Help The Aged And Age Concern Respond To Commission For Social Care Inspection's State Of Social Care Report

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 28 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Leading older people's charities Help the Aged and Age Concern have reacted with dismay to some key aspects of the latest and final State of Social Care report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). The report shows that while some people are receiving decent quality care, a large number of people who need support, receive little or nothing at all. The charities believe the Government's Green Paper on the future of social care must address these systemic and fundamental failures.

Paul Cann, Director of Policy and External Relations at Help the Aged, says:

"This report shows that the Government's aspirations of putting people first are far from a reality. Despite some overall improvements, this report shows that far too many older people are still forced to endure second-rate care at the hands of our failing social care system.

"Social care should not just be about managing the needs of the most debilitated, it should be about supporting older people to live a better life. Vast numbers of older people are being denied care because their needs are not considered a priority - all too often they are left to fend for themselves or rely on family and friends.

"The general failure of the system is also reflected in the large number of staff vacancies - care isn't being valued and until it is, more and more older people will continue to miss out. Care homes are still struggling to care.

"The Government will never deliver on its ambition for care unless appropriate resources are put in place."

Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, says:

"The report highlights the widespread discrimination against older people in the drive to more personalised care.

"Older people who get direct payments are likely to get far less money than younger people with similar needs.

"We are also very concerned at the lack of information, advice and support for those receiving direct payments.

"As we reach this critical stage of the debate about the reform of care services, it is vital that the new regulator gives sufficient weight to care as well as health regulation."

Notes

1. Age Concern and Help the Aged are joining together to form a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people.

2. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

3. Age Concern is the largest organisation in the UK working for older people. Everyday we are in touch with thousands of older people, enabling them to make more of life. Our services include information and advice, befriending, day centres, lunch clubs, transport services, homes visits and advocacy services.

Help the Aged

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