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(2)
• 80 per cent of people in need of home care do not get it from the state(2)
• According to CSCI, 1.5 million people in England have care and support needs that the state does not meet(3)
• There are between five and six million unpaid carers looking after a relative or friend(4)
• Carers are currently saving the UK economy an estimated £87 billion a year(5)

Ends

Notes to Editors:

   1. Personal Social Services Expenditure and Unit Costs: England 2007-08

   2. Securing good care for older people. Taking a long-term view, Wanless, D./ King’s Fund 2006

   3. The state of social care 2006-07, Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), 2008

   4. Carers UK fact sheet, website http://www.carersuk.org/

   5. Valuing Carers – calculating the value of unpaid care, Carers UK, 2007

   6. 'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system for older and disabled people, their families and carers. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK’s largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit www.rightcare.org.uk  Members of 'Right care, Right deal' are Counsel and Care, Carers UK and Help the Aged.

   7. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

   8. Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.  Visit www.helptheaged.org.uk  or call 0207 239 1982.