Whole system reform needed to make social care sustainable

ARCO response to IFS report on social care

Responding to today’s report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Michael Voges, Executive Director of ARCO said:

 

“We strongly support the Government’s intention to help older people to avoid catastrophic care costs, it is clear though that the social care funding reforms are not enough in themselves and that wholesale changes to how we deliver care are needed. We are looking forward to working with the Government to achieve this.

 

“With a rapidly ageing population, rising care costs, shortages of care workers and care homes struggling with impossible demands we need to completely overhaul care delivery, including providing more preventative care, moderate care and reassurance that care is available through more housing-with-care such as Integrated Retirement Communities.”

 

“The policy alternatives will always lead to catastrophic and escalating care costs, both for older people themselves, and for the Government. Looked at this way – there really is no alternative.

 

“We are ready and able to expand our provision to hundreds of thousands more older people and will be working to inform the work of the Governments new Older People’s Housing Task Force to make this happen. We believe that the announcement of the Task Force demonstrates that the Government too recognises the need for this”