Older People And Carers Face 'Care Cost Confusion' As The Price Of Ageing Spirals, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 28 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Survey published as new FirstStop advice service is launched

As the Government works on plans to reform the social care system, a new survey (1) reveals that two thirds (67 per cent) of adults over 35 are concerned about the future cost of care and accommodation facing them or an older member of their family.

Timed to coincide with the launch of FirstStop - a new service for older people, their families and carers seeking advice on care, housing and finance - the survey follows recent analysis (₂) that showed that older people find accessing information about social care difficult and confusing.

The care funding system, which varies across the UK, is notoriously complicated and constantly changing. As a result, many older people and their families are struggling to navigate a maze of information. Of those questioned in the survey who had recently been involved in a decision about care and accommodation:

- 61 per cent said they felt worried that they'd made the wrong decision about care

- 44 per cent said they found it difficult to find sources of independent help and advice

- Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) said the process would have been much easier if they could have accessed information from one source.

The cost of care could be the biggest financial burden many people will ever face. Residential care home fees have increased by 51.5 per cent in the last five years (₃) and costs are predicted to double in the next 20 years (₄).

The survey was conducted by three of the UK's leading charities - Help the Aged, Counsel and Care, and the Elderly Accommodation Counsel - as well as NHFA (one of the UK's leading specialist, independent financial advisors) for the launch of their collaborative advice service FirstStop.

FirstStop is a single gateway to free, independent information and advice about all aspects of care, housing and finance for older people. It will equip older people, their families and carers to understand their rights and options and make informed decisions about care, housing and finance.

Care advice is currently an unmet need for millions of older people. FirstStop estimates that 1.25 million people in England could potentially benefit from housing advice(₅) and over half a million could be seeking information about care issues at any one time.(₆) Many older people are not aware of their entitlements and the different options available to them and as a result, can often end up receiving care unsuited to their needs or missing out on help.

The FirstStop advice service will be delivered through a comprehensive website - www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk - and a single dedicated phone line* (Tel: 0800 377 7070).

The service will offer advice on a wide range of topics including care fees and funding care fees, choosing the right care home, social care provision, benefits and rights. Callers to the advice line will first have their enquiry assessed by specially trained advisers. Following assessment, callers may be passed directly to a specialist who can answer more complex questions and help navigate older people and their carers through their care, housing and finance options. FirstStop aims to have the advice line service available nationally by the end of 2011.

Notes

The FirstStop advice service is delivered in partnership by Help the Aged, Counsel & Care, Elderly Accommodation Counsel and NHFA. The following spokespeople from the partner organisations are available for interview:

Daniel Pearson - Director Community Services - Help the Aged

Stephen Burke - Chief Executive, Counsel and Care

John Galvin - Chief Executive, Elderly Accommodation Counsel

Philip Spiers - Managing Director, NHFA Care Fees Advice

*The FirstStop advice line (Tel: 0800 377 7070) is being piloted in London and the South East. The service is operated Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Calls are free from BT lines. Calls from other lines and mobile phones may vary according to the operator.

The FirstStop advice service is funded through a combination of a Big Lottery Fund grant, contributions from the four partner organisations and sponsorship.

(1) ICM interviewed 1098 adults aged 35+ by telephone across the UK during the period July 25th - August 5th 2008. Weighting was applied to data to bring it in line with national profiles

(2) Help the Aged/GfK NOP Right Care, Right Deal survey. 2008. Showed that 48 per cent of people questioned in the survey felt finding information on social care was confusing.

(3) Research conducted by the Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service. April 2006.

(4) Saga Report. February 2007. Report predicts a doubling of care home fees in 20 years based on 2.5 per cent inflation and care home fees increasing annually by 3.5 per cent.

(5) Research conducted by Care and Repair England. 2005.

(6) Research conducted for FirstStop. 2006. Figure reached by combining the number of people who have fallen into the following categories; started to receive home care, moved into a care home, started to receive other community based services or become local authority-supported carers, as well as the existing number of home care users and care home residents requiring advice

Other related initiatives:

'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit http://www.rightcare.org.uk Members of 'Right care, Right deal' are Counsel and Care, Carers UK and Help the Aged.

Help the Aged

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