The first Caring Choices event has demonstrated a strong consensus that the government should invest more public funds in social care for older people, but also a growing acceptance that the individual and the family have a joint responsibility with the state for the costs of long-term care. In a wide-ranging debate in Manchester on 26 April 2007, two-thirds of participants recognised that a private contribution was necessary, while one-third said that social care should be the sole responsibility of the state.

Participants voiced concerns that the current social care system is unclear, unfair and inefficient. It was felt strongly that any new funding model should move away from the ‘postcode lottery’ that exists at the moment, which means that different public resources are made available for users with the same level of need. There were also concerns that, without ring-fencing, extra funds raised for social care would be diverted to other budgets.

Around 80 people attended the debate, all with experience of the social care system either through their work or as users, family or carers. There were repeated calls for greater clarity about the future division of responsibility between the state and the individual, so that people could plan ahead. Any government guarantees or incentives that might be introduced to encourage private expenditure on care would need to be consistent over a long timescale, participants said. Overall, participants felt that a range of different options would be needed to facilitate private provision of care costs.

Participants also called for greater state help for informal carers, who too often remain unsupported, unrewarded and isolated despite their huge contribution. Financial support and respite care were the most commonly cited forms of support that would encourage the provision of informal care in future, with carers themselves also particularly valuing information, advice and training about caring. The needs of carers were viewed as wide-ranging and variable, and participants stressed that carers’ needs must be addressed flexibly and on a case-by-case basis.

Read our full report from the Manchester event (PDF – 63KB)

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