Capitalism neglects its vulnerable

In a society that claims to respect and protect our sick and elderly, Social care in England is at risk of imminent collapse in the worst affected areas unless urgent steps are taken to address the crisis engulfing the sector, AgeUK has warned.

Age UK earlier suggested almost 1.2 million people aged 65 and over do not receive the care and support they need with essential daily activities such as eating, dressing and bathing. Now, that figure has shot up by 17.9% in just a year and almost by 50% since 2010, with nearly one in eight now living with some level of unmet need, it says. It concludes that the government’s strategy for keeping the social care system from falling apart is not up to scratch. The charity warns that the situation will only deteriorate further as rising demand is accompanied by budget cuts and more care home providers pulling out of the market.

Age UK’s charity director, Caroline Abrahams, said the report makes for “frightening reading”, adding: “Unless something changes the crisis will certainly deepen this year and next, and we think there is now a real risk of a complete collapse in social care in the worst affected areas. If this happened it would be a disaster that would threaten the health and even the lives of the older people affected.”