England is stuck in a rut on social care.

In trying to deliver better care to individuals whose needs are pressing, we have forgotten that social care is there to help people live fuller, more independent lives. Instead, social care has become a distress service, meeting only the needs of the poorest and most debilitated.

Over recent years, councils have cut back on the services that they provide to older and disabled people. They face a difficult choice between spending funds on people with urgent needs or investing in low level and more preventative services.

The cost of care is rising. It is likely that in the future individuals will be asked to contribute to their own care. Yet, according to recent surveys, two thirds of people in the UK say they have no plans to put any money aside to fund their social care in older age.

Moreover, when faced with a choice of local authority support, paying for a private service or turning to family and friends, two thirds of people are likely to seek help from family or friends.

Unfortunately, the current care system ignores these vital links with family and friends. Carers' needs are often overlooked. Information is inaccessible and support is sporadic and often arbitrary. Most carers seem to stumble upon help rather than being approached with solutions in the first instance.