Politicians from the three main parties say that cross-party consensus is achievable on reform of the social care funding system. Stephen O’Brien MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, told delegates to the final Caring Choices event, in London on 14 November: ‘There is a large amount of political will at the moment to try and really solve this problem.’ (more…)

Shortly I’ll be 76 and my wife 73. She’s been afflicted with Alzheimer’s for about 12 years.

For the first seven years I cared for her at our home in the countryside. Our nightmare began on 1 October 2001. She’d entered the stage of losing special awareness, which results in falls. (more…)

Dignity in later life very quickly becomes threatened when older citizens need ongoing care.

Currently, older people have to have their needs assessed separately by several health and care professionals:

• the first assessment is to establish eligibility for fully funded NHS long-term care
• if they are not eligible, then they need a second, separate assessment for the registered nursing care contribution
• that is followed by a further, third financial assessment for personal care.

At the end of this bewildering adventure, older people and their families are increasingly advised that effectively they’re on their own and responsible for funding their care. More often than not, it is the agency providing care or the care home that has to advise people and their relatives about the true cost of care. (more…)

Little has changed one year on from the publication last year of my review of social care for older people for the King’s Fund, except perhaps a greater awareness of the depth of the crisis. The challenges it posed have not been taken up with necessary urgency, and social care has missed out as attention and money have been directed elsewhere. (more…)