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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/15/elderly-people-social-care-cuts-kings-fund-nuffield-trust-report
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| Elderly Britons bearing brunt of cuts to social care, report says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Elderly people are bearing the brunt of cuts to social care, according to a report that warns of an increasing number of care homes going bust. | Elderly people are bearing the brunt of cuts to social care, according to a report that warns of an increasing number of care homes going bust. |
| The study from the King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust found that the care and support older people received depended on where they lived and how rich they were, rather than their level of need. | The study from the King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust found that the care and support older people received depended on where they lived and how rich they were, rather than their level of need. |
| Reductions in how much local authorities pay care homes, or below-inflation increases, mean that some are on the brink of collapse, leaving vulnerable people at risk. | Reductions in how much local authorities pay care homes, or below-inflation increases, mean that some are on the brink of collapse, leaving vulnerable people at risk. |
| The cuts, combined with shortages of nurses and care workers, the introduction of the “national living wage” for staff and increasing reliance on people who can fund their own care, mean that many care homes are under unprecedented pressure, the report said. | |
| It warned of companies going bust in the future, in a similar way to the collapse of Southern Cross in 2011, and others leaving the market. | It warned of companies going bust in the future, in a similar way to the collapse of Southern Cross in 2011, and others leaving the market. |
| “The possibility of large-scale provider failures is no longer a question of if, but when, and such a failure would jeopardise [the] continuity of the care on which older people depend,” the report said. | |
| Over the past five years, local authority spending on care for older and disabled people has fallen by 11% in real terms, and the number of people who received state-funded help had fallen by about one-quarter. | Over the past five years, local authority spending on care for older and disabled people has fallen by 11% in real terms, and the number of people who received state-funded help had fallen by about one-quarter. |
| This means that growing numbers of people are outside the system, struggling with basic needs such as washing, dressing and getting out of bed. | |
| The report warned: “No one has a full picture of what has happened to older people who are no longer entitled to publicly funded care. The human and financial costs to them and those who care for them are mounting.” | The report warned: “No one has a full picture of what has happened to older people who are no longer entitled to publicly funded care. The human and financial costs to them and those who care for them are mounting.” |
| Unpaid carers, such as family and friends, will be expected to do even more in future, the report added. It said public spending on adult social care was set to fall to less than 1% of GDP by 2020 and many councils would struggle to meet basic statutory duties. | |
| The fact that care is becoming more about what people can afford, the report said, means those who are “relatively well off and well informed” will do better than the poorest, “who are reliant on an increasingly threadbare local authority safety net”. | |
| The report also pointed to the rapid growth in delayed discharges from hospital, which are at the highest level in history, as a symptom of issues with social care. | |
| Richard Humphries, the assistant director of policy at the King’s Fund, said: “The failure of successive governments to reform social care has resulted in a failing system that leaves older people, their families and carers to pick up the pieces. | Richard Humphries, the assistant director of policy at the King’s Fund, said: “The failure of successive governments to reform social care has resulted in a failing system that leaves older people, their families and carers to pick up the pieces. |
| “Putting this right will be a key test of the prime minister’s promise of a more equal country that works for everyone – there is no more burning injustice in Britain today than older people being denied the care they need to live with independence and dignity.” | “Putting this right will be a key test of the prime minister’s promise of a more equal country that works for everyone – there is no more burning injustice in Britain today than older people being denied the care they need to live with independence and dignity.” |
| Ruth Thorlby, the deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, said: “No one can predict whether they will have care needs later in life. But if they do find they need help with the basics – eating, washing, going to the toilet – most will discover that, unlike a health problem, where care is free, they somehow have to manage themselves. | Ruth Thorlby, the deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, said: “No one can predict whether they will have care needs later in life. But if they do find they need help with the basics – eating, washing, going to the toilet – most will discover that, unlike a health problem, where care is free, they somehow have to manage themselves. |
| “Our research found that local authorities have done their best to make savings, while protecting funding for the poorest, but care providers are struggling on the low fees councils can afford. | “Our research found that local authorities have done their best to make savings, while protecting funding for the poorest, but care providers are struggling on the low fees councils can afford. |
| “Shortages of home care staff and affordable care home places mean older people are often stuck in hospital, putting both their lives and vital NHS processes on hold. The number of older people needing care is increasing and yet we are continuing to put less money in.” | “Shortages of home care staff and affordable care home places mean older people are often stuck in hospital, putting both their lives and vital NHS processes on hold. The number of older people needing care is increasing and yet we are continuing to put less money in.” |
| Figures show a 26% reduction in the number of older people receiving care funded by local authorities, from more than 1.1 million in 2009 to 853,615 in 2013-14. | |
| Phil McCarvill, the assistant director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: “Insufficient social care funding is now the most urgent threat to the NHS and the wider health and care system.” | Phil McCarvill, the assistant director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said: “Insufficient social care funding is now the most urgent threat to the NHS and the wider health and care system.” |
| The parliamentary and health service ombudsman, Julie Mellor, said: “Our investigations have uncovered that older patients often fall through the cracks between health and social care when discharged from hospital, causing them and their families untold distress and suffering. | The parliamentary and health service ombudsman, Julie Mellor, said: “Our investigations have uncovered that older patients often fall through the cracks between health and social care when discharged from hospital, causing them and their families untold distress and suffering. |
| “The issues of funding and lack of integration between health and social care need to be addressed so that older people get the support they so desperately need.” | “The issues of funding and lack of integration between health and social care need to be addressed so that older people get the support they so desperately need.” |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: “We understand the social care system is under pressure, and this government is committed to ensuring those in old age throughout the country can get affordable and dignified care. | A Department of Health spokesman said: “We understand the social care system is under pressure, and this government is committed to ensuring those in old age throughout the country can get affordable and dignified care. |
| “That’s why we have introduced landmark reforms to ensure no one should have to sell their home to pay for care in their lifetime, and why we’re significantly increasing the amount of money local authorities have access to for social care, by up to £3.5bn by 2020. | “That’s why we have introduced landmark reforms to ensure no one should have to sell their home to pay for care in their lifetime, and why we’re significantly increasing the amount of money local authorities have access to for social care, by up to £3.5bn by 2020. |
| “Our [2014] Care Act gave new rights to carers and we will be publishing a new carers strategy shortly.” |