Social care reform in England must be a priority for the next government , new report says
Ending the cycle of broken promises to reform social care funding in England must be a priority for the next government , a new Health Foundation report says . Currently , one in seven people aged 65 and over face care costs over £ 100,000 .
The government only covers the costs of care for people with the highest needs and lowest means . Everyone else must pay for care themselves , get help from friends or family , or go without .
The report sets out cost estimates for three options to protect people against the costs of care . It estimates :
• Providing basic protection for all against some care costs , with a Scottish-style model of ‘ free personal care ’ in England , could cost an extra £ 6 billion in 2026-27 , rising to around £ 7 billion by 2035-36 .
• Protecting people with the greatest lifetime care needs against catastrophic costs , by introducing a Dilnot-style ‘ cap ’ set at £ 86,000 , could cost an extra £ 0.5 billion in 2026-27 , rising to around £ 3.5 billion by 2035-36 .
• Introducing an NHS-style model of universal and comprehensive care could cost an extra £ 17 billion by 2035-36 .
The Health Foundation says a wider package of investment and reform in social care is desperately needed . Alongside funding reform , a credible plan for social care must include policies and funding to improve people ’ s access to good care , boost pay and conditions for staff , and better support unpaid carers .
Charles Tallack , Director of Data Analytics at the Health Foundation , said : ‘ Despite the pressing need for change , successive governments have failed to reform the funding of social care , leaving a catalogue of broken promises , delays and abandoned manifesto commitments , while people continue to suffer under a care cost lottery .
There are a number of options for reform , but legislation already on the Statute Book to introduce a cap on the lifetime costs of care and give more people state support means that a solution is within reach .”
‘ There are a number of options for reform , but legislation already on the Statute Book to introduce a cap on the lifetime costs of care and give more people state support means that a solution is within reach . There can be no excuse for inaction and prolonging one of the biggest public policy failures of our generation .’
Read the report , Social care funding reform in England : choices for the next government , published on 24 January , at https :// bit . ly / 3UeMJGO .
Staff and service users celebrate recording studio success
Staff and service users at Windswept in Swindon are celebrating the launch of their music video , following a studio recording of popular hit , Don ’ t Stop Believing , by Journey .
The collaboration has brought together around 40 people , including service users , staff and students from Windswept , who sang in a series of studio sessions funded by Harry Worcester , the Duke of Beaufort of the Badminton Estate . The studio sessions were inspired by service user Callum , who is passionate about music and wanted to create the opportunity to perform .
Adults receiving care at Windswept are supported in their recovery to become as independent as possible , by nurturing existing skills and enabling them to learn new skills for living a full and enriching life .
After the studio recording , the group went on to perform the song live on stage at ‘ Festival on the Farm ’ – a local festival near Swindon held every August to raise money for local mental health charities .
Funds raised are enabling more service users and staff to experience time in the studio to record another song – Run , by Snow Patrol , which was released in December 2023 .
Talking about their experience in the studio and live on stage , service users have shared wonderful feedback with staff . Callum really enjoyed the opportunity to work in a real studio and progress his love of music , and for Hugo it was exciting because he had never done anything like this before and found the experience ‘ amazing ’.
You can watch the Windswept videos on YouTube at https :// bit . ly / 47TVAAG .
10 OTnews February 2024