25.11.2020
Responding to today's Spending Review announcements by the Chancellor, ARCO's Executive Director Michael Voges said:
"£1bn is a very large sticking plaster and will help stop the bleeding so it is welcome, but will not heal a social care system in need of major surgery.
“The Government clearly recognises that social care is high up on the agenda and that more funding is needed. However, until there is support for new models of care we are not going to address the underlying problem of a social care system which is struggling to provide for an ageing population.
“Older people in the UK have far less choice about housing and care provision than the vast majority of comparable countries. The Government could act now by publicly backing new models such as Retirement Communities to sit alongside existing options like care homes and homecare, and putting in place a framework which will help them grow.
“These models will keep older people healthy, well and independent for longer and will actually save money for the health and care systems.”
ENDS
For Further Information Please Contact
Gareth Lyon, Head of Policy and Communications, at garethlyon@arcouk.org or on 075350 88498
Notes to editors
- About ARCO: ARCO (the Associated Retirement Community Operators) is the trade association for operators of housing-with-care developments for older people. ARCO was founded in 2012, and is now comprised of 27 private and not-for-profit operators of Retirement Communities. ARCO represents approximately 50% of the Retirement Community sector. ARCO sets high standards, and all ARCO members must adhere to the externally assessed ARCO Consumer Code. ARCO does not represent the traditional retirement housing model where there are limited services and no care is available or care homes.
- About Retirement Communities: Retirement Communities typically consist of individual one or two bedroom flats or houses, located in a development with similar properties. Residents have access to a range of services and facilities, which will include optional on-site care, 24-hour staffing, and dining and leisure facilities, and may also include bars, gyms and craft rooms. Retirement Communities are also sometimes referred to as housing-with-care schemes, retirement villages, extra care housing, assisted living, or close care apartments. They sit in between traditional retirement houses (which have less extensive staffing and leisure facilities), and care homes, and can be in urban or suburban locations.
