UNMET NEEDS ...

We are now seeing some real misery caused by the under-funding of the social care system.

Firstly, people’s care needs are unmet or under-met.

Age UK estimated before the pandemic that 1.5 million people aged 65 and over in England did not get the care they needed, projected to grow to 2.1 million people by 2030.

A 2021 survey by the Care and Support Alliance found that 3 in 10 people who had difficulty carrying out day-to-day activities never received any assistance.

The impact on disabled people is leaving many in debt or in poverty, without care, and even in some cases having their lives cut short.

Around one third of requests for council adult social care support result in “no support”.

Organisations report that cuts to people’s support packages mean that sometimes only very basic personal care needs are met, which limits, and often completely denies

opportunities to participate in society, become economically active, build relationships and live a normal life, that many non‐disabled people take for granted.

Secondly, when people do receive care it as at a later stage when their needs are more complex and acute or when crisis point is reached.

Thirdly, because underfunding means that care has been rationed a greater responsibility for providing care falls to unpaid carers.

Finally, low fee rates offered by local authorities put pressure on the market, hampering providers’ viability and limiting the pay increases and training they can offer their staff.

We urgently need to address the problems.