The care system for older people in the UK is ‘in crisis', leading to calls for an ‘ambitious, radical rethink' by the Government. Damning reports published by the charity Counsel and Care have revealed informal and private care is ‘plugging' a funding gap of £25,000 for every disabled person over the age of 65, and councils are being forced to ‘ration' services for older people, due to funding constraints. The Local Government Association confirmed the lack of funding meant councils had to concentrate resources on people with the ‘most severe' needs. Results of another nationwide consultation published this week concluded the UK needed a new system to pay for long-term care for older people, combining a ‘clear-cut entitlement to care and support with a sharing of costs between individuals and the state'. Only one-in-five participants believed personal care should be completely funded by the state. A broad area of agreement emerged during the consultation process, which involved 15 organisations, including the King's Fund, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Help the Aged, that the present system of funding long-term care was not ‘fit for purpose'. Speaking on BBC Radio, social care minister, Ivan Lewis, admitted the current system was not working for the people it was there to support, but refused to confirm what final funding system would be put in place for users and carers. ‘In 2008, major changes will be set in place,' he said. ‘We need to ask what quality of service people have a right to expect, and what the responsibilities of the state are. We also need to look at how much individuals should pay.'
