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Elderly people: thousands 'left struggling' at home | Elderly people: thousands 'left struggling' at home |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Thousands of older people in England are struggling in their own home with little or no help, research suggests. | Thousands of older people in England are struggling in their own home with little or no help, research suggests. |
The analysis by the Independent Age charity and Strategic Society Centre think tank indicates more than two million have difficulty with washing, dressing, cooking or eating. | The analysis by the Independent Age charity and Strategic Society Centre think tank indicates more than two million have difficulty with washing, dressing, cooking or eating. |
And of the 560,000 of these with severe needs, 160,000 receive inadequate help while another 70,000 have none at all. | And of the 560,000 of these with severe needs, 160,000 receive inadequate help while another 70,000 have none at all. |
Some 850,000 older people have help paid for by themselves or the council. | Some 850,000 older people have help paid for by themselves or the council. |
But over the years state-funded services have been increasingly rationed. | But over the years state-funded services have been increasingly rationed. |
Meanwhile, 30,000 older people care for others in situations considered a risk to their health and wellbeing - alone and for at least 20 hours a week. | Meanwhile, 30,000 older people care for others in situations considered a risk to their health and wellbeing - alone and for at least 20 hours a week. |
Older people and care in numbers | Older people and care in numbers |
Source: Independent Age and Strategic Society Centre based on 2011 to 2013 data | Source: Independent Age and Strategic Society Centre based on 2011 to 2013 data |
The two groups looked at: | The two groups looked at: |
They said the research "highlights alarming gaps" in the system and raised questions that needed addressing ahead of April 2016, when care costs will be capped at £72,000 over a person's lifetime. | They said the research "highlights alarming gaps" in the system and raised questions that needed addressing ahead of April 2016, when care costs will be capped at £72,000 over a person's lifetime. |
Independent Age policy director Simon Bottery said it "defies belief" how those who did not receive the right care were getting by. | Independent Age policy director Simon Bottery said it "defies belief" how those who did not receive the right care were getting by. |
Without better support, there would be a knock-on effect on the NHS with more older people seeing their health suffer, he added. | Without better support, there would be a knock-on effect on the NHS with more older people seeing their health suffer, he added. |
Councillor Izzi Seccombe, of the Local Government Association, said councils were doing their best to prioritise care, but budgets were being squeezed. | Councillor Izzi Seccombe, of the Local Government Association, said councils were doing their best to prioritise care, but budgets were being squeezed. |
"The next government must make sure that [it] puts adult social care on a sustainable financial footing to keep people out of hospital and support them in their homes for as long as possible. | "The next government must make sure that [it] puts adult social care on a sustainable financial footing to keep people out of hospital and support them in their homes for as long as possible. |
"Failure to do so would mean some services will be tipped into failure and leave the most vulnerable members of communities worried and at risk of losing essential care." | "Failure to do so would mean some services will be tipped into failure and leave the most vulnerable members of communities worried and at risk of losing essential care." |
A Department of Health spokesman said the cap along with next year's £5.3bn Better Care Fund - mainly funded by NHS money but earmarked for projects that aid social care - would help improve the situation. | A Department of Health spokesman said the cap along with next year's £5.3bn Better Care Fund - mainly funded by NHS money but earmarked for projects that aid social care - would help improve the situation. |
"Councils are ultimately responsible for deciding how to spend their budgets, but with a growing ageing population we know that we all need to work differently." | "Councils are ultimately responsible for deciding how to spend their budgets, but with a growing ageing population we know that we all need to work differently." |