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| Councils reject two-thirds of requests for care | Councils reject two-thirds of requests for care |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Two-thirds of older and disabled people in England who turn to their local councils for help with care are turned away, figures show. | Two-thirds of older and disabled people in England who turn to their local councils for help with care are turned away, figures show. |
| Nearly 1.85 million requests for support were made last year, but just over 650,000 people received help. | Nearly 1.85 million requests for support were made last year, but just over 650,000 people received help. |
| Councils have been warning for a number of years that a shortage of funding is causing problems. | Councils have been warning for a number of years that a shortage of funding is causing problems. |
| But the Health and Social Care Information Centre figures shows how difficult it is for people to get help. | |
| Only 144,000 of the requests for help resulted in long-term care, which includes places in care homes or help in the home for tasks such as washing and dressing. | Only 144,000 of the requests for help resulted in long-term care, which includes places in care homes or help in the home for tasks such as washing and dressing. |
| Nearly 220,000 got short-term help, such as rehabilitation after discharge from hospital, and another 300,000 got low-level support such as walking aids and telecare. | Nearly 220,000 got short-term help, such as rehabilitation after discharge from hospital, and another 300,000 got low-level support such as walking aids and telecare. |
| The rest either received nothing or were advised to seek help from charities, the NHS or from housing services. | The rest either received nothing or were advised to seek help from charities, the NHS or from housing services. |
| Unlike the NHS, social care is not free so everybody will pay something towards the cost of their care with some covering the entire cost. | Unlike the NHS, social care is not free so everybody will pay something towards the cost of their care with some covering the entire cost. |
| 'Alarming picture' | 'Alarming picture' |
| Meanwhile, a separate survey of nearly 70,000 people who did get help revealed their experiences of care. | Meanwhile, a separate survey of nearly 70,000 people who did get help revealed their experiences of care. |
| Some 65% said they were extremely or very satisfied with their care and 26% were quite satisfied, but one in 10 was not. | Some 65% said they were extremely or very satisfied with their care and 26% were quite satisfied, but one in 10 was not. |
| One in 20 did not feel clean or presentable and the same proportion said they did not always get enough food and drink. | One in 20 did not feel clean or presentable and the same proportion said they did not always get enough food and drink. |
| The care system | The care system |
| Find out more | Find out more |
| Janet Morrison, chief executive of the charity Independent Age, said the figures painted an "alarming picture of services cut back to the bare bones". | Janet Morrison, chief executive of the charity Independent Age, said the figures painted an "alarming picture of services cut back to the bare bones". |
| "This is a direct result of £4.6bn cuts to social care budgets since 2010 and comes despite an ageing population which is increasing the need for these services," she added. | "This is a direct result of £4.6bn cuts to social care budgets since 2010 and comes despite an ageing population which is increasing the need for these services," she added. |
| The figures come after a coalition of health and care groups wrote to the Treasury last month warning that the care sector needed to be protected as the "deepening crisis" was putting people in danger. | The figures come after a coalition of health and care groups wrote to the Treasury last month warning that the care sector needed to be protected as the "deepening crisis" was putting people in danger. |
| The government said its spending plans would be revealed in November, but pointed out that a £5.4bn fund - the Better Care Fund - had been established in April to ensure NHS money was used for services that support council-organised care. | The government said its spending plans would be revealed in November, but pointed out that a £5.4bn fund - the Better Care Fund - had been established in April to ensure NHS money was used for services that support council-organised care. |
| But Izzi Seccombe, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need to see a change to the current perverse funding system which, over the last five years, has seen an increase in funding for the NHS but a decrease in funding for social care. | But Izzi Seccombe, of the Local Government Association, said: "We need to see a change to the current perverse funding system which, over the last five years, has seen an increase in funding for the NHS but a decrease in funding for social care. |
| "This threatens to leave councils struggling to commission the essential support which keeps people out of hospital and living healthier and happier lives in their communities." | "This threatens to leave councils struggling to commission the essential support which keeps people out of hospital and living healthier and happier lives in their communities." |