care provided is decreasing – this invariably means more pressure on carers and family putting their health, employment and finances at risk.
 
“The Government must do much more to fix the buckling care system – it is simply outrageous that 1.5 million older people with needs are forced to struggle on without state support because they aren't eligible or can't afford care. The coming Social Care Green Paper will act as a litmus test for whether the Government is committed to improving care for older people.”
 
The ‘Right care Right deal’ campaign can also highlight:
·   2,450,000 older people in England have care needs
·   80 per cent of people in need of home care do not get it from the state
·   According to CSCI, 1.5 million people in England have care and support needs that the state does not meet
·   There are between five and six million unpaid carers looking after a relative or friend
·   Carers are currently saving the UK economy an estimated £87 billion a year