The government’s failure to get to grips with the escalating financial crisis in social care has put tens of thousands of older and disabled people at risk of being denied basic support such as help with washing and dressing, care chiefs have warned.
“This situation has a very real and damaging effect on the day-to-day lives of people who need and provide care,” said the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. Social care in England was adrift in a “sea of inertia” caused by years of budget cuts and Brexit-related Whitehall policy paralysis. “The system is not only failing financially, it is failing people,” it concluded.
Adass president, Julie Ogley, said, “Behind these numbers are the stories of thousands and thousands of older and disabled people and their families. Many get great care and support to live good lives and die good deaths. Too many struggle without help though. Too many struggle without enough help,”
Since 2010, £7.7bn had been cut from adult social care budgets in England, Adass said. A further £700m of cuts are planned for 2019-20.
“This situation has a very real and damaging effect on the day-to-day lives of people who need and provide care,” said the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services. Social care in England was adrift in a “sea of inertia” caused by years of budget cuts and Brexit-related Whitehall policy paralysis. “The system is not only failing financially, it is failing people,” it concluded.
Adass president, Julie Ogley, said, “Behind these numbers are the stories of thousands and thousands of older and disabled people and their families. Many get great care and support to live good lives and die good deaths. Too many struggle without help though. Too many struggle without enough help,”
Since 2010, £7.7bn had been cut from adult social care budgets in England, Adass said. A further £700m of cuts are planned for 2019-20.
More than a third of councils said the impact of cuts meant access to social care was restricted to fewer people, while just under a third of councils said cuts meant people were getting smaller personal care budgets. Nearly a fifth of councils surveyed admitted the quality of life for people using care had got worse.
Earlier this year Age UK said tightening eligibility for council-funded social care meant 627,000 people – nearly 900 a day – had been refused social care since March 2017. More than 1.4 million older people aged 65 and over had unmet care needs, it estimated.
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