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| Tories launch care home guarantee | Tories launch care home guarantee |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A "home protection scheme" to prevent older people having to sell their properties to fund long-term care has been unveiled by the Conservatives. | A "home protection scheme" to prevent older people having to sell their properties to fund long-term care has been unveiled by the Conservatives. |
| In England, residential care costs must be met by the individual if they have assets of more than £23,000. | In England, residential care costs must be met by the individual if they have assets of more than £23,000. |
| But Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said the party would offer a voluntary one-off fee of £8,000 at age 65 to waive residential fees for life. | But Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said the party would offer a voluntary one-off fee of £8,000 at age 65 to waive residential fees for life. |
| Labour is already consulting on ways to cover older peoples' home care costs. | |
| At the Labour Party conference, Gordon Brown outlined plans for a "National Care Service" so those with "the highest needs" could be cared for in their own home. | |
| 'Weight of worry' | 'Weight of worry' |
| The Conservatives say that their scheme could be operated by existing insurers using branded products, with the government setting out basic rules and safeguards to ensure it remained financially viable over the long term. | The Conservatives say that their scheme could be operated by existing insurers using branded products, with the government setting out basic rules and safeguards to ensure it remained financially viable over the long term. |
| They insist the voluntary scheme would be self-financing as only 20% of those paying in would get ill enough to have to draw on the scheme, and say no public money would be needed to operate it. | They insist the voluntary scheme would be self-financing as only 20% of those paying in would get ill enough to have to draw on the scheme, and say no public money would be needed to operate it. |
| The party says 45,000 people are forced to sell their homes each year to pay for residential care, with a typical two-year stay costing £52,000. | The party says 45,000 people are forced to sell their homes each year to pay for residential care, with a typical two-year stay costing £52,000. |
| Writing in the Daily Mail, shadow chancellor George Osborne said it was an injustice that people were forced to sell their houses to fund the cost of going into a care home. | Writing in the Daily Mail, shadow chancellor George Osborne said it was an injustice that people were forced to sell their houses to fund the cost of going into a care home. |
| Mr Lansley added: "This scheme is a genuinely huge step forward for England's care system and will lift a major weight of worry from the shoulders of all older people and their families. | Mr Lansley added: "This scheme is a genuinely huge step forward for England's care system and will lift a major weight of worry from the shoulders of all older people and their families. |
| "In 12 years, Labour have failed to offer older people any hope of a way out of the forced home sales crisis. | "In 12 years, Labour have failed to offer older people any hope of a way out of the forced home sales crisis. |
| "A vote for the Conservatives is now a vote for a real, affordable alternative to losing your home if you need to enter residential care." | "A vote for the Conservatives is now a vote for a real, affordable alternative to losing your home if you need to enter residential care." |
| The government is also consulting on possible proposals to cover care costs for the elderly, which could see an insurance-style system introduced. | The government is also consulting on possible proposals to cover care costs for the elderly, which could see an insurance-style system introduced. |