Carer raises fears over changes to social care funding
Skipton carer raises fears over changes to social care funding
7:00am Friday 12th April 2013 in News By Matt Cornish, Editor
A Craven carer has met with a Government minister to discuss changes in adult social care funding.
From April 2016, the Government is intending to place a £72,000 cap upon what any individual has to pay for their social care costs.
But Tim Quelch, a Skipton carer, believes that the proposed changes could divert precious resources away from poorer social care users, placing extra financial pressure on unpaid carers – spouses, partners, families and friends.
The Government’s plan follows pressure from families whose loved ones have been forced to sell their homes to pay for their care costs, typically when they are admitted to care homes in later life.
Norman Lamb MP, Minister for Care and Support, met with a small group of local carers including Mr Quelch in Leeds as part of the national consultation process.
Mr Lamb believes these funding changes would be fairer to those with modest means.
He also predicts that insurance companies will be encouraged to enter the care market, enabling more people to insure themselves against some of the expenses they will have to meet before reaching their cap.
Bur Mr Quelch, who is also a volunteer with The Carers Resource based at Broughton Hall, said: “From a carer’s perspective I am very worried that the greater financial protection afforded to property owners, notably those with properties valued at £150,000 or less, may be at the expense of adults who are wholly reliant upon council funding for their home care and care home fees.
“If the Government does not fully recompense each council for the additional costs these changes will incur, while those with more modestly valued properties will have greater taxpayer protection, there will be even less funds to help the poorer users of adult social care services.
“With council budgets already squeezed, meaning fewer social care services for those in need, the poorer members of our society could suffer most from the diversion of funding implied by these changes.
“Over the last ten years the number of older people in England has increased by 11 to 13 per cent in Craven.
“Accordingly, there has been a rise in those requiring help with everyday tasks – dressing, bathing, preparing meals etc. – plus an increase in those with complex needs, such as adults with dementia.
“Unsurprisingly, social care costs have risen at a faster rate than the general rate of inflation, placing further pressure on council budgets, and upon what they can afford to pay for care.
“Consequently, more and more relatives could be forced into topping up their less well-off loved-ones’ care – not for a Rolls Royce care service but one that is just suitable.”
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We want Britain to be the best place in Europe to grow older. That is why we are investing £7.2 billion over four years to protect access to care and support.
“For the first time ever we are bringing in a cap on care fees to make costs more sustainable and to protect people from having to sell their homes to pay for care.
“These new measures will give everyone the peace of mind that they will get an excellent standard of care, whilst being protected from huge costs, even if they develop very complex care needs.”
