When I wrote last July about how the findings of the Dilnot Commission into the funding of social care for the elderly looked likely to be admired but ignored by Government, I feared that the matter of how we care as a society for our most vulnerable members was once again being kicked into the long grass.
Today, in a letter to the Telegraph, several leaders in the caring professions, voluntary sector and the churches have called upon the government to start again the stalled process of cross party talks on a long term solution, stating that nearly 800,000 people are falling through the care safety net. Furthermore, the abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled highlighted in so many recent reports is arising from a lack of political leadership as well as the long term funding of care.
The Government has trumpeted an increase in funding for care services, although the reality on the ground is that services continue to be cut, but there is a renewed commitment to start cross party talks, due to start again later this month according to one report. Let’s hope that petty party politics about how long term care will be funded do not once again sabotage this vital discussion!
A Kings Fund report in 2010 projected a rising number of elderly people needing care over the next few years – rising to 900,000 this year and reaching over a million by 2015. Unless funding and services increase to match this, more and more people will fall through the net, and many who could have lived relatively independently with minimal support will need more costly intensive residential or NHS care. This is not an issue that can be left to wait.
But today’s letter also calls for a turnaround in wider social attitudes to care for the elderly and disabled in British society. And here lies the heart of the matter – money thrown at the issue will make minimal impact if we as a wider society do not start once again to value and care for our older citizens rather than seeing them just as a costly burden and a nuisance. The mark of a civilisation is how it cares for its weakest members. On that basis one could argue that British society has been growing less civilised for some time!