A record number of care homes have gone into insolvency in the past year, with a rate of more than one a day closing. In the last 12 months, 2,200 residential places have vanished across England alone. This has meant major disruption for residents who are being forced to move to new homes.
With Theresa May and the Conservatives now in power, there’s plans for further cuts and also more elderly people having to pay for their own social care in the home rather than the state paying. This could see less pensioners going into care and staying with their homes rather than facing the reality of having to sell them to pay for there social care.
Budget cuts to care services
Over the past few years, the number of people getting help have fallen after councils have struggled to cope with cuts to their budgets. Unlike the NHS, social care provided in an individual’s home or in residential care is not free – only the poorest get help.
Those with assets over £23,250 now have to pay the full cost of their care. The number of older and disabled people receiving council help fell by 28% between 2009-10 and 2013-14.
The letter, which is signed by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Care Provider Alliance, and the NHS Confederation, is effectively the care sector’s response to the cuts.
Care homes vs living at home
There are concerns that services for the elderly and disabled are being put at risk. There is a rising demand on services as it is, with an ever increasing ageing population. Without action it is feared that many more care homes will be closed due to these cuts to the care sector.
Whilst this is a big concern, especially when many people need the constant care that a residential home can provide, at Careline we hope to help as many people continue to live at home as long as they can. We are however concerned that cuts to care could force the elderly or disabled to be without the care that suits their needs.
